MARCH 31, 2020
Free to enter! Winner wins $100
Free to enter! Winner wins $100
Who am I and why am I doing this?
I'm Matthew Levine. I have been writing songs for over 40 years. I have two gospel songs that have never been commercially released, A Home That Forever Will Stand of which won four awards including a grand prize (list on image at the bottom), and my latest one, My Beloved. My ultimate goal is to produce a gospel album that would appeal to anyone who believes in a benevolent creator, one which is at the artistic level of the Quincy Jones produced album, A Soulful Celebration. Having a contest to find singers is a way to introduce myself to the gospel community and see if I can gather collaborators in this project. It's a dream—one worth pursuing and one that can unite diverse peoples.
Who can enter?
Anyone. However, the recordings are done with female singers so the key may not be right for all male singers or some female singers as well. If you know a musician who can play it in a key that's good for you, that's fine. You don't need to use these recordings but there should be accompaniment to your vocals on piano or guitar.
How will the winner be chosen?
All criteria will be weighed and the one who shows excellence in the most areas will win. Those areas are, in order of importance: 1. Ability to convey the meaning of the words without letting one's personal style get in the way, 2. Accuracy of pitch, 3. Evenness of tone throughout vocal range, 4. Vibrato speed and width 5. Improvisational creativity. NOTE: Nobody is perfect at everything. Just do the best you can and that may be enough.
What are the rules?
1. Listen to these two songs and pick one (or both if you wish):
A Home That Forever Will Stand
My Beloved
2. Buy ($2) or record the song you wish to perform so you can learn it. You do not have to
interpret the vocals like the singer in the recordings. Do you're own thing within reason.
3. Download one (or more) or the following:
Backup track to A Home That Forever Will Stand
Piano track to My Beloved
Note: Again, you do not have to use these recordings (see above).
4. Download the lyric to A Home TFWS-lyric or
the sheet music (with lyric) to My Beloved-score
5. Record yourself singing to the accompaniment of your choice and post it to YouTube or
Facebook. Please make sure that your voice is louder than the accompaniment. Then
send me the link so I can watch/hear your performance.
Who is sponsoring this?
I am. YouTube and Facebook have no vested interest in this project.
When will the winner be announced?
The winner will first be contacted to have a Zoom chat or meet in person to confirm their identity. Then, their name and video link will be posted on this page on June 1st, 2020 or when I have at least ten singers enter the contest.
I'm Matthew Levine. I have been writing songs for over 40 years. I have two gospel songs that have never been commercially released, A Home That Forever Will Stand of which won four awards including a grand prize (list on image at the bottom), and my latest one, My Beloved. My ultimate goal is to produce a gospel album that would appeal to anyone who believes in a benevolent creator, one which is at the artistic level of the Quincy Jones produced album, A Soulful Celebration. Having a contest to find singers is a way to introduce myself to the gospel community and see if I can gather collaborators in this project. It's a dream—one worth pursuing and one that can unite diverse peoples.
Who can enter?
Anyone. However, the recordings are done with female singers so the key may not be right for all male singers or some female singers as well. If you know a musician who can play it in a key that's good for you, that's fine. You don't need to use these recordings but there should be accompaniment to your vocals on piano or guitar.
How will the winner be chosen?
All criteria will be weighed and the one who shows excellence in the most areas will win. Those areas are, in order of importance: 1. Ability to convey the meaning of the words without letting one's personal style get in the way, 2. Accuracy of pitch, 3. Evenness of tone throughout vocal range, 4. Vibrato speed and width 5. Improvisational creativity. NOTE: Nobody is perfect at everything. Just do the best you can and that may be enough.
What are the rules?
1. Listen to these two songs and pick one (or both if you wish):
A Home That Forever Will Stand
My Beloved
2. Buy ($2) or record the song you wish to perform so you can learn it. You do not have to
interpret the vocals like the singer in the recordings. Do you're own thing within reason.
3. Download one (or more) or the following:
Backup track to A Home That Forever Will Stand
Piano track to My Beloved
Note: Again, you do not have to use these recordings (see above).
4. Download the lyric to A Home TFWS-lyric or
the sheet music (with lyric) to My Beloved-score
5. Record yourself singing to the accompaniment of your choice and post it to YouTube or
Facebook. Please make sure that your voice is louder than the accompaniment. Then
send me the link so I can watch/hear your performance.
Who is sponsoring this?
I am. YouTube and Facebook have no vested interest in this project.
When will the winner be announced?
The winner will first be contacted to have a Zoom chat or meet in person to confirm their identity. Then, their name and video link will be posted on this page on June 1st, 2020 or when I have at least ten singers enter the contest.
UPDATES:
March 31: First day promoting this post.
March 31: First day promoting this post.
I know, the twin towers image is ironic. And the contact information is old. I'm now in Newport Beach, CA