Canadian Music Class Challenge 2023: FAQs

CBC Music's Canadian Music Class Challenge 2023 is officially open: you can now register here.

Want to know something about the Canadian Music Class Challenge? Take a look at our list of frequently asked questions to find out. 

How do I enter my class?

Choose a song from the approved list to teach to your students once classes commence in fall 2023. Once your registration has been submitted, a CBC Music producer will contact you with a link to a Google folder, where you will upload your finished class video performance, a class photo and the description of your class/video, which will appear in the description field of your video on YouTube.

Does my music class qualify?

The contest is free, and open to music classes in many locations including those at a recognized Canadian educational institution (a traditional public school music class, music club or after-school program), private school, public library location or as part of a community music program (held in community centres, private music schools, refugee centers, etc.). Classes must consist of at least six students who are no older than age 18, with a supervising teacher, with the exception of public libraries, which may enter two or more performers in a video submission. 

The students may be wearing masks in our video while singing. Is this OK?

Yes.

Can I, as a teacher or instructor, accompany my class in the video?

Yes, accompaniment is fine. We understand that, especially at the elementary levels, kids sometimes need musical support, but the spirit of the competition is to showcase the kids' performances, so make sure your performance is heard and seen as support only, and that the kids are the focal point of the video. For the junior and senior categories, teacher support should be minimal, if at all. 

Does my class need to perform a specific song?

Only a rendition of the following songs will be accepted:

• "Early Morning Rain" by Gordon Lightfoot.
• "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.
• "Solid" by Savannah Ré.
• "I See You" by Tyler Shaw.
• "(You) On My Arm" by Leith Ross.
• "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf.
• "Great One" by Jessie Reyez.
• "She Calls Me" by Digging Roots.
• "A Canadian Christmas" by Joanna Majoko and Stu Harrison.
• "I Am a Pizza" by Charlotte Diamond.
• "Soleil Levant" by Daniel Bélanger.
• "Share the Land" by the Guess Who.
• "Light in Your Eyes" by Tenille Townes.
• "Good Morning" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• "If it Feels Good Do It" by Sloan.
• "Flowers Need Rain" by Preston Pablo, Banx & Ranx.
• "Put 'Em Down" by the Trade-Offs.
• "Kids Wanna Rock" by Bryan Adams.
• "Not Mad" by Salome.
• "Eli" by Ariane Roy.
• "Turning the Tide" by Luke Wallace.
• "B R A V E" by Splash'N Boots.
• "Meunier tu dors" (French traditional).
• "Passionfruit" by Drake.
• "My Mind at Ease" by Dominique Fils-Aimé.
• "Máhsi ts'enįwę" by Leela Gilday.

Check out videos, song information and links to any sheet music, all available here.

Can my class do a mash-up of multiple songs from the list?

Sorry, no. Due to song licensing restraints, we no longer allow mash-ups.

Can my class perform a song that is not on the official song list?

No. Only the songs on our list are licensed for use in the contest. 

Can I change the lyrics of the song to suit my class?

Yes.

Can a class submit more than one video doing different songs?

No. Each class entered can only submit one video.

Do you need anything other than a song uploaded?

Yes. In order to finish your submission, you need a class photo for promotion and a brief description of why your class is so great.

What file format should my video be in?

MP4 or .MOV format (most smartphones shoot in this format).

What are the categories I can enter my class in?

Upon registration in the fall, you'll be asked to choose which category your class will enter. There are 10 main categories. Choose the one that best suits your music class, and that will give your students the fairest hearing. Canadian schools are grouped differently in every province, so if one of these categories doesn't perfectly suit you, choose the one that is closest. 

Here are the 2023 categories:

• Category 1: Primary Vocal (a cappella or with instruments) (kindergarten to Grade 3). 
• Category 2: Elementary Instrumental (grades 4-6).
• Category 3: Elementary Vocal (a cappella or with instruments)  (grades 4 - 6).
• Category 4: Junior Instrumental (grades 7-10).
• Category 5: Junior Vocal (a cappella or with instruments) (grades 7-10).
• Category 6: Senior Instrumental (grades 11-12).
• Category 7: Senior Vocal (a cappella or with instruments) (grades 11-12).
• Category 8: Private School (K-12) or Community Music Program.
• Category 9: Public Library Music Program.
• Category 10: Top Non-Live-Off-the-Floor Performance.

My class is between categories. Which one should I enter?

We recommend entering the category of the age of the eldest child or majority age in your group.

How are the winners chosen?

The winners will be chosen by our panel of judges, which includes CBC personalities and music teachers. Classes will be judged on the following criteria: level of participation (10 per cent), creativity in interpretation (30 per cent), overall quality of performance (60 per cent). 

What are the prizes?

• Seven first-place prizes of $3,000 in gift certificates will go to the top eight classes in each age category, as chosen by our judges, plus a gold-record plaque for the classroom or trophy case. The second- and third-place winners in each age category will also receive a gold-record plaque.

• $1,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded for the best performance of "Máhsi ts'enįwę" as chosen by our judges. (If your music class or classes perform "Máhsi ts'enįwę," you should enter in the age-appropriate categories 1-8. However, all submissions of this song will also qualify for this prize.)

• $1,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded to the best music class from a community program/private school, outside of a public school curriculum, as chosen by our judges.

• A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the best non live-off-the-floor performance from any music class submission. 

• A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the best submission from a public library location.  

• Two $5,000 MusiCounts prizes are available to all submissions. 

How are the songs chosen?

We begin our song selection almost as soon as the contest closes the year prior, as it takes months to clear the legal rights for many songs. With consultation from music teachers across Canada, as well as CBC Music's knowledgeable staff, we try to choose a list of Canadian songs that will appeal to as many students and teachers as possible and, most importantly, will be fun to learn and perform!

What is an "off-the-floor" performance?

An off-the-floor performance is a single-take live performance that features no editing or multi-track recording. We want to see your music class perform the song live, as if we were sitting in the crowd watching, and an off-the-floor performance is the best way to do this. Yes, if you want to mic different instruments for the purpose of creating a balanced live mix, that's fine. We're trying to avoid the use of multi-tracking, which would create an unfair advantage.

Can I cut in scenes from my school into the video?

Yes, you can cut in as many images of the class or school in video post-production as you wish, as long as we can see your class predominantly performing the song live off the floor.

Any tips for shooting and audio recording for my video?

Please shoot your video horizontally, landscape-style, as opposed to holding your smartphone vertically. Gyms are fine for large groups but can be the cause of a lot of reverb and echo, so try to use curtains or baffles to absorb sound. Smaller rooms with absorbent surfaces can create the best sound results.

Is sheet music of the songs available?

For most of the songs on our 2023 list, links are provided for sheet music and chords on our song list. If you do not see a link, we have not been able to source any sheet music.

Once I upload my song to my folder, can I replace it?

No. Once a teacher has uploaded a video file to their designated folder it is considered their final entry to the contest. Please only upload a file once you are satisfied it is finished. 

Why didn't I get a link to my folder yet?

The registration process is not automated. We only process entries during business hours, Monday to Friday, and during those days there is a waiting period of up to 48 hours. We try and speed this up closer to the submission deadline. If you have not received your link by then, please send us an email at [email protected]. We advise everyone to please register as early as you can. 

Why did my intro and outtakes get edited out of my entry?

Your entry should consist only of the performance of your song and run no longer than six minutes in total.

What format should I use for my class description and bio?

Please upload your class description and bio in a DOX, DOCX or PDF format to your folder.

Who can I contact if I have a question not addressed in the FAQs?

Email [email protected] and a producer will get back to you shortly.

Is there a hashtag I can use to promote my class video?

Yes, #CBCMusicClass.

What are the other benefits of participating in the Challenge?

Besides being a wonderful bonding experience for students, teachers and parents or guardians, your performance could be featured on local and national CBC Radio, TV and digital, and you could get your class in media beyond the CBC.

Do I need to provide a student permission form to the CBC?

No, the CBC does not require permission waivers. You own the video and should make sure all the kids are participating with parental permission before submitting your video.

Will I get confirmation that my video has been received?

No. If you can see your files in the shared folder, then your entry has been submitted. There will be no email confirmation sent to you. But when your submission goes live on YouTube we will send you the link to share. That will be after Nov. 22. 

When is the last day I can send in my class video?

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, 8 p.m. ET. Depending on your internet speed, uploading your video can take time. Please don't leave it until the last minute if possible!

When are the winners announced?

Winners in all categories will be announced Wednesday, Dec.13, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m. ET on CBC Music's Mornings and on all other CBC Music platforms. Good luck!