March is Music in Our Schools Month, and we need your help celebrating amazing music educators everywhere! We have written a short script about why the work of music teachers is so impactful for students. We’d love these words to be delivered straight from students themselves.
We’re looking for students from across the country to submit videos of themselves saying the words in our script, and we’ll edit them together into a compilation video for release in March to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month.
The finished video will be featured on our website and social media channels. Students who are chosen to be included in the video will win a $50 Amazon Gift Card (to be delivered via email).
HOW TO ENTER
Download the script and read it all the way through
- You are welcome to recite the whole script, or just a part of it that you like best. Read it through and decide what parts you’d like to perform.
Practice performing the section you have decided on
- Practice saying the words out loud and you can even mark the words you want to slow down, emphasize, or accent – just like you mark up your music!
Find a filming location with good light
- The best options are usually facing a window or open doorway. Make sure there is plenty of light. If you notice shadows from overhead lighting, try using a large white piece of foam board or cardboard as a reflector at about waist height, just out of frame.
- If you can film in your music room and/or holding your instrument – even better!
Frame your shot VERTICALLY (reel format)
- You can choose to frame up any style shot you’d like: headshot, half length, seated, standing, etc. You can walk toward the camera or slightly across the frame if you want to add motion. But your video must be shot in vertical (tall) format.
Stabilize your phone or camera
- Use a tripod if you have one, or set your phone up against a stack of books, or other object. Try to avoid using a wide angle lens that introduces a lot of distortion.
Try for clean audio
- Make sure there is no background noise during your recording. Listen for heating and air conditioning noise, appliances, and echoes that might make it hard to hear you.
- Be aware of any noise your clothing, feet, body movements, or papers are making.
Send us your best take
- Do several takes and review them to see which has the best delivery. Send us that one!
Technical notes for your video file
- iPhones record with a variable frame rate, which makes editing the clips in professional software difficult. Before you record, please make sure to turn off Auto FPS in SETTINGS>CAMERA>RECORD VIDEO. Also disable HDR VIDEO in the same screen.
- Submit your file in MP4 format, with a setting of H.264 if possible.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROJECT!
Once the final video has been edited together, students who’s videos have been included will be notified by email. If your video is chosen, you’ll win a $50 Amazon gift card!
The submission form will be open through February 27th.
If you have any questions about the project, or how to enter your video, please reach out via email to [email protected].
