As Spoken in Flute Forum...

In response to an observation on the Flute Forum that some grading boards are requiring videoed performances for examinations, especially at the diploma level:

Doomposter mode.

Data is the lifeblood of the new economy, and I would not be surprised if these videoed examinations are a way for the relevant boards to amass data of performances for sale under the guise of data analysis.

A very negative one is the new capability of nit-picking, therefore gatekeeping the higher certifications. Why rely on the "error prone" and subjective comments of the examiners from a live performance, when one can rewind and replay and highlight all the minutae on how one is doing something sub-par?

A more positive spin is the normalisation of the "Internet Content Creator" path for performers under the guise of the "democratisation of the Arts through application of communication technology".

Do I believe that everything I said here is true? Not wholly, but I would not be surprised if these are part of the calculus over the more obvious "let's save money/time from all that travelling!"

Honest reflection? I can see these happening, really. Most interactions these days are held over the 'net, and with the rise of cheap (relative to before) mobile Internet, videos are fast becoming the dominant form of media creation/consumption.

And this includes things like VTubers, that I like to watch.

Music is a performance art---one performs for an audience. In the past, the audience were on the streets (literally), or in the concert hall.

But today, the audience is online.

Not being able to work with technology for performing will be a major disadvantage for the modern professional.

But with recordings comes the pursuit of perfection. See also how music albums are made, and relatedly, why going to watch your favourite band live in concert should be more about the vibes than about trying to listen to great music a la album quality.

And then there's that AI grenade that I lobbed in.

That, I have no doubts will be an eventuality. It's just a natural consequence---current generative AI is orders of magnitude better than what was available ten years ago, and their use in entertainment is gaining more traction as the MBAs start realising that they have the equivalent of slave labour compared to the existing artiste/artist structure.

Of course they'll find a way to monetise it. And the examination boards are the best place to get high quality data, especially since the examinee is the one who pays for the privilege of being graded.

And the examination boards can double dip too---take money as part of the examination fees, and then take more money as a data source.

Any half-decent MBA would be frothing at the mouth for that.

``MT, that sounds dystopian...''

It doesn't sound dystopian---it is the reality we are living in.

That's all for now.