Here it is April 1, 2015 and I've been working on my online classes project for over a year! I have learned so much, and I have ran into so many road blocks with this whole process. The most recent one being this past week learning that most of the footage I filmed for the April 1st release had audio issues which made the videos unacceptable to publish. I am a bit of a perfectionist, but I also want to present a really high quality, professional product, so I need a couple more weeks to overcome these technical glitches.
"What kind of road blocks?" you may be wondering. The list is long and will probably keep growing for a while as I continue to learn about this process. The first thing I was up against about a year ago was my naivety. I had no idea how much is involved. Initially, I was just going to use what I had on hand: Microsoft Movie Maker that came on my cheap laptop, an inexpensive digital camera that happened to film videos, too, and film it in my home studio with some portable mirrors using only the microphone on the camera.
"What kind of road blocks?" you may be wondering. The list is long and will probably keep growing for a while as I continue to learn about this process. The first thing I was up against about a year ago was my naivety. I had no idea how much is involved. Initially, I was just going to use what I had on hand: Microsoft Movie Maker that came on my cheap laptop, an inexpensive digital camera that happened to film videos, too, and film it in my home studio with some portable mirrors using only the microphone on the camera.
Posters/"DVD" Covers to advertise content Before I came to the conclusion that I didn't have the tools needed to create my vision, I had made notebooks full of ideas for what I was going to teach. I have more than fifteen years of material for multiple levels of students, so the hardest part was narrowing down where to start. And I was limited by which songs I had permission to use. Once I solidified exactly what I'd be teaching, I spent time organizing the chosen topics into logical chapters, editing music and rehearsing the choreographies and combinations that I would be teaching. I also spent time expanding and building my website for "Sa'diyya ONLINE." Another thing I learned was that I had to have a way of selling the files. So I had to upgrade my website in order to sell digital goods.
I soon discovered that I needed a wireless microphone after filming a test run and hearing that my voice was muddled and hard to understand. After doing some research and settling on a barebones lapel mic that would get the job done, I figured out that my little digital camera didn't have a mic jack to connect the wireless mic receiver into. Guess what that meant? A new camera. So my husband and I went camera shopping and found a higher end camera that would film 1080HD quality footage AND work with my wireless lapel mic.
I soon discovered that I needed a wireless microphone after filming a test run and hearing that my voice was muddled and hard to understand. After doing some research and settling on a barebones lapel mic that would get the job done, I figured out that my little digital camera didn't have a mic jack to connect the wireless mic receiver into. Guess what that meant? A new camera. So my husband and I went camera shopping and found a higher end camera that would film 1080HD quality footage AND work with my wireless lapel mic.
Part of my expanded website showing the complete class menu!
Oftentimes, you get what you pay for, and that was definitely the case with my barebones cheap wireless mic. After doing another test run, I could see that I needed a better quality lapel mic. I'm starting to notice how one thing is leading to another...
Let There Be Light! Next, I discover that no matter how bright I try to make my dance studio, it's just not cutting it. I need some professional studio lighting for filming. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who has a lot of faith in me and this project. We both see that if this is going to be done right, we are going to have to invest in it.
The next hurdle was my existing laptop. That machine was not even powerful enough to upload the files from my new camera onto it. When I tried to edit some footage with Microsoft Movie Maker, it would take FOREVER, and I soon discovered that I could not create chapters in that program. I feel like these classes must be chaptered so the students can navigate through the material more easily. So...at my husband's suggestion we got a MacBook Pro with TONS of power and storage space. And we invest in professional movie editing software, Final Cut Pro.
The next hurdle was my existing laptop. That machine was not even powerful enough to upload the files from my new camera onto it. When I tried to edit some footage with Microsoft Movie Maker, it would take FOREVER, and I soon discovered that I could not create chapters in that program. I feel like these classes must be chaptered so the students can navigate through the material more easily. So...at my husband's suggestion we got a MacBook Pro with TONS of power and storage space. And we invest in professional movie editing software, Final Cut Pro.
Revised! At this point, we are in December of 2014. Nine months of thinking, I'm going to have this up and running any day now, had gone by. After more test filming, we decide to remodel my dance studio with new curtains and mirrors. The finished look is lighter, brighter and because of the new mirrors, I have so much more room when I'm filming!
Over the last several months, I've had 3-4 false starts due to technical difficulties. Since I'm learning this as I go, mistakes are my greatest teacher. One time not too long ago, I filmed a ton of footage only to discover that I was out of focus the ENTIRE time. I had to throw out all of it. That's when I decided that I needed a cameraman, so now my husband helps me!
We got all the content filmed for my free teaser classes, but with some minor audio issues. I managed to edit some of those audio problems out with Final Cut Pro. And learning Final Cut Pro....it makes my brain hurt! FCP is NOT user-friendly. I had to look up tutorials online and just feel around in the dark for a while. I'm still learning how to use it, but at least I have the basics down.
This last batch of videos also had some audio issues that were so bad, the footage isn't salvageable. There were words missing in my speech and loud pops and clicks. We discovered that the frequency we were using with the wireless mic was causing the problem. We also learned how to find a better channel, which solved the problem.
So, my most recent big adjustment is changing the release dates. I still have so much to learn, that until I have a built up library waiting in the wings to publish, I'm just going to release them when they're ready. I have an estimated schedule just announcing that certain topics will be released during a certain month. In the near future, I will return to the 1st and 15th schedule once I have more kinks worked out!
Over the last several months, I've had 3-4 false starts due to technical difficulties. Since I'm learning this as I go, mistakes are my greatest teacher. One time not too long ago, I filmed a ton of footage only to discover that I was out of focus the ENTIRE time. I had to throw out all of it. That's when I decided that I needed a cameraman, so now my husband helps me!
We got all the content filmed for my free teaser classes, but with some minor audio issues. I managed to edit some of those audio problems out with Final Cut Pro. And learning Final Cut Pro....it makes my brain hurt! FCP is NOT user-friendly. I had to look up tutorials online and just feel around in the dark for a while. I'm still learning how to use it, but at least I have the basics down.
This last batch of videos also had some audio issues that were so bad, the footage isn't salvageable. There were words missing in my speech and loud pops and clicks. We discovered that the frequency we were using with the wireless mic was causing the problem. We also learned how to find a better channel, which solved the problem.
So, my most recent big adjustment is changing the release dates. I still have so much to learn, that until I have a built up library waiting in the wings to publish, I'm just going to release them when they're ready. I have an estimated schedule just announcing that certain topics will be released during a certain month. In the near future, I will return to the 1st and 15th schedule once I have more kinks worked out!
I'm unbelievably excited about this first batch of videos that will be released over the next few months!
It's going to feature a beginner program that includes detailed technique breakdowns, transition exercises and an accompanying choreography. Also coming in this next round is a very detailed breakdown of the Egyptian knee shimmy with 3 different ways to practice and gain consistency. For more advanced dancers, I'll have a complete drum solo choreography that's lots of fun and an audience-pleaser! And I'll also offer a class that introduces students to playing and dancing with finger cymbals.
Check out the free teaser classes I already have posted HERE. Feel free to download them, too! I hope you'll come back and visit to check out the next round of videos coming soon. Thanks for your support!
Check out the free teaser classes I already have posted HERE. Feel free to download them, too! I hope you'll come back and visit to check out the next round of videos coming soon. Thanks for your support!
