Thursday, January 2, 2014

SONGWRITERS NOTES E-NEWS #150 JANUARY 2014

Hello Songwriter,

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014! We are wishing you many new songs to write this coming year.

You've read about Catherine, Roger's mom, in this newsletter before with updates on her health since her fall last April at the Deep Ellum Arts Festival. She has had a lot of set backs this year and has moved around a bit for various surgeries and treatments. She is now back at North Park Health in McKinney. Please continue to send her your cards and letters of encouragement.

Roger has resigned as president and Michael Brandenberger our current VP has stepped in to fill the position until the election of officers on January 12th. 

Our Second Tuesday Workshop will feature special guest, Nashville songwriter Tony Ramey,   followed by song critiques. We're back at our regular meeting place, The Center For Community Cooperation just north of Deep Ellum in the Swiss Historic District. - see #2 below for details.

The SongSwap is coming up at Half Price Books on 1st Monday. Our regular DSA monthly events remain the same 1st and 3rd Monday SongSwaps and 1st and 3rd Thursday Open Mic. For details, see #2 and #4 below. Also we have a regular showcase at House of Blues every last Wednesday of the month. This has grown into a very special event. So please mark these regularly occurring dates in your calendar.

ASG is offering DSA members a discount to the Symposium in Jan. See workshops #7 below.

I can't believe the year has come and gone. It's been a busy one for DSA. I hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Check out our pictures on the Dallas Songwriters Facebook. Go on Facebook and LIKE us. New, tell your firends about Dallas Songwriters on Meetup.

QUICK LOOK CALENDAR OF DSA MONTHLY EVENTS - put this in your bookmark.

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Help DSA today at no cost to you.

DSA has enrolled in a new program at BBVA Compass Bank. You can help DSA earn money by opening a Compass account and give Dallas Songwriters as your reason or if you already have a Compass account, go to your bank and connect to our program and use your check card.

COMPASS FOR YOUR CAUSE
No checks to write. No direct mail. No telemarketing. In other words, no hassles. The Compass For Your Cause Program allows your members to support your organization, by doing something many of them do virtually every day—use their check card for everyday purchases. And it's easy for them to get started. They simply:
  • Open a BBVA Compass Checking Account*
  • Open a Compass Visa® Check Card*
  • Sign for purchases using the Check Card
That's all there is to it. When they open an account, you earn a royalty of $50. Every time they use their Check Card for qualifying purchases††, you earn additional royalties. So start earning money the easy way with the Compass For Your Cause program. Contact us today to get started.

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1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST -   Winners Announced.


                 2013 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest
Now in its 23rd year, The DSA 2013 Song Contest is one of the longest running international song contests for amateur songwriters. Over $5,000 in cash and prizes.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

JAY GALLAGHER - RECEIVES 
A Casio Privia Piano
and a Nashville recording session at Bieard Music Group. 
Beaird Music Group


1st Runner Up
 Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia
 wins studio time at
River Sounds Recording Resort







2nd Runner up
3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
wins recording time at 
Jo-Musik


Grand Prize winners receive:
($199.95 Value) 
Includes Artist Website, 1 Yr. Hosting
1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

HARDCOPY OF NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENT HANDED OUT AT THE ARLINGTON GUITAR SHOW

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Click here for more info about this contest, and for more information about joining DSA (membership not required to enter contest). Click here to view a list of frequently asked questions. 
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2001 - 2007 Winners Compilation CDs available at the DSA store

All winning songs are on a CD Compilation that was given out at the Awards Ceremony. To get any 3 double CD's simply make a quarter note donation to DSA through our online store and send us an email to request which 3 years of Cd's you want us to mail you.

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2. DSA MEETINGS - http://dsameetings.blogspot.com/

2nd TUESDAY WORKSHOP - 

 Tuesday, January 14th - SONGWRITER TONY RAMEY (We are BACK at the normal place, CCC.) 


Tony has had hit songs and gold and platinum record awards for songs on albums cut by George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Doug Stone, Craig Morgan, John Michael Montgomery, Easton Corbin, Alabama, Johnny Lee, Texas artists Aaron Watson and Jason Meadows, and a host of others. More about Tony at http://tonyramey.com/about-tony/


MEETING DETAILS AND LOCATION

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DSA T-SHIRTS 
NEW shirts: $15 at the meeting (you must ask me for the special) or online by mail $20
OLD shirts: $10 at the meeting (you must ask me for the special) or online by mail $15
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MONDAY SONG SWAPS for peer critique
Song Swap Workshops
Monthly 7:30-10 PM
Free, Visitors Welcome
Where songwriters perform their songs for peer review. Bring your guitar and a few lyric sheets. This is like an old fashioned guitar pull with comments between songs.

FIRST MONDAY in East Dallas
Half Price Books, 5803 E Northwest Hwy Dallas, TX 75231-6519 (214) 379-8000
Roger Russell, Jame Pappas coordinating.
We'll be in the Community Room at the back left in the building.

THIRD MONDAY in PLANO - 
Tino's - Steve Sullivan, coordinator.
Tino's Too Mexican Restaurant 2205 Ave K, Plano, Tx  972 881-9226
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3. BEST SONGS of the 2nd Tuesday Meeting

NO CRITIQUES IN DEC

To view past winners go to the Best Songs blog. http://bestsongsofthemeeting.blogspot.com/
To hear the winners go to our myspace page.
Did you know that A and R reps from labels and music publishers are listening to our Myspace page each month?

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4. SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS -


OPEN MICS
DUNN BROTHERS COFFEE HOUSE -
EVERY 3RD THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

HALF PRICE BOOKS - NORTHWEST HIGHWAY - Rotating guest host featured artist
EVERY 1ST THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Sign up begins at 6:30
Featured Artist at 8PM


SING or bring an instrument
MGB Ministeries Presents:
Supporting Artists in the Body of Christ
A cultural exchange fellowship @ Getzendaner Park, Chautauqua Building
the Last Thursday of every month
CREATING A PLATFORM FOR WORSHIP
It’s an informal gathering of artists to celebrate every tribe, tongue, and nation within
the Body of Christ through worship arts. We encourage ALL artists to participate in the worship including worship painters, worship dancing, banners, shofars, etc. Bring your gifts for the King! 
We especially want to support songwriters to come with their songs and musicians to come with chord charts ready to jam with others. Please call in advance so we can fit everybody in.
For more info contact: Michael Barton  972.935.2552

SHOWCASES

HOUSE OF BLUES
Every last Wednesday
You must be a member to showcase. 
Email Buck Morgan to get on the roster for this month.

SONGWRITERS CONNECTING TO SENIORS


SHOWCASE AND OPEN MIC - 

TEXAS SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND at Sandstone Cellars Winery Showcase & Open Mic in Mason Texas.  
HOURS 6-9PM 211 San Antonio Street, Mason, TX 76856
Shows will be on the 3rd Thursday of each month .

Guidelines for our stars @ Texas Songwriters in the Round shows:
* All original set of 45 minutes
* A professional commercially released CD with some airplay and press.

We allow any songwriter to come be part of the TSR in the Round, with one star per month! If you'd like to come out and join in as a rounder I can make sure you have a place for the night! To Showcase contact: Jeri Alice
Other area open mics OPEN MICS
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5. DSA LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked MARCH 31th - WINTER CONTEST


2013 SUMMER CONTEST WINNERS

2013 SUMMER WINNER

She's All Texas by Tom Ruffen, Burnaby, BC, Canada 

CURRENT WINNERS and PAST WINNERS and LYRICS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE

LYRICISTS GAIN RECOGNITION THROUGH COMPETITION
Next Lyric Contest Deadline is June 30th for Spring Lyric Contest
Entry fee is $10
Please see lyric contest webpage for details.

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6. MEMBER NEWS -

Wanna get involved? Become a committee member. It's fun! Be apart of the inner workings or the DSA. We have a board position open. We're looking for a Treasurer.

To view a list of the 2013 elected Directors go to this link:

If you are not a DSA Member, you missed these tips sent out through our yahoo group:

* Publisher looking for Childrens songs
* Artists/Producers looking for original material for recording artists
* Major Brand X (To be disclosed at a later time) Seeks Independent artist for music campaign.
* Where to get your cd reviewed
* Music related job listing
* Film Licensing Co. seeking instrumental music
* Cheap and free tickets - Free tickets to selected Winspear Opera House events.

Lyricists are invited to co-write with music writers by submitting your lyric through the member yahoo group.

THANK YOU PATRON L3: TREVOR DAHLEN
                   PATRON SAINTS: PAUL ZANDER, ROGER RUSSELL
Thanks to our president, Roger Russell for providing the PA at the Wildflower Festival and donating the Wildflower check to DSA.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS and RENEWALS - SONG CONTEST WINNERS: Whitley Hill, Eric Bettencourt, Brian Kalinec, T Edwin Doss, Brent Benton, Stephen McWhirter, Debra Gussin, Roger Kaye, Kevin Reardon, Rick Webster, Charlie Hill, Arek Religa, Nitanee Paris, Glen Naylor, Katie Hardyman, Kate Diaz, Renee Safier, Randy Sauer, Jay Gallagher, Maureen Fitchen, Denise Rosier, Cal Scott, Eddie Lott.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Ashley Sichler, David Morales, Brad Davis

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP:  Bill Honker, Joanna Endsley, Alex Gorodiscas, Bobby Montgomery

TIME TO RENEW: The following members owe dues:
YOU HAVE A TWO MONTH GRACE PERIOD TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE MEMBER GROUP

EXPIRED IN FEB: Mark Glasmire, Melinda Starnes
EXPIRED IN MARCH: Ryan Eichenwald, Alexandra Brooks, Corey Anderson, Brian Coker, Tom Biles, Madilne Shaw, Holly Doubet, Jim Baker, George Pucini
EXPIRED IN APRIL: Daniel Anchondo, Margaret CuddiheeMolly Bush, Buz Craft, Jeremy Ellis, Casey Graham, Dewey Stark, Mofor Otang, Robert Harper, David Spence, Lanny Sherwin, 
EXPIRED IN MAY: Bob Paterno, Ginny Lane, Mathew Johnson
EXPIRED IN JUNE: Renee Safier, Noel Cohen, Andre Kerek
EXPIRED IN JULY: John Nitzinger
EXPIRED IN AUG: Wendy Jill Cohen Tobias, Becky Wright, Robert Graham, Daniel Sumber, Chris Alvarado, Philip Creamer, Steve Chizmadia, Gordon Lustig, Kevin Reardon, Susie McLean, Eric Colville, Diane Lekven, Nestor Cora, Chris O'Neill, Gavin Potter, Vanessa Padla, Andy Taylor, Keeton Coffman, Chase Thompson, Belle Schneiderman, Spencer Clark
EXPIRED IN SEPT: Devin Hill
EXPIRED IN OCT: Morri Hartgraves
EXPIRED IN NOV: Liz Miller
EXPIRED IN DEC: Scott White, Buck Morgan, Michael Brandenberger
PLEASE RENEW THIS MONTH: Grady Yates, Steve Erickson, Ray Phillips, Terry Bloss, Kelly Aldous,Tim Malloly, Mikah Young, Carlos Savetman

A New Members page off the Dallas Songwriters homepage has a list of members and a url link. Please check the page and email me your link if it is not included.

Member News : 
 Barbara McMillen's song, "In Your Eyes" from the musical, Give Me A Break made the 1st round ballot for the Grammys.

Former DSA guest speaker and friend, John Bryant, informs me that his group is funding a documentary film on Kickstarter about his group, Stewart Copeland and the creation of a composition for the Dallas Symphony. Check out the complete story, which is very interesting here and maybe you can help them reach their goal of $95,000.

Brook Malouf made the finalists for the Songs That Save contest for St Judes. Her song was performed at the Arlington Music Hall.
 
Read performance reviews here: http://dsareviews.blogspot.com/


SEE OUR NEW MEMBER NEWS PAGE HERE.

Renew your membership online,
You'll find the link to the store on the panel to the right

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7. WORKSHOPS - DSA WORKSHOPS 

(Each month DSA hosts 3 workshops at our monthly meetings on the 1st Monday, 3rd Monday and 2nd Tuesday these are ongoing. see item 2 above.)

Austin Songwriters Group Symposium Jan 8-12th

Interested in going?
ASG offers a discounted Symposium registration rate of $175 (50% off!) for Dallas Songwriter Association members.
Please respond to Loretta Dunnaway for the discounted group price.
Also,
Sign up for transportation with http://www.megabus.com/ $1 direct bus to Austin Jan 8 and $25 direct bus back to Dallas Jan 12. There is a discounted rate at the hotel Holiday Inn Midtown $79@ nite.

More at:    http://dallassongwritersworkshops.blogspot.com/


10th Annual Songcrafting Seminar at Bluebird Cafe
Saturday, January 25 - Sunday, January 26 More here: http://songwriterevents.blogspot.com/

Want to study songwriting but don't want to get out of your PJ's? Take a class online through a songwriting workshop yahoo group.
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8. EVENTS - Featuring local and worldwide events of the songwriting community including, seminars, conferences, and showcases.

JAN
8 -12 ASG Symposium, Austin, TX
25 - 26 10th Annual Songcrafting Seminar at the Bluebird Cafe

FEB
1-4 MIDEM, Cannes, France
19-23  Folk Alliance, Kansas City, MO

MARCH
7 - 16 SXSW, Austin, TX

South By Southwest Conferences, Festivals Now Open
South By Southwest (SXSW) Conferences and Festivals are now open for business at http://sxsw.com. Conference registrations, hotel requests, Film Festival submissions, Interactive Awards and SXSW Accelerator applications and Music Festival showcase applications are now being accepted. SXSW Music, SXSW Film and SXSW Interactive take place Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 16, 2014 in Austin, TX.

APRIL
4 - 6  Deep Ellum Art Fest, Dallas, Tx

MAY
2-4 Dallas Guitar Festival, Fair Park, Dallas, Tx
14-18 SERFA Folk Alliance Regional Conference, Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, NC
16-18 Wildflower Festival, Richardson, Tx

SEPT
25-28  SWRFA Folk Alliance Regional Conference, Austin, Tx

OCT
Far-West Folk Alliance Regional ConferenceHyatt Regency IrvineIrvineCA,
FARMFolk Alliance Regional Conference, Sheraton Westport TowerStLouisMO
Arlington Guitar Show, Arlington, Tx

NOV
NERFA Folk Alliance Regional Conference, Hudson Valley ResortKerhonksonNY,

Go to the events page to view links to local and Texas venues. There's a list of holiday music for this month.  http://songwriterevents.blogspot.com/

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9. Featured Articles:

Pay everyone but the musician
It’s compelling when an artist takes a concept and crystallizes it into words you wish you had come up with. For example, let’s say you want to send a message to all the big media companies that are looking to use music from a DIY artist for their television shows but claim "budget restrictions" when it comes to paying for the music they want to license.

Enter Whitey, AKA Nathan White, a Berlin-based electro-rock multi-instrumentalist/composer from London who apparently shuns many standard DIY promotion tactics (like having an official website). He has, nonetheless, crafted a 10-year indie music career and has landed songs on Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, in addition to releasing multiple albums and scoring other notable licensing placements. READ MORE...



PREZ SEZ: Tune in to DSA President, Roger Russell's, musings and DSA goings on.
VIDEO

VIDEO PREMIERE: "More Than the Stars" - A Song Performed by and From the Hearts of Songwriters
By ASCAP100 -- An extraordinary collaboration between 15 top ASCAP songwriter and composer members, including Ne-Yo, Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, Dan Wilson, Bill Withers, Aloe Blacc, Claudia Brant, Amy Grant, Carter Burwell, Josh Kear, Savan Kotecha, David Lang, Bear McCreary and Stargate.
Did you miss The Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood? Watch it here:

MUSIC BUSINESS - more articles posted on the new blog DSA Music Biz News

[Ray's dramatic shift in styles mid career was remarkable and remarkably successful.]
Ray Price Has Died
By Associated Press -- Ray Price, one of country music's most popular and influential singers and bandleaders who had more than 100 hits and was one of the last living connections to Hank Williams, died Monday. He was 87. He reached the Billboard Hot 100 eight times from 1958-73 and had seven No. 1 hits and more than 100 titles on the Billboard country chart from 1952 to 1989.
[Well, they can ash can that Sesame Street Episode.]
An Obituary for the Letter E
By Joshua David Stein -- The letter E, an influential vowel and one of the most frequently used letters in the English language, died yesterday. It was 2,800 years old.
PERFORMANCE
- Stage Tips: Perform Like Hendrix, Townshend and Angus Young
LISTEN 
Get to know our guest speaker for January 2nd Tuesday workshop http://www.tonyrameymusic.com
RECORDING

CRAFT OF SONGWRITING

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters gives a private lesson/interview, discussing "The Pretender" and "Rope." From the March 2011 issue of Guitar World Magazine.

Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting

Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary



Great web tool for lyric writing
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10. Song and Talent Contests

DSA Quarterly Lyric Contest http://dsalyriccontest.blogspot.com/

The 12th Annual Nebraska  American String Teachers Association Fiddle Tune Composition Contest
Song, Lyric and Fiddle Contests

A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com
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11. Songwriting Resources -  Now accepting book reviews

Links to websites about songwriting, performance, music industry.

DSA Book Store - reviews, links, lists of recommended reading, and what's in the DSA Library.
12. Archives of Past Programs and Activities

SONGS FROM THE SOUL OF SERVICE

Did you know???  DSA held two song contests for active military and the Cds of the winning songs, Songs From the Soul of Service Vols. 1 and 2 are available online at:http://store.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=7TE_LIVE&page=SSS4

Tribute to our fallen soldiers from DFW at our Podomatic site:
You Know Me Tribute to Fallen
Read the latest story about this years winners

CROSSROADS SHOWCASES

View past showcase performances and workshops on Crossroads Youtube.
                       
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DSA depends on your support.

Giving Rocks! While it never hurts to remind you that DSA is a non-profit organization (and so your contributions are tax-deductible) -  this year it means so much more. We're proud to be celebrating our 21th Anniversary as a non-profit. DSA has been an organized songwriter group since 1985 and became a non-profit in 1990.

Your gift
 enables us to meet our mission.

Our programs created to meet our mission goals are: a monthly newsletter, workshops, critique sessions, showcases, contests, networking opportunities and community service.
If you like what we do, and want to help us keep doing it, please make a contribution today. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful and appreciated.
Donations are welcome year round. 
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Thanks for reading this far. If you have any suggestions for the newsletter, please let me know. Follow me on Twitter @barbemcmillen. Give me a tweet.
  Songcerely,
  Barbara McMillen, Editor
  Songwriter Notes
  Founding President Emeritus, DSADSA Online Store
  Online Songwriting Workshops and Classeshttp://www.songwritingcompetition.com.