Day 33: Remix — Finish and Share

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

This is the last day to work on your remix. The project is due by the end of class. Do not start over — spend your time finishing and polishing what you already have.

Objectives

I can evaluate my own project against the requirements and identify what still needs work.
I can refine and finalize my remix so it meets all the project criteria.
I can export my GarageBand project as an MP3 and submit it.

Warmup — Self-Assessment

Before you open GarageBand, take two minutes to honestly audit your project. Read through each requirement below and check off the ones you have already met.

I can name the classical piece and modern style I am fusing.
I have at least 4 MIDI tracks with software instruments.
I have at least 1 Apple Loop on any track.
My remix is between 90 and 120 seconds long.
I have used automation on at least 2 tracks.
My tracks are balanced and nothing is drowning everything else out.
My remix sounds compelling and coherent.

After you finish the checklist, pick the one unchecked item that would make the biggest improvement to your final grade and your listener’s experience. Start there when the work session begins — not with something new and unrelated.

Do not add new things randomly. Every minute you spend building something new is a minute you are not spending on balance, length, automation, or making what you already have sound better. Fix before you add.

Checkpoint: Warmup

I completed the self-assessment checklist.
I can name the single most important thing I need to fix or finish.

Work Session — Finish Your Remix

You have approximately 20–25 minutes to complete your project before you export it. Work efficiently.

Part 1 — Finishing Touches

Here are the most common things students need to fix at this stage. Check each one against your own project:

Length and structure

Use a stopwatch and time your project.
Make sure you have a clear intro (something that sets up the style), a middle section (the main material), and a conclusion (a deliberate ending, not just a fade or an abrupt cut).

Volume balance

Listen to each track individually (S key to solo) and ask: does this track sound right on its own?
Then unsolo and listen to the full mix. Is any one track too loud or too quiet relative to the others?
Adjust the volume slider on each track header until the mix feels even.

Automation

You need automation on at least 2 tracks. Click A to toggle the Automation view.
Automation should be doing something purposeful — fading a track in at the beginning, swelling the volume on a pad, or pulling something back so the melody can be heard clearly.

The fusion check

Press Space and listen from the beginning. Can you hear both the classical melody and the modern style clearly? If a stranger listened without knowing anything, could they identify both influences? If not, you may need to make the modern elements more present or the classical melody more prominent.

Part 2 — Export as MP3

When you are satisfied with your remix, follow these steps to export it.

Open the Share Menu

In GarageBand, click Share in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Export Song to Disk

Select Export Song to Disk… from the Share menu. A dialog box will appear.

Set the Format and Quality

In the export dialog:

Format: MP3
Quality: High (128 kbps is fine; 192 kbps is better)

Name Your File

Name your file using this format: LastName-FirstName-Remix-Final (e.g., Willingham-Mr-Remix-Final).

Choose a Save Location

Save the file to your Desktop or Downloads folder — somewhere you can find it easily.

Click Export

Click Export. GarageBand will bounce your project to a single MP3 file. This may take a few seconds.

Submit to CTLS

Open CTLS, navigate to the Day 33 assignment, and upload your MP3 file. You are done when you see the submission confirmation.

Checkpoint: Work Session

My remix meets all 8 requirements from the self-assessment checklist.
I exported my project as an MP3 using Share > Export Song to Disk.
I submitted my MP3 file to the Day 33 assignment in CTLS.

Closing — Listening

Listen to 3–5 remixes.

Select 1 as your favorite and tell Mr. Willingham about it using this form.

What classical piece did you recognize? Can you name the melody or the composer?
What modern style did you hear? Hip-hop? EDM? Cinematic? Rock? Something else?
Did it feel like a fusion? Did both sides come through, or did one dominate?

Listen respectfully. Every person in this room spent two days building something — treat their work the way you would want yours treated.

Standards

MSMTC8.CR.2 — Select and develop musical ideas for defined purposes and contexts (finalizing instrument choices, loop selection, and arrangement decisions to complete a coherent classical-modern fusion).
MSMTC8.CR.3 — Evaluate and refine selected musical ideas to create musical work that meets appropriate criteria (using the self-assessment checklist to identify weaknesses, then revising balance, automation, region alignment, and structure before export).
MSMTC8.CR.4 — Share creative musical work that conveys intent, demonstrates craftsmanship, and exhibits originality (exporting the finished remix as an MP3, submitting it, and presenting it to the class in a listening party).