Please note that some of the info presented may be somewhat outdated as it described our last project: It’s Time.
We will not be doing Music Videos for our Christmas Carols, due to time constraint and copyright consideration.
Please contact us directly for any specific information.
What is KidsVoice 2020?
Who is behind KidsVoice 2020?
What are the objectives of KidsVoice 2020?
What does the project actually involve?
How much would it cost for me to join?
Wait! Did someone mentioned a FREE T-Shirt?
Will my kids be too young?
Why did you choose the song “It’s Time”?
Do I have to be able to read music to join?
Do I have to be a great singer?
But really, I have been told that I am a terrible singer!
But I am still feeling anxious! Any Tips?
What gear do I need to record my singing?
How will we be learning the song?
Do I have to learn all parts?
How do I know which parts to pick?
How will I be recording my singing?
What if my recordings sound weird and terrible?
You mentioned dance moves, will we be actually doing a Music Video?
If we are doing a video, do I have to record my dancing?
How will I be recording my groovy dancing?How will I be sending in my recordings?
What will happen after I have joint?
How do you ensure our safty?
What is the cutoff date for joining?
Are you planning on any follow up projects?
IT SOUNDS GREAT! WHERE DO I SIGN?
What is KidsVoice 2020?
The project idea was originally conceived during the Coronavirus Lockdown. It is a project created to allow kids to sing and record a song together while staying at their own homes, using just their smartphones/PCs and the internet, to be released publicly on social media sites. Modern mixing technologies now allow us to collaborate across long distance, transcending physical locations.
Who is behind KidsVoice 2020?
The project had been created by Kwan Chan with collaborations with Clermont Artslink, DownUnder Brothers, Dysart Arts Inc. and Moranbah Art Council. The main organisers are Dean Pearce, Jasmine Pearce and Kwan Chan, all passionate local artists (read more about them in our bio section), with lots of help from our families and friends!
What are the objectives of KidsVoice 2020?
. To give our kids a safe space of their own to do something creative and fun together.
. To help our kids connect and give them a sense of community.
. To give our kids a chance to push their own limitations and in the process empowering themselves in their artistic, self-expressive, and social aspects and to boost their confidence in themselves.
. To give families an opportunity to participate in a fun activity together at home, during time of social distancing.
. To continue our community projects and help keep our community spirit high despite the looming pandemic risks and restrictions.
. To create beautiful memories, TOGETHER!
What does the project actually involve?
Over a course of a few weeks, via videos and Zoom practice sessions, kids will learn the different parts of the song “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons together. There may be choreographed and freestyle dance moves too! Then each participant will be recording their singing and dancing footages and send to us to be mixed into the final song to be released on social media sites like Facebook/YouTube/Soundcloud…etc.
How much would it cost for me to join?
Nothing! This is a free community project funded entirely by the organisers themselves personally. Participants are encouraged to join their local art organisations so they can have assess to their various activities but this is totally optional.
Wait! Did someone mentioned a FREE T-Shirt?
YES! You’ve heard right!
Every participant will get a really cool Rock Band Crew T-Shirt with the KidVoice 2020 Logo! We want our participants to feel proud of having been involved in such a great project. I know I am proud of wearing my crew T-shirts I have accumulated throughout the years for being in different bands/projects and I want you to feel the same! We will send out a questionnaire for size…etc, and there may be different styles for different level of involvement.
Will my kids be too young?
No lower age limit!
As long as the parents can help their young ones learn even just a few lines of the song, or record a bit of their dancing(can be free form and spontaneous as kids do!), and help with uploading the files you are set. We do realise that the song “It’s Time” may appeal to the older kids more but just have a bit of fun with it!
We welcome kids of all ages and abilities!
Why did you choose the song “It’s Time”?
It was suggested by Dean our man, amongst a few others, and after consulting with quite a few other kids, we had decided that it would be most suitable choice and popular with the young ones. It voices out the challenges and anxiety felt by a young growing person but ultimately it is a song about being who you really are, and breaking free of your own limitations.
Can I either just sing parts of the song, or just dance/move/act?
While we encourage everyone to do as much as they can, it is totally up to you how much involved you want to get. Especially if you are very young, you can just sing a couple of lines of the song, or a bit of your dancing/moves! (See last question)
Do I have to be able to read music to join?
NO! There will be guide tracks and Zoom lessons provided so learning, practising and even recording will be just like singing along to a song!
Do I have to be a great singer?
NO! The emphasis is on FUN! If you can sing Happy Birthday you can do this!
But really, I have been told that I am a terrible singer!
Every time I hear this I get really angry! These critics do not know what they are talking about and it is certainly not their place to judge! We sing because we ENJOY singing, and it is our birthright to be able to express ourselves through our chosen art and form, whatever level we are at! IT’S TIME WE CLAIM THIS RIGHT TO SING OUR HEARTS OUT TOGETHER!
But I am still feeling anxious! Any Tips?
. It is perfectly normal to feel some trepidation, even for a Pro! However the Pros think of it as their nervous energy and their anticipation that give them their motivation and strength to work at their best to push their personal boundary!
. Remember too that we will NOT actually be able to hear you during our Zoom sessions, and we will do our magic to make you sound great in our final mix. Your voice will be mixed in with many others anyway(if you are exceptional though we may be able to showcase your singing in some solo sections.)
. Every time you have conquered something, you would feel exhilarated. Your personal power would grow and you would be able to accomplish even more!
What gear do I need to record my singing?
You do need the internet and one or two smart phone/computer. But if you are keen to join but do not have the gear required just join anyway and we would do everything we can to help you work out something. (I know, we are nice! ☺️)
How will we be learning the song?
There will be music/lyric sheets, demo tracks, and live Zoom practice sessions provided.
Music/Lyric Sheets will help you learn the parts but remember that while music reading is helpful it is not essential at all.
Demo/Guide Tracks allow you to listen to how your part would sound and you can sing along to practice and record.
Zoom Video Practice Sessions will be conducted over four weeks, roughly 30mins for each part. Due to technical issues of latency you will be asked to mute the mic in these sessions so we cannot even hear you anyway so don’t worry if you make a mistake. These sessions will also be recorded and be made available so you can go through them again and also so anyone not able to attend live can still have assess.
Do I have to learn all parts? No, we are encouraging everybody to learn and record at least two parts as the more recordings we have the better it sounds, so the more the merrier. However if you feel you only want to do one part it is okay too! And if you are really young/shy, you can even do just a few lines of the song!
How do I know which parts to pick?
The simplest would be just to try to sing along to each part’s demo track and see whether you can sing the whole song comfortably. There will also be a helpful video provided to help you. Remember though that we do need all parts!
How will I be recording my singing?
We will be using your smartphone and/or computer. More detailed instructions will be provided.
There are a few methods of doing this:
1) Two Devices: Using one device to play the demo track, and while listening to it with headphones, sing and record onto the other device. This is the easiest method but does require two devices.
2) Single Device/Multitrack Recording App: Import the demo track into the app, and once again listening to it with headphones and record your singing into the app. There is a small learning curve but will in the long run be the easiest and give a better result. Plus you will be introduced into the wonderful world of Multitrack Recording and can do many other cool stuff!
3) Other: If you already have a mic recording setup done you can also do that.
What if my recordings sound weird and terrible?
. Chances are that they don’t! It is always weird to see and hear yourselves in a recordings, and one is always one’s own worst critic.
. The recordings do not have to be perfect either. You may want to do a few takes and just send in your best one. Most minor mistakes like timing and pitch errors can be corrected in post processing, but since it does takes us hours to work on each recording it would help us a lot if we start off with as few mistakes as possible.
. Once again, just do you best and concentrate on having fun!
You mentioned dance moves, will we be actually doing a Music Video?
I am hoping so. While we already have the permission to record audio to be released, we are currently negotiating the video right and hopefully the cost is not too inhibitory as the organisers are funding this personally.
If we are doing a video, do I have to record my dancing?
While we encourage everyone to do it because it is load of fun and would make our final video much better, it is totally up to you!
How will I be recording my groovy dancing?With your smartphone or computer camera. More detailed instruction will be given.
How will I be sending in my recordings?
You will be given a link(Google Drive/Dropbox) to upload the files.
What will happen after I have joint?
(This info is outdated as it described our last project: It’s Time)
Your direct involvement will be about 4-6 weeks. It is anticipated that the entire project will be finished in mid to late October, and here is a run down:
. Roughly one week after the sign-up cutoff date, all learning materials will be provided.
. Everybody can then picks their part(s) and is encouraged to listen to and sing along with the demo tracks to start learning them. The better you know your parts at the the Zoom sessions, the more enjoyable the sessions would for you.
. About a week later we will be starting our four weeks of Zoom Practice Sessions in which we will learn a section of the song each week. Each session would be about 30mins long for each part but you can log in a bit earlier to have a chit chat with each other.
. Along the way you may also be given choreographed dance move videos to be learnt and recorded as well. You can also create your own moves and be really silly about it too!
. Once we have learnt the entire song you will be given instructions on how to record your singing/dancing and send in your recordings. You would have a week or so to do this.
It will then take us a few weeks to do our magic to mix and edit and our much anticipated baby will be born!
. We will have a final Zoom Video Launch Party Session! Once published you can all share it with everybody.
. We are now all world famous celebrities! (maybe not quite but isn’t imagination a great thing?)
How do you ensure our safty?
Firstly, everything we do will be via the net through emails, Zoom video chats…etc only. There is no physical contact at all. We do not even ask for your street addresses, just your hometowns. Moreover both of the adult organisers are blue card holders. If you prefer, you can also supply your parent/guardian’s email only. All information and materials will be used by the organisers and not given out to third parties unless permission has been granted.
What is the cutoff date for joining?
Originally we had set it to 15/08/2020 as it helps us greatly to know the number for planning, however we have now extended it for at least a couple of weeks. If you wish to join late and are willing to catch up with the materials supplied, you are most welcome!
Are you planning on any follow up projects?
If successful, I am hoping very much to follow this up with KidsVoice 2020 MkII: with young instrumentalists added in the mix! Other activities in the pipeline would be online beginners’ music/instrument/singing lessons, as well as possible live performance down the track.
I have other questions!
Sure! Feel free to contact us. Our contact details are on our contact page.
IT SOUNDS GREAT! WHERE DO I SIGN?
You can sign up here
Please do this with your parent/guardian as consent is required.
(prepared by Kwan Chan)
KidsVoice 2020 