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 to do the “waking up in bed” video concept. I think it’s going to come out awesome. Here’s what we’ll go for: Each member should be asleep in bed, camera about 3 feet overhead Like the image below. Start the video guide track above NOT in headphones this time. Have them do the claps then “fall asleep”. One by one they’ll wake up, grab their instrument from off camera and “play” the rest of the song. I’ll be throwing out the audio from this video and using the audio from the last video they made so no worries on what gets recorded for sound. Feel free to talk. Let’s have them wake up one at a time. Elodie at 10 seconds, Lucas at 20, Mila at 30, Olivia at 40, Will at 50 and Jessie at 60. Have fun with this one!
Careful Music Video Instructions:
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.
Sweet but Psycho 4th of July Chains Memories Chord Progression/Beat Memories Structure Elodie Pass Pass Pass! Pass! Pass! Lucas Pass Pass Pass! Pass! No Jessie Pass Pass Pass! No No Will Pass Pass Pass! No No Mila Pass Pass Pass! No No Olivia Pass Pass Pass! Pass! No
Current Assignment:
Everyone: Play the old two songs once a day with the tracks below.
Check out the new video below with me playing Chains on Guitar. It could be good to play along with this, it’ll feel easier than the real version. Elodie you should play this when you sing it, and when you make your videos
Chains Structure: Verse 12x, Chorus 2x, Post Chorus 4x, Verse 8x, chorus 2x, Post Chorus 12x, Chorus 2x,
Jessie: 5/28 Pass!
Mila: 5/15 Yo Mila! I still need the WHOLE song to pass you on it. Here’s the structure: Verse 12x, Chorus 2x, Post Chorus 4x, Verse 8x, chorus 2x, Post Chorus 12x, Chorus 2x, You always stop after the second post chorus. That’s it though! Everything else is awesome! Make sure your next video is you playing along with the track below. No need to plug in the guitar. Do it Mila! You got this!
Olivia: 5/29 You passed the chord progression! Nice work Olivia! First pass on this song! You should try playing along with the whole song. It’s just that over and over with two places where you stop for a measure. Listen to the track first and see if you can figure out where the two stops are. You got this O$!
Elodie: 6/1 Pass! That was super tight Elodie! Nice work!
Lucas: 6/3 Dang Lucas! Your guitar tone is amazing in that video. You made it into a lead line. I passed you on the chord progression! Now if you want the second pass play it along with the recording. Nice job!
Will: 4/23 Pass! nice work Will! A cruel of things: WATCH OUT THERE’S A GIANT DOG IN YOUR BASEMENT! You should loosen the nut on your crash cymbal. If it can’t move around it’ll crack. Make sure you aren’t pointing your index finger down the stick when you hold it. For a bonus song I dare you to try out Boulevard of broken dreams from the Glitter skull band page. Yo might enjoy it. It’s the Nate video that you would want. Nice work!
Current songs edited to match our key and arrangement:
Jemlow Arrangement Sweet But Psycho
Jemlow Arrangement 4th of July
Videos:
Memories Guitar Only for Vocal Practice