During our digital storytelling workshops many teachers ask us about the use of music in student-created movies and digital stories. Generally if the soundtrack is only going to be used for assessment purposes it is copyright exempt under the "fair use in education" rule (Australian law), however as soon as you plan to screen the production in public (even if it a free event to parents) you must get permissions.
Have you thought about getting students to create their own soundtracks? Garageband and Audacity are two programmes to consider. Another idea is to access the music created at your school by students - check out your music department and you may be surprised at how many soundtracks are available that your school holds the copyright for. Undertaking a collaborative exercise with music students creating a soundtrack for the video production is a fabulous and authentic experience for all involved.
It is important to discuss copyright issues with your students during the production of any movies and digital stories that use soundtracks, whether they have created their own or whether they are using other people's, and to ensure they make a mention of the soundtrack and owner in the credits.
If you are using Finn Cragg's resources you will, by virtue of your unlimited education-site license, be able to utilise the image and audio files contained in the packs for all education and school screening purposes. We are also happy for schools to screen their Finn Cragg productions for fund raising events and to copy their productions into their student digital portfolios. Just give us a thanks in the credits!
We are not the only artists who allow this type of use and you can source other soundtracks from artists who are happy for people to have unlimited "open" use of their work through Creative Commons. You can find this information on the internet.
For some more information about using music in student productions check out http://www.smartcopying.edu.au.
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