derek brown

To my U.S. saxophone friends:

I'm inviting you to help me make a music video collaboration of my new arrangement of "America the Beautiful" for this year's 4th of July. I really want to showcase the diversity of saxophone players in the U.S. (age, ethnicity, gender, etc), and I'd love for you to be a part! Anyone interested, follow these guidelines, and hopefully it won't take more than a few minutes:

1. Click the image above or below, to download the sheet music parts (includes parts for alto, tenor, bari, and soprano saxophones)

2. Find a quiet, well-lit spot to record your video. This could be as simple as your bedroom or band room, or a fun place that shows where you are in the US. However, it's important that the surroundings are quiet, so that we only hear the saxophone. (Watch out especially for wind noise if you record outside)

3. Be sure to TUNE

4. MOST IMPORTANT: Use a metronome at quarter note = 68 bpm. It's imperative that you do this, otherwise I won't be able to sync your audio with the others. Also, the metronome needs to be INAUDIBLE to the recording. So I would suggest you either use headphones, use a blinking mode, or have friend conduct you while watching their own metronome.

5. Set up your video device in landscape mode (horizontal)

6. Record as many or as few of the parts as you'd like. I'm hoping for everyone to at least play the melody at the top. But there are also many background parts (more for alto and tenor) that I hope you can also record. Do not worry about mistakes, or time between playing each part. I will be doing all the audio and video editing to make everything come together.  The most important thing is that you're in tune, and IN TIME WITH A SILENT METRONOME.

7. At the end of the video, shout out something like, "I'm  (your name), from (your state). Happy Birthday, America!" Or do a funny video exit (like somebody does on ALL their videos!).

8.  Get the video to me by Friday, May 25. To do this, email the file to me at derekbrownsax@gmail.com (or use GoogleDrive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer). If those don’t work send the video in a Facebook message or message request. Let me know if you’re having trouble.

9.  Keep a lookout for the video on July 3rd or 4th!

Thanks for your involvement! I can't wait to see all these!

Disclaimers: I can't guarantee that your video or audio will be used, but I'll do what I can!  Depending on the amount of involvement from everyone, or if the recording quality isn't up to standard or the playing is too out of tune or out of time, I may not be able to use everything.

There's also a chance if everything goes well, I might use the audio from this project on my upcoming album. If you send me a recording, you're giving me the rights to post parts of the video and/or audio on social media as well as potentially on an album that will be for sale.