The project version which you must remix to audition is here: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1381035630/

Introduction

Welcome to auditions for December Dreams, a collaborative Scratch holiday album! If you haven't heard about December Dreams before, see the introduction link in the description. But in short, singers from across scratch will be collaborating on many holiday songs as part of a scratch album! Songs will be released in an album. Some might be early-release singles, some might even receive animated music videos! Any members who participated may share the song on their own profile after it's release as well, of course.

Some notes about songs: This is a pop holiday album, the songs do reflect this genre. Because of this genre, many of the songs do mention Christmas. Despite the songs not being super religious, many of them allude to things like American christmas traditions and ideas. I want to be clear that we are accepting of all religions and everyone is welcome
regardless of religion! Some people have been pre-selected for songs, so I don't reveal the whole track list in the audition project. Furthermore, there may be some songs put on the album that are not listed in this project for that same reason!

A note about “casting”: I would like to avoid putting the same people in all of the songs as to share the opportunity and not overwhelm a small group of people, but ultimately a lot will come down to making sure the project can be completed efficiently and well. That being said, while you may audition for every song, I will NOT put you in every song. TLDR, it's not personal and is entirely circumstantial. I also will probably avoid being featured in a lot of these songs myself, instead only providing backing vocals/extra harmonies to allow as many people as possible to join, but it depends on how many people audition. <3

Disclaimer

For those who plan on auditioning, this project may be a LOT OF READING, but I promise it is all very important! I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH, IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU READ THIS THOROUGHLY!! <3 I will be here to answer questions but have put lots of instructions in this project - showing you can read and follow them well makes you an even greater candidate! Producing a high quality album with so many people will also be a big commitment and will similarly require following many instructions. Please consider this before auditioning! SERIOUSLY - I know it's a lot of words, but take your time to go through it before auditioning.

Instructions:

On different instruments and voice parts: I don't expect there are many instrumentalists here, but if any do want to join, choose a song from here and
play the melody of the audition cut, and please indicate your level of reading sheet music in your description. Finally, voice parts - the ones listed are suggestions and ideas, absolutely audition if you are comfortable singing in the same key but a different octave!

For those here reading the forum version, some of the in-project resources are not accessible to you (you must go to the project to see them.) For your convenience, here are all of the links within the project.

LAST CHRISTMAS:
scratch.mit.edu/discuss/youtube/FpQ6BgSNPQ8

DECEMBER 25th:
scratch.mit.edu/discuss/youtube/5vc766vr5eA

SANTA TELL ME:
scratch.mit.edu/discuss/youtube/jnXxxKZ57Tw

CHRISTMAS TREE FARM:
https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/youtube/mN3rDTAdM2o

MY FAVORITE THINGS:
scratch.mit.edu/discuss/youtube/E8_TvLkM-zo

EVERGREEN:
scratch.mit.edu/discuss/youtube/5LA2X7zXu8U

EVERGREEN SHEET MUSIC:
https://musescore.com/user/5488236/scores/7101342

There are also demo recordings of harmonies which you CANNOT ACCESS FROM THE FORUM VERSION. The easiest way for you to find those from here is to click “see inside” on the audition project (linked at top) and open the first sprite, everything is consolidated there, and all harmony demo recordings are in the sound tab.

You must listen to those to hear your harmony part! Choose the part reflective of your voice part and **record yourself singing that part against the others, with the linked reference song (preferred) or the demo track.** (Don't judge my piano skills, I had to record balancing my computer in my left hand and played over the computer with my right on a bad school keyboard xD - if you want further clarification on parts, do ask.) These harmony excerpts are just for me to figure out which parts people will be on for harmonies, and who might be fitting for songs with more harmonies. Don't
feel too much pressure about getting it right, the excerpts are short for a reason!

General Audition Instructions:

- For listed songs you would like to be considered for, please sing the cut listed, and, if applicable, the harmony excerpt.

- Cuts should be acapella, or, with a karaoke track MATCHING THE LINKED REFERENCE recording – this is important because there are different versions of holiday songs! For this reason, acapella is preferred.

- Make sure you fill out the AUDITION FORM costume! YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IF THAT FORM IS NOT FILLED OUT.

- The first sprite is a condensed audition sprite for your remixing convenience. It includes the empty form, all of the links, lyrics, and demo tracks.

- Your audition MUST BE A REMIX. When remixing, you may delete all sprites except for the condensed audition sprite, where you should FILL OUT THE FORM.

- PLEASE KEEP ALL YOUR RECORDINGS IN ONE SPRITE! If you're reading this put a star emoji or :star: in your description

- Due to scratch recording quality, I suggest you record elsewhere and import your audio, but this is not at all required.

- You must complete the full audition requirements (cuts, and if applicable, harmony excerpts of chosen songs, and the filled out form) to be considered.

Some other rules:

- the voice must be your own, not ai, not plagiarized.

- your audition should have NO EFFECTS on it.

- please do not have other voices in the background (with exception of harmony excerpts as instructed)

- do not be mean or rude to ANYONE (including yourself) or you will not be considered.

- anything else that may be similar or morally inept is prohibited. i reserve the right to not select you for breaking rules or other reasons without explanation.

DEADLINE - SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION BY OCTOBER 20th

This project is on a strict timeline and extensions will only be granted in rare instances on a case-by-case basis. Should you need an extension please present a clear reason and amount of time you believe you'll need. Unless circumstances prevent you from doing so, I ask extension requests to be BEFORE the deadline please!

Audition Materials
With all of that being said, and hopefully read… here are the audition materials! I highly suggest you go over the instructions and listen to linked materials before recording <33

Last Christmas (Duet in the style of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan)

- alto/mezzo
- mezzo/soprano
- some harmony experience preferred

“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye
Tell me, baby, do you recognize me?
Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprisе me”

- - -

December 25th by Charlie Puth
(solo OR duet)

- leggero tenor(s) or mezzo(s)

“I got a chill that never goes away
When the seasons change
Ooh, ‘cause every year when Christmas comes back around
All I do is wish you would’ve stayed

Now December 25th is the day I always miss you the most, oh
'Cause the music and the lights
It reminds me of the night
That you told me you had to go”

- - -

Santa Tell Me (quartet)
- 2 mezzos, 2 sopranos
- *voice parts are flexible and mainly for harmony divisions
- singers should be good at holding basic harmonies!

“Santa, tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again
If he won't be here next year
Santa, tell me if he really cares
'Cause I can't give it all away
If he won't be here next year”

HARMONY DEMO
“Santa tell me” (repeated 4x)

These harmonies are at 2:30 in the reference recording, though may not be the exact ones given to those chosen!

- - -

Christmas Tree Farm
- alto, mezzo, 2 sopranos
- some harmony experience preferred

“In my heart is a Christmas tree farm
Where the people would come
To dance under sparkling lights
Bundled up in their mittens and coats
And the cider would flow
And I just wanna be there tonight
Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon
Mistakes are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too”

Please demonstrate singing this HARMONY
part against the melody:
“In the town kids are dreaming of sleighs
and they’re warm and they’re safe”

Harmonies at 1:33 in the reference video

- - -

My Favorite Things (solo, in the style of Kelly Clarkson)
- Strong Mezzo

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen
mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad”

*would love to hear the version that starts at
2:12 in the reference recording, but if you’re
only comfortable singing the regular version
of this chorus, you may!

- - -

Evergreen
- 2 tenors (or 1 tenor and 1 bass), 1 mezzo, 1 soprano
- those auditioning for this song should be VERY STRONG with harmonies!

(in preferred octave)
“There is a box in the attic
We take it down each year
And pass through generations, lights and souvenirs
From the ones who came before us
The reason why we're here
Singing all these carols and spreading all this cheer”

Evergreen HARMONY EXCERPT
*because of how pentatonix passes around melodies, their alto sometimes sings above their soprano, including part of this harmony audition. Please sing it this way (as done in the demo) for now, so I hear you all sing some harmony, but we may change this in recording because makes more sense
melodically for both the alto and soprano.

“So come on girl, let’s sit by the fire
I wanna tell you a story about my mother
How she would give up everything for her daughter’s dreams”

0:29 in reference video, please listen to the harmony demo
Sheet music for harmonies is linked in the link section! *sheet music subject to change for the actual recording

- - -

OTHER

I know there aren't as many opportunities for lower voices, which was done considering the demographic of the scratch music industry. Regardless of who you are, voice part or instrumental, or someone who isn't comfortable with songs about christmas, (there will be more for you!) you may sing or play a small excerpt (no more than verse and chorus needed) of a different holiday song if you would like to collaborate with others on it as part of the album.

There are NO GUARANTEES it will be added. It might be added if it makes sense considering who auditioned, if there is high interest in participating in the album, and if it is unique from other songs.

Outro:
Thank you SO SO much for considering being a part of this project and reading through all of my madness <3 This project is definitely a lot, feel free to
just audition for one or two songs that you know, and don't be afraid to ask me for clarification about anything! I know it is a bit complicated and had a
lot of instructions, but I wanted to be as clear as possible. Hopefully this album will be a fun project to bring Scratch musicians together for the holiday season!