** Final week for submissions! UPDATE: Please priortise speaking to parents in the lessons, if you haven’t managed to and think there’s a chance they won’t see the instructions for submitting the video (Lesson Report Template at the bottom of the blog) then please email christmas@sammusicservice.com with a list of the students you want to submit something and we will reach out directly to the parents to ask them to check thier mySAM for details. Please include the section / bar / phrase they are performing so it’s easy to edit in the recording. **
This years student collaboration is Michael Bublé’s version of Holly Jolly Christmas!
We are doing it slightly differently this year, mainly in that we are requiring students to send in their recordings by emailing the submissions to christmas@sammusicservice.com via https://wetransfer.com/ . The lessons leading up to this are to prepare for the recorded performance, similar to how you would for a grade entry, except it’s a Christmas song!
Please notify the parents if you think the student is suitable to take part so they are on board and will look out for your request to submit the recording, please make sure you mention it to them when the time comes also – the more communication with the parent the better!
If you or the parent are uncertain of what the Christmas projects are, you can show / link them to our Christmas playlist on YouTube – linked here . Please note, we are aiming for a version usable for promotion this year, where students will be on screen for longer.
Differences in the project from previous years:
- Student submission only (not taken from Zoom recordings) – Can be filmed landscape on phone / tablet or iPad for example.
- Only offering the recording option to students who are likely to be able to play at least a phrase of the piece (or 4 bars minimum) so they are on screen for longer, you can feel free to teach the song to all your students but only mention the collaboration project for those who are past the very beginner stage)
- Different students must learn different parts of the song (not having 100 students of one instrument who only learn the first bar – it’s very hard to mix together so please vary what you teach your students!)
Special attention: Only vocals are singing the melody, the other instruments are playing the accompaniment.
** All resources are linked here ** (Backing tracks / tabs and scores)
Guitar: Chords (half chords for beginners, open / barre chords for intermediate, jazz chords for advanced) and solo plus outro lead for intermediate / advanced (none playing the vocal melody)
Piano: Chords (triads / 5th for beginners, basic chords with 7th inc inversions for intermediate and jazz version for advanced (none playing the vocal melody) I’ve written a rough piano score and attached the MIDI file incase you want to edit it.
Drums: Simple groove for beginners, intermediate and advanced have the jazz version, all should be able to do fills.
Vocals: Lyrics as provided, keeping original key but can sing an octave higher in the verse for example if needed.
We are hoping to use this for promotion this year and therefore need to be strict with some conditions for the entries.
Video requirements (if any of these requirements aren’t met, unfortunately, the video won’t be accepted):
- Deadline for student submissions: Sunday 26th November
- Must be the backing tracks / version provided (not another version you have found that may be a different tempo or key)
- Filmed landscape (not portrait)
- Please include what section / bar / phrase they are performing
- Instrument and face in shot (if playing piano, not just the top of their head!)
- Camera stationary / still (not hand-held or moving)
- Student must use headphones (no backing track audible)
- Must be smiling / happy – it’s Christmas! This is a good opportunity to focus on stage presence and performance. It is important that this is covered in the lead-up to the recording preparation.
- Wearing something festive! (This can be an Xmas jumper or even a tinsel hat!)
Template for Lesson Reports (feel free to amend but still include the bulletpoints and the mentioning of consent) when the student is ready to submit their recording (I’d give yourself a spare week incase there’s something wrong with the recording and I need to request a re-submission). Please also speak to the parent and don’t rely just on what you put in the lesson report.
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Well done <STUDENT NAME> for a great lesson today. They are now ready to submit the recording for the SAM collaboration Christmas project of Holly Jolly Christmas. As discussed, please record them performing the parts we have been working on and submit the recording to SAM. Simply upload the file to https://wetransfer.com/ and use the email address christmas@sammusicservice.com by Sunday 26th November.
Here are some important points essential for the recording:
- Must be filmed landscape on phone / tablet or iPad for example.
- Instrument and face in shot (if playing piano, not just the top of their head please!)
- Camera stationary / still (not hand-held or moving)
- Must use the backing tracks provided (added to your practice folder)
- Student must use headphones (if no headphones, most important that there’s no backing track audible)
- Wearing something festive! (This can be an Xmas jumper or even a tinsel hat!)
- Have fun with it – Ideally in the Christmas spirit! This is a good opportunity to focus on stage presence and performance.
- Please note – by submitting this recording you are giving consent for SAM to use the footage for promotion, no names will be included in the video!
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Any questions please contact SAM and we will be happy to help!