This years student collaboration is SAM’s arrangement of Michael Bublé’s version of White Christmas (ft Shania Twaine)! – backing tracks and notation found below.
The main difference this year is that we are only opening the collaboration up to those at an intermediate level who can play full phrases, as we wish to use the video for promotional material. The parts to be played are the ones provided in the resources, as written in the score arrangements.
We will still be requiring students to send in their recordings by emailing the submissions to christmas@sammusicservice.com via https://wetransfer.com/ . The 3 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 fewer students will be on screen for much longer.
Differences in the project from previous years:
- Student submission only (not taken from Zoom recordings) – Must be filmed landscape on phone / tablet or iPad for example.
- Only offering the recording option to students who are able to play at least a phrase of the piece (ideally the whole song) 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 can play confidently, with a smiile on their face!)
- Student must use headphones (no backing track audible)
- 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 exactly the same as the original track
** All resources are linked here ** (Backing tracks / tabs and scores)
This included backing tracks and solo instruments so you can hear the exact parts required. Drums have parts with and without click tracks.
Please create a folder and add the relevant files to your students practice folders
Guitar: Chords – written as barre chords and solo plus outro lead for intermediate / advanced (none playing the vocal melody)
Bass: Please ensure all bass students are learning this as it’s very integral to the song
Piano: Left-hand practice time! Piano is mirroring the bass guitar for this piece.
Drums: Original song uses brushes, but have written a stick version as most wont have them. Download images for sharing in folder plus hyperlinks (also added below)
Verse groove
Chorus groove
2.09 – 2.24
2.24 to 2.39
Vocals: Lyrics as provided, keeping original key – Ideally splitting male vocals for the Bublé part and female for the Shania – however feel free to get students to learn the whole song.
Please also have students learning the backing vocal rhythmic sections and harmonies.
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 24th November (3 lessons to work on the song)
- Must be the backing tracks / version provided (not another version you have found that may be a different tempo, key or arrangement)
- Filmed landscape (not portrait)
- Please include what phrase / verse / chorus etc 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 and performance 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 White 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 24th 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, not a version from YouTube (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!