Video Project!
Actual Music Video Instructions:
In this video there is no reason to use headphones when you play the guide track, just play it on something nice and loud. We will not be using any audio from this video. Feel free to talk while you’re making it. If you’re playing you should attempt to play the actual song so it looks a little like it’s lining up with the music but it’s not super important. If you’re singing you should actually sing so your lips line up with the music. If you can do the claps in the beginning without messing up your video please do them! KEEP THAT CAMERA SIDEWAYS!
We decided on the “tied to a tree with our instrument” concept on zoom today. I don’t see how it can miss. To make this video have someone tie you to a tree with your instrument or part of it. Use anything to tie you up with, rope, string, extension chord, whatever. Make yourself look very uncomfortable. Play the video guide track off to the side on something like a phone and pretend to play the whole song. That’s it. You can move the camera around a little while you go through the song to get some different angles, just try to keep your eyes on the camera. This will be amazing!
Story of My Life Video Guide Track
The first video we’ll be making is the “careful” video. For this one the goal is to carefully play the song so we have a good audio track for the final video. I’ll also be using the video from this round to make our “studio” video. To make this video grab some headphones and play along with the video guide track that’s above. In the intro you’ll hear my count, then a clap, another clap and then one more count. After you hear the first count you should clap along with both claps and after the second count start playing the song. The claps are important, if you don’t quite get it right start again. These claps will sync up your video and audio with the rest of the band so if they’re early or late you’ll be out of time in the video. You should play the song as well as you can, maybe do a few takes. DON’T STRESS about perfection though! I can fix a few mistakes in post production so if you crush the whole song but miss a note at the end you’re done. Below are the guidelines for each instrument that will help you get good audio and video so please make sure you read yours before you start. Have fun!
Guidelines for Everyone:
Hold your camera sideways (landscape/horizontal format). No vertical video!
Use headphones to listen to the guide track.
Record in a quiet room. Every sound in your video will end up in the final videos.
Rooms with less echo are better to record in, you’ll sound better. Rooms with furniture, carpet and curtains work well.
Keep your camera steady. If possible, put it on something instead of holding it.
If possible have a solid color for a background, like a painted wall.
You should have plenty of light on you but make sure it’s NOT coming from behind you.
No need to look at the camera, pretend it’s not there.
Phones almost always have better cameras than laptops so if possible use your phone.
Don’t trim the video’s beginning or end. I’ll handle that.
Vocal Video Guidelines:
Keep the camera close. Aim for a head and upper body shot from the side like THIS.
Sing loud, don’t hold back!
Drums Video Guidelines:
A real challenge for recording drums is getting the cymbals to not drown out the other drums.
Play the cymbals lightly and other drums loud. Kick and Snare are most important!
If you have time try a few different camera positions and see which one has the quietest cymbals. Holding the camera close to the floor can help. Try somewhere around the kick drum looking up at the drummer’s face like THIS.
Guitar and Bass Video Guidelines:
Tune right before you make the video! I can help tune on zoom if you don’t have a tuner, just email or text me to set up a time.
Use your amp and turn it up! As long as you can hear the music in the headphones you’re not too loud.
Aim for a video that has your head and most of your instrument like THIS.
If you don’t have an amp it’s VERY important that the room is quiet. I’ll be boosting the signal a lot so any background noise will get boosted too. Play loud but don’t beat on it. Holding the camera like THIS will help.
Keys Video Guidelines:
If you’re playing a piano try holding the camera like THIS. Play normally.
If you are playing a keyboard THIS is a good angle. Keep the volume high.
Story of my Life Bad Guy Boulevard of Broken Dreams Sasha Pass Pass Pass! Claire Pass Pass Pass! Angus Pass Pass Pass! Nate Pass Pass Pass! Asher Pass Pass Pass!
Current Assignment:
Everyone: Play along with the old two songs once a day.
Sasha: 5/11 Pass! Nice work Sasha! Eyes closed! Get ready for me to tell everyone on zoom tomorrow, I promised! Guess what? You actually sound better with your eyes closed. Remember we talked about using your Sasha voice and not trying to do too much? That was it. Nice work Sasha!
Angus: Pass! Nice work Angus! Keep practicing it along with the recording that you used in your last video. Don’t use an amp though, I want to make sure you can really hear the recording. Pay special attention to starting with them and playing the same speed as them in the chorus. Nice work!
Asher: 5/12 Pass! That’s what I was looking for! Nice work Asher! For now keep playing the old songs once a day. Soon we’ll have a new song to work on. Soldi!
4/21 YO Asher! Sounded good until you stopped! Don’t try to make perfect videos, I just want to see where you’re at so I can help you Next video I’d like you to play along with either the original version or my guitar only version, whichever is easier for you.
Claire: 5/13 Pass! Nice work Claire! That sounded awesome! I can tell you’ve been practicing. That part at the end (3:45 in the video you sent me) we voted to skip in a zoom session so just stop there. Smart to play the verse though! For the rest of the week just practice all three old songs so they don’t get rusty. We’ll have a new one soon!
Nate: 5/18 Pass! Nice work Nate! You had two mistakes, which I want you to practice away. You go to the hi hat beat in the solo for a measure, and you forgot that after the solo comes a break and then the CHORUS not the verse. You recovered well though. Those mistakes are balanced out by the fact you nailed the fill and you can adjust the camera without losing the beat. Soldi work Nate! Keep playing this one until you fix those two tiny mistakes.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams Structure:
Intro, Verse 7x, Chorus, Verse 9x Chorus, Verse 2x, Solo, Verse 2x, Chorus, Ending (we don’t know it yet)
Current songs edited to match our key and arrangement:
Glitter Skull Arrangment story of my life
Glitter Skull Arrangment Bad Guy
Glitter Skull Arrangement Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Videos:
Boulevard of Broken dreams for Sasha to sing with and everybody else to play with if they want.
Sasha Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Angus Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Asher Boulevard of Broken Dreams