Tag Archives: editing

Video Tutorial: How to Avoid Awkward Fade-outs (Part 1)

In this two-part video, I explain both WHY you should avoid awkward fade-outs whenever possible, and HOW to do it. Here is Part 1, WHY:

If you already know WHY you should avoid fade-outs, here is Part 2, where I show you HOW to do it.

For more detailed information on how to avoid awkward fade-outs when editing music for your dance routines, here’s a web page about it, in written form. Here’s more about the Top 5 song editing mistakes I hear at dance competitions.

I would love your feedback about this video. Was it useful to you? Did you learn something? What audio-editing-for-dance tips would you like to learn about next?

Music for gymnastics floor routines

Just got done mixing my first song for a gymnastics floor routine. While I have years of experience with editing music for dance, there are some unique challenges posed by the requirements of gymnastic floor routines. Music can be no longer than 1:30, and at some levels, 1:10 or 1:00 is required. The other major consideration is that the music must be an instrumental with no voice or vocals on the track.

My client requested a version of my Drive Remix specifically for her gymnastic student’s floor routine, and I was only too happy to deliver a final mix within hours of her order.

An introduction to Squirrel Trench Audio

An introduction to Squirrel Trench Audio. This video segment covers why it’s important for dance teachers and dance studio owners to edit your dance music correctly from the start!

If you are new to Squirrel Trench Audio, or music editing, here are some links to what you can find here on the web site:

How to Avoid Awkward Fade Outs

Song Ideas for: Jazz • Lyrical • Tap • Contemporary • Musical Theater

Services offered: Song edits • Custom Remixes

Let me know if you found this video worthwhile, and what music editing tips you’d like to learn about in future video segments. Your feedback is appreciated!

 

 

 

Special offer on song editing for dance routines!

Squirrel Trench Audio is currently running a SPECIAL OFFER good only through Friday, September 9, 2011. Submit your song to be edited (and payment) before that date, and I will cut it to routine length for ONLY $29! (That’s a $20 savings!) If you want to take advantage of this offer, email: morriss@squirreltrenchaudio.com.

When do you prep your music?

If you aren’t already a fan of Squirrel Trench Audio on Facebook, feel free to “like” us. (We’re also on Twitter if you want to follow us there.)

We’ve just added a poll on our Facebook page, and would be thrilled to get your answer. Check out the poll, and submit your answer here: Dance teachers – when do you select and prep your music for the upcoming dance season?

Songs for Tap Dance, part 3

Nationals have wrapped up, summer dance camps have begun, and we are now in the full hunt for just that right pieces of magical music for next season’s routines. A cappella (which means without instruments) songs can be a fantastic choice for tap, if your student is a strong hoofer, because the music is open enough to let the sound of the taps really ring through. If you have other great song ideas for tap routines, leave them in the comments below and I’ll add ’em! If you want to use any of these songs and need them edited perfectly for competition, we’d love to edit it for you. Also, we have song suggestions for Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theater, and Kid Friendly Hip Hop. And here are even more songs for tap, and Songs for Tap, Part 1 and Part 2.

I’d Like To (a cappella) – Voices In Your Head

Jesse’s Girl (vocal style) – Co Co Beaux (Rick Springfield cover)

I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker – Sandy Thom

Rolling In The Deep – Angela Wolff (Adele cover)

4 Minutes (acoustic) – Boyce Avenue (Madonna cover)

A Cappella in Acapulco (a cappella)- The Real Group

Dancing Queen (acoustic guitar) – Frank Turner (ABBA cover)

Need any of these songs edited to dance routine length? Let me know.

Get more taptastic Squirrel Trench remixes at Legitmix

Find even more tap songs here, and Songs for Tap, Part 1 and Part 2.

2011-2012 dance season is underway

As we gear up for the 2011-2012 dance season, Squirrel Trench Audio has been super busy getting music ready for a new slate of superlative dance routines.

Some dance studios have started their junior, teen, and senior summer camps, and their group numbers have their soundtracks finished. Many of these are character and concept pieces – routines that tell a story. Several are tap pieces, several are jazz pieces, and at least one is a character piece. All of them are the foundation for winning performances. When the music is generating excitement for the kids, that enthusiasm is going to translate to the dance floor, which will make for excited audiences, which makes the kids more excited, in a positive virtuous cycle.

In addition to numerous remixes prepared for a competition level studio, I’ve also just recently edited a beautiful lyrical piece for an older teen, as well as a character medley for a dancer in Texas. With modern technology, Squirrel Trench Audio knows no bounds… I deliver your finished song or remix as an mp3 in a private folder just for you or your studio.

If I have time, I will post some music remixes that I created for dancers last season that have been retired, so you can get an idea of the quality work that Squirrel Trench Audio delivers – quality that is equivalent to what a major recording studio would deliver. Also, Squirrel Trench Audio is on Facebook, so feel free to “like” our page.

If you are getting your music ready for the 2011-2012 dance season, check out our services, or email me for more information about our music editing and remixing!

Junior Mister Superstar at Star Systems Nationals

Katelyn and Jacob warming up for their Jump Jive and Wail duo

Congratulations to Jacob Lill for winning Junior Mister Superstar at Star Systems’ National dance competition 2011 at Myrtle Beach. Jacob was smooth on stage for his brief interview, citing his mother as the coolest person he’s met in real life, and finding nothing bad he could say about his home state of Connecticut. An hour later he was on stage performing That Old Black Magic, choreographed by Lesley Lambert. The music was by Jeremy Davenport, and edited by yours truly. It was somewhat of tricky song to edit, since the tempo of a jazz song will drift slightly through different sections of the song. I am very proud of the results of my audio editing, making the song perfectly seamless.

But I am even more proud of Jacob and his choreographer for all of the hard work they have put into becoming a National Champion!

And now Squirrel Trench Audio can claim to have edited the music for a National Dance Champion! For more on the keys to a winning dance routine, check out this entry.

On location at Star Systems Nationals, Myrtle Beach

myrtlebeach-laptop2Squirrel Trench Audio is on location this week, at Star Systems‘ National Dance Competition at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I’m looking forward to hearing a number of Squirrel Trench edited songs on a fantastic sound system, including Pixie Hollow, and seeing this routine and others performed by some amazing dancers.

And while being at Myrtle Beach for a week is a wonderful vacation, I am still responding to client requests. When this is my view, I don’t mind a bit.

**Update** Two of our studio’s dancers won National Titleist in their age category, including Jacob, who won with a Squirrel Trench-edited song. Congratulations to both Jacob and Jade! All told, 19 Squirrel Trench-edited songs were the foundation for solo and group performances at this Nationals.