QUESTION: Music & PSA Help?

Music help! I am hoping to have students select a song of their choosing and create a Civil Rights music video. Idea stolen from Johnathan Chase (I just friend requested you!). I want to do the same project, but I can't do anything illegal with music. My students also don't have iTunes on their computers. Does anyone know another site students can't get music (and music they will actually like) from? I need them to be able to put it into Windows Movie Maker. I will also have them request permission to use their song. Just need to get the music first!

Thanks

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tamara on February 10, 2011 at 10:55pm

You can get the songs off of Youtube and then convert the Youtube url into an mp3 file using an online file conversion program, such as Zamzar.

Permalink Reply by Rajesh Barnabas on February 10, 2011 at 11:34pm

>http://www.jamendo.com/

that is a pretty good one....

also as long as they are not profiting off it, there is a clause in the copyright law that allows art/music to be used for educational purposes.

Here is a good source for all that: http://edts580.wikispaces.com/Copyright+%26+Fair+Use

Permalink Reply by Johnathan Chase on February 11, 2011 at 7:32am

We captured the song files from YouTube using this converter program... http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/index.htm

I have been incorporating music in various learning activities and projects for two decades and have yet to be contacted with respect to copyright infringement. I am not an attorney and there is always a first case, but I would vigorously challenge any claim that our educational/artistic activity is illegal on the grounds of Fair Use.

Your students may want to check out some of our previous media projects for some inspiration and song ideas. In 2008 all my 8th graders worked in teams and completed a historic perspective video using the song "How Far We've Come". In 2009 teams selected their own song for a video that promotes positive change and pays tribute to people and movements that made a difference. In 2010 teams made decade videos that paid tribute to the memorable people, events, fads of the 2000's.

There is a link to each of these projects on my school web page...

http://www.edmestoncentralschool.net/index.php?page=mr-chase

Also check out this YouTube Channel where there are song-inspired PSA videos made by my 12th grade teams in our Participation In Government class....

http://www.youtube.com/user/getwhatugive#g/u

Good luck with the project Karie and keep us updated on your progress

Permalink Reply by Will Bennett on February 23, 2011 at 8:40am

Youtube's Terms of Service Agreement says the following:

"You agree not to access Content through any technology or means other than the video playback pages of the Service itself, the Embeddable Player, or other explicitly authorized means YouTube may designate."

and elsewhere it says,

"You shall not download any Content unless you see a “download” or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content."

I do not believe it is legal to copy videos using a converter program such as dvdvideosoft.com.

Does "educational use," allow an exception to YouTube's Terms?

Permalink Reply by Ryan Goble on February 11, 2011 at 10:00am

Hi Karie, I think you're WAYYYYY within fair use to use real songs. See this website / book. If you have questions -Renee Hobbs is on the Ning you should shoot her a message.

Permalink Reply by Johnathan Chase on February 11, 2011 at 2:59pm

Two good videos on Fair Use...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tWhKeb-fUQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk-jB9Rd5tk

...don't be afraid to flex your Fair Use muscles

Permalink Reply by Doug Beacom on February 22, 2011 at 10:05am