The new Canadian musical GROW was set to premiere this spring, but had to be postponed due to the current global health crisis. In an effort to reinforce a sense of connection as we face these isolating times, we are creating a collaborative project to unite us, and to keep the music, message and spirit of the show alive.

We are creating a brand new music video for the title song "Grow", and we are inviting you (yes YOU!) to learn, record and submit a video of you singing it, as per our instructions below. All the videos will be edited together into one big, harmony-filled "virtual choir" performance of the song, to be shared with audiences around the world.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Saturday, April 18th

*NOTE: By submitting you are permitting us to use your video/audio, and agreeing to be included in this project.

Here’s what we’d like you to do:

• Learn a vocal line from the materials provided below. Choose the vocal part that suits you best: Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Baritone.
• Start at Bar 29, which is at 1:28 on the videos. Sing whenever you see your part indicated. (You will be singing the oohs/ahhs in the 2nd chorus, and the lyrics in the last chorus. You will not need to sing in the bridge.)
• Record a video of yourself singing along.
• Send the video to us at growthemusical@gmail.com using WeTransfer (it's free, just make sure your video file is no larger than 2GB)
• Please do not upload your video to a playback website (eg. YouTube, Vimeo), and do not send the video as an included email attachment.

Music Materials

The music materials can be downloaded here: Digital Choir Materials Dropbox

We’ve provided:

• A rough demo recording of the song with all the parts for reference
• Sheet music
• Playback videos that contain the vocal notation, lyrics, and audio guide. This is the file we recommend you use during your recording session.
  *Be sure to download the video and play it off of your computer, as the Dropbox preview playback sometimes has sync issues. 

For best results, please keep these factors in mind:

• Make sure your face is well lit. Natural light is usually a great option.
• Use your best quality camera. This is likely your phone, as often laptop cameras are of lower quality.
• Find a quiet place to make your recording. We want to only hear your voice. Turn off fans, heaters or any electronics that make noise, close windows, etc. If possible, use a location that doesn't generate lots of echo/reverb. Rooms with decorations, rugs, furniture, etc. are more ideal than empty rooms, as these items will absorb some of the echo.
• Wear a pair of headphones while performing so that your mic doesn't pick up the reference track. Ear buds will do just fine. Some people find it easier to perform with only one side of the headphones resting on the ear - that way you can hear yourself and the guide music at the same time. If you have an external microphone, go ahead and use it.
• Find a healthy distance from your microphone so that you don't overpower the audio input. For a laptop, two feet is recommended. If your highest or loudest notes overpower the mic at certain points, consider shifting your voice away from the mic for those moments, as one does with standard microphone technique.
• You’ll want to listen and practice several times before recording your part. Be meticulous about pitch, cut-offs, and vowels. You do not have to overly enunciate, especially at the ends of phrases... when we combine multiple recordings of the same cut-off, timing is more important than intensity. Try to avoid strong 'h', 'p' and 'b' plosive sounds that cause mics to distort, as these are difficult to remove afterwards.
• We know it can feel strange singing to a computer, but since you’ll be seen as well as heard in the final version, don’t be afraid to have fun! 🙂
• To achieve a more cohesive look in the final video, here is an example of how to best frame your shot:

Please feel free to contact growthemusical@gmail.com with any questions.  Thank you for being a part of this, and we hope you have a blast!