Tag Archives: platinum

Clean your dance, clean your music

clean_music_by_fatihakgungorCompetition season for dancers is here in earnest. This past weekend featured two studios utilizing Squirrel Trench music for their routines at the same competition (27 routines!). We’re thrilled to report a slew of 1st Places, Platinum, High Golds and Overalls were garned by these dedicated and hardworking dancers and choreographers.

Now that we’re in the competition phase of the year, don’t forget to clean your music at the same time you’re cleaning your routines and costumes. If there is a hiccup, jump, skip, mis-matched beat in your music, or section of music that is too soft, or not punchy enough, too fast or too slow, it’s not too late to get it fixed in time for the next regionals competition.

Already, Squirrel Trench Audio has helped dance teachers and studio owners get higher scores for their routines in a number of ways. For one tap number, the dancers were rushing too fast for the music. Solution? Speed up the music. For another studio, the routine was receiving deductions for inappropriate language. Solution? Inappropriate language obscured through clever remixing by Squirrel Trench. For another studio, the music they were using was too soft compared to all the other music being used. Solution? Brought up to current loudness levels by Squirrel Trench through a process known as mastering.

We know that many dance teachers and studios cut their own music. One of the potential pitfalls to self-cut music is that in the course of rehearsing the number five hundred times, any mistakes or hiccups eventually sound normal, just because you become used to hearing it that way. Of course, the judges will be hearing it for the first time, and if there is a hiccup, skip, jump or any other strangeness in the audio, it detracts from the polish you’ve worked so hard to achieve with your students.

So find a friend who can listen to your competition music with fresh ears. If they hear something that doesn’t sound right, send it my way to get it fixed in time for your next Regionals, so that you’ve got it the best it can be in time for Nationals. If you have something that needs fixing, use this Online Request Form, or email me at: morriss@squirreltrenchaudio.com

Related articles: Time to Fix Things UpPump Up The VolumeFix Your Music in Time for Nationals

Congratulations to Rhythm Dance Company’s Neon

RhythmDanceCoCongratulations go to Rhythm Dance Company’s senior team tonight; they performed three routines with Squirrel Trench edited or remixed music at Hall of Fame’s Worcester Regional competition held at the DCU Center. Their routine Neon, using a custom Squirrel Trench remix that includes numerous sound effects, was a big winner for the evening, garnering a special Precision Award, scoring a 1st Place Platinum in the category, and winning 4th overall in Senior Large Groups.

Tonight’s performances were:

  • Neon — RDC (Senior Jazz Large Group) — Precision Award, 1st Place Platinum, 4th Overall in Senior Large Groups
  • Werk It — RDC (Senior Hip Hop Large Group) — High Gold
  • Beautiful, Dirty, Rich — RDC (Senior Jazz Trio)

While it is our policy not to share music that is currently being using in competition, in the meantime, you can enjoy the custom remix of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation that Rhythm Dance Company used last year:
https://soundcloud.com/squirreltrench/rhythm-nation-squirrel-trench

Tomorrow’s and Sunday’s performances are scheduled to be live streamed on this web page: http://www.halloffamedance.com/livestream.aspx

The full schedule for the weekend can be found here: http://www.halloffamedance.com/regionals/schedule.aspx?id=442

And a full listing of routines at this weekend’s competition that will be performing with Squirrel Trench audio are listed here.

Break a leg to all of RDC’s and NEDC’s dancers performing tomorrow and Sunday!

Congratulations, dancers!

Congratulations to four New England Dance Center soloists, a duo, and a trio, using Squirrel Trench Audio remixed songs and choreo by Miss Lesley, for winning 1st overall in your category at Star Systems‘ Worcester Regional yesterday morning… and the duo and trio scored the PLATINUM prize as well.

Vocalists take home the prizes at Star Systems

Bookending the Top Vocalist and Third Place Winners at Star Systems' 2012 Worcester Regional competition.

This past weekend, Squirrel Trench Audio was honored to be in the audience for the performances of two amazingly talented young singers at Star Systems’ Worcester Regional Competition.

These two young talents have been rehearsing their singing skills all season long, and with the backing track of Squirrel Trench-mixed instrumentals, have taken home the Top Vocalist and Third Place Vocalist trophies.

The choice of song and choreo for Shaunessey was supplied by Miss Kerrin Clark, and additional choreo for both girls was supplied by Miss Lesley. Additional vocal coaching for Shaunessey supplied by Pam Bussell.

To aid these young singers in improving their performances, I recorded them a month ago, and supplied them with rehearsal CDs that had three versions: the instrumental-only version, a version with a professional reference singer, and their own sung version, which was created by editing together the numerous takes they had laid down in the recording process. The recording process itself is a great learning tool; you can really zero-in on minute details and trouble spots that are not immediately obvious on first listen.

The results speak for themselves, and Squirrel Trench Audio is proud to be associated with these marvelous entertainers.

Here is Shaunessey’s rendition of That’s How You Know

Here is Ava singing Nothing (from A Chorus Line)

Bringing home the Platinum

Squirrel Trench Audio is proud to have played a small role in helping a senior dancer bring home a Platinum and first overall performance at the Onstage New York regional competition in Springfield, Massachusetts last weekend. The number, When Doves Cry, is an original jazz choreography and performance by Brianna Roland. She did her own music editing of the Prince song as well. The dance is truly spectacular. Prior to this weekend, the music had a small hiccup at the ending. I fixed the hiccup, making the ending as flawless as the dance. Brianna was ecstatic to finally have perfect music to go with her beautiful performance. And the results couldn’t have been better: A Platinum award and first place overall. Congrats to Miss Senior Titlist, Brianna Roland!

If you also have a hiccup, glitch, scar, or other awkwardness in your music, it’s not too late to get it fixed in time for Nationals.

And now, Brianna’s routine has been uploaded by Headliners!