UPDATE: We received requests for reference recordings with sung versions of the melody and bass parts. We have now created and uploaded those those recordings. They are available on YouTube and in the DropBox resources folder.
Thank you for your interest in being a part of the PAAM Choir 2021 performance of “Together We Are One”.
PAAM is the Pacific Islander & Asian American Ministries of the United Church of Christ. In response to the harassment and violence towards the Asian American/Pacific Islander communities in Atlanta and elsewhere, Thursdays for the Soul on April 15th will be led by PAAM and other partners who are fighting anti-AAPI sentiments in this country and globally. Our choir performance will be part of this program.
Everyone is welcome to be a part of the PAAM choir. You do not have to identify as a Pacific Islander or Asian American in order to join us. We need everyone to take a stand against harassment and violence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
If you submit a recording to us, we will use it in the following ways:
- The recording of this performance will become a part of the April 15, 2021 edition of Thursdays for the Soul. Thursdays for the Soul is a weekly digital program produced by Faith INFO and is archived in the UCC National You Tube channel.
- We will upload the recording to our YouTube channels so that we can share it widely.
- We will make the choir recording available to churches and other organizations that wish to use it in their worship or activities.
We need all kinds of singers. If you would prefer to just sing the melody, that’s great! If you are comfortable singing the alto, tenor or bass part, that would be great too! Please choose the part that is most comfortable for your voice.
This page has links to recording instructions and sheet music.
This is a learning experience for all of us. Do your best with your video, but don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect. Most tiny imperfections will magically vanish when your individual voices are blended into the virtual choir.
Please share this information with anyone you think might enjoy participating.
Instructions for Recording Your Part
To keep us together, sing the same notes and rhythms as the sheet music and reference recording. We have both video and audio reference recordings. You can get the music and reference recordings from the Together We Are One Dropbox Folder.
If it works with your setup, we recommend using the video version. The visual cues in the video version will help keep us together.
You will need a device to play back the reference recording and a device to record yourself singing. This can be the same device, or you can use two devices. For example, you might use your computer to play the reference recording and your phone to record a video of yourself singing.
Before you begin recording, take a moment to watch Mike’s video tips.
When you are ready, here’s how to record your part:
1) Set yourself up so you can listen to the reference recording over headphones or ear buds. The accompaniment should not be audible in the video that you make; all we want to hear is your voice. Given the many variations in phones, computers and software, we can’t give you step-by-step instructions here.
2) Eliminate or minimize any background noise. Make sure your T.V., radio, and computer aren’t playing any audio that could be picked up in your recording. If you have a bird, dog, or other animal that likes to sing along with you, try to record in a different room from them.
3) Find a well-lighted place to record your video. Your face should be well lit: turn the lights on, face a window, etc. DON’T record yourself with your back to a window or a bright light.
4) If you can, position your music so it’s parallel with your camera, not below it. You want to be looking at the camera, not down at your music.
5) Start your video recording app. Please do not use Zoom to record your part, since Zoom often introduces audio problems.
6) Don’t be so close to the camera that you’re near the edges of the video frame. Leave some background to your left, right, and above you. Don’t worry about getting the framing exactly right – we’ll probably trim some off of the edges of your video when we do the final layout. It is better to have too much space around you than too little.
7) Start your audio playback
8) Sing along with the reference recording at a comfortable volume. If you have a loud voice, you might need to be further from your recording device to avoid overwhelming your microphone.
9) When done, stop your recording app.
10) Return your recording(s) to https://www.dropbox.com/request/D2kQaxfo4d5h9LuZdTbN by 10:00pm on Friday night, April 9. If you can send it in earlier, that would be helpful.
Send me an email if you have questions or need help.
Michael Patrick Ellard
mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com
Reference Recordings
You can get reference recordings via DropBox, YouTube, or email.
YouTube
Several Reference videos are available on YouTube.
Sung Melody
All parts (instrumental only, no percussion beats)
All parts (instrumental only, with percussion beats)
Soprano practice part (instrumental only)
Alto practice part (instrumental only)
Tenor practice part (instrumental only)
Bass practice part (sung)
Bass practice part (instrumental only)
Dropbox
All of the reference recordings are available for download from the following link:
I would be glad to email you audio or video practice files. The files are quite large, so I will only send them to people who ask for them. Send me an email at mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com if you need something via email.
