Song Planning
A. Song Design Planning
Watch how to dissect a song using the video to understand blend design of instruments.
Watch some of the video examples below since we will be making similar videos for your music designs:
Choose a song that you want to recreate in GarageBand. Remember that the lyrics must be appropriate in every way, both directly and indirectly. Song must be in English and 2-4 minutes in length. You are the designer and director of the song but you do not have to sing or physically play music (others can for you but you organize it and blend it together) although it would be nice if you could contribute in some way to playing or singing, even if it is just secondary.
Write the following as a Schoology comment:
Song Title:
Original Artist:
Person(s) who will sing: (you will be video recording them singing and use it in your final song project; example, the singer cannot sing for another student's project)
YT link to a video of your song that shows the lyrics (example):
Original Instruments used in the song:
Instrument(s) you plan on physically playing: (must have at least one physical instrument but it cannot be a piano because that is intended for musical typing in GB)
Instruments you intend to originally create in GB: (need at least two and the easiest to do in GB is piano, base guitar, & drums; if you or a friend has an iPad you can download GarageBand for free and easy to use their instruments)
Then read the recording directions below and plan out with your musicians and vocalists when you will record them and fill out the form below to reserve time to borrow professional microphones from class to record.
Create a new GarageBand project called Song Design caUserID.
Add the mp3 file of the song you will be creating into GarageBand as a track layer (drag the song file into your GarageBand on the timeline). You will use the song only as an answer key to show you the parts of the song but you will need to delete or mute the original song for your final project otherwise it is cheating. If you have trouble getting the mp3 file, let me know and I can try to purchase it on my iTunes account and you can pay me back.
All vocal and musical instruments recordings must be completed on or by Monday, February 6.
Sign up over the next week or as soon as you arrange a time with the person using the form below when you plan to record your vocals. You can use the equipment during an AP time, Y-day lunches, after school on Tuesdays, or borrow to take home.
Samson Microphone: High quality compact and used to take home if needed
Audio-Technica Microphone: On a stand with a spit block used to record in the lab
Yeti Microphone: Large high quality mic used to record at school
H4N Recorder: Compact to record vocals or you can plug in your guitar to the device
Photos of my brother-in-law who is in a band in Hawaii:
Do not do:
+Instruments you intend to originally create in GB AND the name of the person who will play it. Also include the preferred planned day, time, & location you would like to record: (instruments that are easy to play is the drums, bass, and piano)
+Instruments you intend intend to have someone physically play and record AND the name of the person who will play it. Also include the preferred planned day, time, & location you would like to record: (e.g. guitar)
+Person(s) who will sing. Also include the preferred planned day, time, & location you would like to record. Keep in mind that you will need to take a photo of the main vocalist of the song and feature them on the front cover. Write where you would like to take the photo (e.g. class computer lab with lights, at the park, riding on the bus, next to the river, etc.
Take a screenshot of the email and attach it to the same email and send it to Posterous and post the link to the spreadsheet. Then complete the following:
Reservations
All singing and real instruments not in GB must use the H4n recording device, therefore you must check the list below to see the availability and fill out the form below to reserve it for the day that has not been taken yet but make sure that time works with those recording for you.
Students may reserve it for one day Mon-Fri and bring it back the next morning by 8am. If you reserve it on Fri you will bring it back by Monday morning. You may not reserve it for more than one time outside of school but you can use it during school multiple times if needed (if available).
Email the people who will be playing real instruments and those playing GB instruments for you and let them know which day you would like to record them. Give them the link to the Posterous post you just sent for this assignment and ask them to post a comment at the bottom of your Posterous article page confirming what instrument (or vocals) they can record for you and the day, time, and place to record. If they cannot post to Posterous then have them ask a friend to post the comment for them but you should not post the comment for them.