Wednesday, January 6, 2016

SONGWRITERS NOTES E-NEWS #172 JANUARY 2016

Hello Songwriter,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a great Christmas holiday! Wow, it's 2016! This past year was a very active year for DSA. We've had more events this year than any year in the past.
We had so much fun when Roy Elkins, CEO of Broadjam.com, came to town to MC the Awards Dinner and give us an acclaimed workshop the night before at the beautiful new guitar store the Tone Shop .  See the reviews of both events below in number 2 and 7. You will also find the winners listed below.

Our regular DSA monthly events are 1st and 3rd Monday SongSwaps and 1st and 3rd Thursdays and last Monday Open Mic.  NEWS FLASH! We've added another open mic to our monthly events. Look for us on the THIRD TUESDAY at the SONS OF HERMANN HALL. For details, see #2 and #4 below. Some of us like to visit the Poor Davids Pub (hosted by Mr Troll) or Angela's (hosted by JT) Open Mic every Monday.


Producer Lou Lofredo is requesting songs for a new female artist he is recording. See the post on the members only yahoo group.

Songwriting Contests to watch for the Spring are Wildflower, BW Stevenson, and Kerville. See #10 for contest details.


Spring classes start this month at Collin College. I'll be teaching songwriting classes on TR 11:30 - 1 and W 7 - 9:45. Also, a Music Business Class at 5:30 on MW. You must register before Jan 20th. http://www.barbaramcmillen.com/p/workshops-online-classes.html


Thanks to Paul Zander, Michael Brandenberger, Bobby Montgomery, Mimi Balkey for their contributions to DSA. Just a reminder that we are a non-profit and your tax deductible are alway welcome. Follow this link to our donation spot on the website. https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/donation/

Wishing you the best 2016,
Barbe

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1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST -

WINNERS ANNOUNCED DEC. 8 AT THE AWARDS DINNER


Did you miss the Awards Dinner? Here's a blow by blow courtesy of Dan Roark

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS
1. Jessie Brown by T. Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, MD
2. Real Love Next Time by Bonnie Warren, Philadelphia, PA
3. Aina Hanu by John Keawe, Kapaau, Hawaii



WINNERS

MC and GRAND PRIZE JUDGE,  ROY ELKINS, left us with extensive comments on the grand prize winners and more. https://dallassongwriters.org/roy-elkins-on-songs-from-dsa-song-contest/

SEMIFINALISTS   http://dsasongcontest.blogspot.com/ 

 WINNER OF THE IPOD – Samuel Miller, Chico, CA

                 2015 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest
Now in its 25th year, The DSA 2015 Song Contest is one of the longest running international song contests for amateur songwriters. Over $5,000 in cash and prizes.

GRAND PRIZE  -   A Casio Privia Piano
and a Nashville recording session at Beaird Music Group. 
Beaird Music Group


1st Runner Up
 wins studio time at
River Sounds Recording Resort







2nd Runner up
wins recording time at 
Jo-Musik


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

Category winners get cash prizes


Listen to the 2014 winners on Soundcloud at:

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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 - SECOND TUESDAY WORKSHOP

JANUARY 12th: Co-writes For Very Busy People 

Co-writes are back by popular demand. We will divide into small groups to complete a writing assignment. This is our most fun meetings, so don't miss this one.

Center For Community Cooperation
2900 Live Oak
Free to Members | $5 for visitors
Sign in and Networking begins at 6:30
Announcements at 7PM
Program about 7:30
Song Critiques follow – Members only may enter for $10

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Reviews of past DSA Second Tuesday guest speakers  

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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
 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

Harry Hewlett, Dori Weaver, Michael Brandenberger
Harry Hewlett, Dori Weaver, Michael Brandenberger
Winner - Waiting to Breathe by Dori Weaver
2. Jimmy Loves Jesus by Buck Morgan
3. Give 'Em Time Lord by Bobby Montgomery

Here is the list of winners of the meeting critiques from which the top three were chosen thanks to Judge, Ian Dickson, former DSA Director and Wildflower Contest winner.

Songwriter of the Year 2015 
is Rio King with the most wins at the meeting critiques

To view past winners go to the Best Songs blog. http://bestsongsofthemeeting.blogspot.com/
To hear the winners go to our Soundcloud page https://soundcloud.com/dsa-best-songs

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4. SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS -

http://showcases-openmics.blogspot.com/

OPEN MICS

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


SONS OF HERMANN HALL OPEN MIC - 3412 MAIN ST
EVERY 3RD TUESDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Sign up begins at 6:30 Hosted by Dan Roark


DUNN BROTHERS COFFEE HOUSE - Addison
EVERY 3RD THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Hosted by  Craig St.Clair 
In November 2015, DSA celebrated 11 years at Dunn Brothers
see review of

KITCHEN CAFE' - North Dallas
EVERY LAST MONDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Hosted by Michael Brandenberger

SHOWCASES

ANGELA'S AT THE CROSSWALK in downtown Plano
4th Saturday 7:30 - 11:00

SHOWCASE AND OPEN MIC - 

TEXAS SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND at Sandstone Cellars Winery Showcase and 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 .

Every 1st Thursday 7-9 PM @ Fuel Coffee House 106 Main St, Llano, Texas

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 Dec 31st

or by mail

SUMMER 2015 - SEMIFINALISTS
October Sky by Kerry Kean
If I Hold You Tenderly by Michael Roth, Dulles, VA
Ducky, If You're Listening by Brenda Peak, Council Bluff, IA
Trains by Nancy Line and Candy Kattenburg, Martinez, CA
What's Your Plan by David DelBianco, Wrightstown, PA
SPRING 2015 - WINNERS

PAST WINNERS and LYRICS POSTED ON THE OLD  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 of the DSA. We have committee positions open. Let us know if you'd like to be on the board. Just show up a our membership meeting.

Directors elected at our Nov 11th Annual Membership Meeting were:
Michael BrandenbergerBobby MontgomeryDicky JohnsonRachel WilhelmDan RoarkBarbe McMillenJoe Milton, Stephen McKinnell, Steve Sullivan, Ken Duren, James Pappas and Harry Hewlett. Your 2016 officers will be elected at the board planning meeting in Jan.

Current Officers Elected at the Planning Meeting on January 10, 2015
Michael Brandenberger -  Prez
Bobby Montgomery - Executive VP, VP Programs
Dicky Johnson - Treasurer
Rachel Wilhelm - Tech
Dan Roark - Lyric Contest Director
Barbe McMillen - Communications, Administration, Newsletter
Joe Milton, Steve Sullivan, Ken Duren, James Pappas and Harry Hewlett - At Large

At the board meeting on October 27th, Harry Hewlett was voted back on the board.

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.
NEW MEMBERS: Have you joined our member only yahoo group where you can talk with the group and get special offers and last minute updates on events? subscribe: dallassongwriters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

                   PATRON SAINTS: PAUL ZANDER
Patron Sponsor L3: Bobby Montgomery, Michael Brandenberger
Patron Sponsor L1:
Patron Sponsor: Mimi Balkey
Welcome New and Old Members- Song Contest Winners:  Nitanee Lawson,  T. Edwin Doss,  Patrice Luce Chapman, Christopher Hart,  Mathew Stemme, Tyler Hook, Jeff Moxcey, Roger Kaye, Lanny Sherwin John Keawe, Robin Carr, Marc Tilson, Robert Graham, Sarah Ashley,  Debra Gussin, T. Edwin Doss,  Randy Sauer,  Robert Graham,  Katie Riley, Bonnie Warren,  Danielle LaToof
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: David Claerr, Anthony Groom, Andrew Plam, Beth Murphy, Ron Sowell,  Stephen McKinnell, Tommy Thomas, M'Lynn Musgrove, Joseph Brinkley, Adrianna Braddom, Darren Rozell, Charles Carter,
THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Rio King, Rick Babb, Harry Hewlett, Ken Golden, Morri Hartgrave.

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 JAN: Grady Yates, Terry Fansler, Ray Phillips, Tim Spitzer, Brian Joyner, Troll   Mallow, Brit Morgan, Skip Spoonts, Mark Bone, Aaron Rose, Laura Bertwell, Jordy Searcy, Cousin Don Brown, Bob Fisk, Richard Hunt
EXPIRED IN FEB: Jonathan Malone, Jesse Anderson, Wayne Dobry, Anthony Castillo, Daniel Zagotta
EXPIRED IN MARCH: Julia Pauletti, Jeff Rodgers, Craig Langford, Johnny Cromer
EXPIRED IN APRIL:Tom Thomas, David Wysong, Gary White, Kerry McCall, Randy Overton, Kent Poynor
EXPIRED IN MAY: Ann Cornelius, Julie Jean White, Aaron Shook, Mathew Cords.
EXPIRED IN JUNE: Joanna Endsley, LaToya Cooper
EXPIRED IN JULY: Jay Gerwertz, Stephanie Stewart, John Knoblauch
EXPIRED IN AUGUST: Sandra Foster Brown, Glen Naylor
EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER: Dru Richmond, Marcus Belmore
EXPIRED IN OCT: Rick Webster, Jay Gallagher, Jenni Peal, Raquel Nguyen
EXPIRED IN NOV: Richard Pickett, Lisa Byrn, Steve Wilson, Gigi Gostas, Martha Myre
EXPIRED IN DEC: Kathryn Taylor
TIME TO RENEW: Terry Bloss, Bill Kapac, Cat McGee, Matt Nestor, Ben Neumann, Al Hovden, Chris Troll, Rob Lutzwig, Maxim Senin, Stephen Blackwell, Rene Safier, Kyle Vincent, Stacy Hogan, Jacquelyn Christina, Will Kincaid, John Martinez

 Renew your membership online.
You'll find the link to the store on the panel to the right
Or paste this link in your browser: https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/dsa-membership/

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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.)
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.

2015

2016
JAN
4 DSA SongSwap at Half Price Books
7 DSA Open Mic at Half Price Books
Studio Movie Grill and the Angelika Film Center Dallas, there will be a special screening of ELVIS: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS to celebrate the birthday of the King of Rock and Roll 
12 DSA Second Tuesday Workshop at 2900 Live Oak
13-17 ASG Symposium, Austin Tx  at the Holiday Inn Midtown
18 DSA SongSwap at Tino's
19 DSA Open Mic at Sons of Hermann Hall
21 DSA Open Mic at Dunn Brothers Coffee
25 DSA Open Mic at Kitchen Cafe
21 - 31 Sundance Film Festival, Park City, UT

FEB 
17 - 21 Folk Alliance, Kansas City, MO
29 Deadline Kerrville New Folk Contest

MAR
1 Deadline for Wildflower Songwriting Contest
11 - 20 SXSW
Interactive: March 11–15 • Film: March 11–19 • Music: March 15–20

APRIL
16 - Deadline for BW Stevenson Contest
22 - May 1 New Orleans Jazz Fest http://www.nojazzfest.com/
29 - May 1 Dallas International Guitar Show, Market Hall, Dallas, Tx

MAY
20 Wildflower Songwriting School
20 - 22 Wildflower Festival, Richardson, Tx

Moses Avalon's List of Top Ranked Music Conferences.
Go to the events page to view links to local and Texas venues.   http://songwriterevents.blogspot.com/

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9. Featured Articles:


by Kristi York Wooten
Intergenerational bonding was in full-effect on December 29. - She's called the "Queen of Soul" for a reason. - Carole King is a killer songwriter. - Algorithms can't make us feel. - Music is bigger than all of us. Continue Reading 


by Anita Collins
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians' brains when they play, and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workoutContinue Reading 

by Ryan Trares
Dementia had forced some elderly patients at the Indiana Masonic Home to retreat into their minds. Some no longer recognized loved ones or the nurses who care for them. Those in the late stages of the disease don't speak or make any movement at all. The only time that changes is when their caregivers slip headphones over their ears and press play. Continue Reading 


by Sam Friedman

MUSIC BUSINESS - more articles posted on  DSA Music Biz News

STREAMING: Spotify announces database to properly manage royalties: http://bit.ly/1NSS6yT

RECORD LABELS: Independent labels are the future. Learn how you can create your own digital record label in 2016: http://bit.ly/1JEY4lb

INDUSTRY: Songkick to sue Live Nation and Ticketmaster for anti-trust: http://bit.ly/1OpkIPr

LEGAL: How to properly license a cover song: http://bit.ly/1TmVrK4

BUSINESS: Pandora signs licensing agreements with ASCAP and BMI: http://bit.ly/1Uegdff
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS FOR SONG OF THE YEAR

1 Alright
Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)

2 Blank Space
Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

3 Girl Crush
Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna & Liz Rose, songwriters (Little Big Town)

4 See You Again
Andrew Cedar, Justin Franks, Charles Puth & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth)

5 Thinking Out Loud
Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge, songwriters (Ed Sheeran)

VIDEO 
Join Kentucky's Moron Brothers as they take you on an unforgettable voyage down the Kentucky River in their ''Shanty Boat''. If you like laughter, fishing and bluegrass music then you'll sure find yourself at home with the Moron Brothers.


100 Riffs (A Brief History of Rock N' Roll)



IN MEMORIAM


You'll need to scroll down a touch to find it. Very useful.


by Nick DeRiso
Robert Stigwood, a manager who shepherded the careers of Cream and the Bee Gees before producing a string of smash musicals and films (including "Saturday Night Fever"), has died at 81. Continue Reading 




PERFORMANCE

Seeing a musician do something I know from personal experience is impossible to do has always remained with me long after any concert is over.
by Cherie Nelson
Using pre-recorded tracks used to be synonymous with a lack of musical proficiency, but that idea has changed right along with the attitudes and demands of the live audienceContinue Reading 


Dr. Linda Gasson discussing a very important issue for many of our readers.]


RECORDING

by Rick Goetz
Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Vlado Meller is considered to be one of the "masters of mastering." ... He has mastered records for a long list of superstar artists across styles, including the Beastie Boys, Andrea Bocelli, Johnny Cash, Celine Dion, Kenny G, Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, Linkin Park, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Public Enemy, Shakira, Barbra Streisand, Jack White and many more. Continue Reading 


by Meghan Neil

Listen to almost any contemporary pop or rock record and there's a very good chance the vocals were "comped." This is when the producer or sound engineer combs through several takes of the vocal track and cherry-picks the best phrases, words, or even syllables of each recording, then stitches them together into one flawless "composite" master track. Continue Reading 
Interesting to note that many of the great (as in instantly identifiable) singers of the past (Sinatra, Elvis) rarely did "take 2".

by Jason Baker


CRAFT OF SONGWRITING



by Mahea Lee

Countless songs we all know and love are built around the same harmonic changes. ... Using a well-loved chord progression can create an instant sense of familiarity with your listeners. Even those who don't consider themselves musical can, to a degree, predict where a melody is going if it's presented over a set of chords that has been engrained in them. That increases the chances of them humming along. ... On the other hand, straying from the predictable can also make your music memorable. Continue Reading 

by Sarah Spencer
We do not grow as writers and artists and musicians if we don't face our weaknesses head-on. Continue Reading 
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/
Next deadline - March 31

Deadline Feb 29
KERRVILLE New Folk CONTEST is now OPEN!
We are ready for your 2016 submissions. Visit the festival website for submission guidelines and application!

Deadline March 1
WILDFLOWER SONGWRITING CONTEST

COMING APRIL of 2016
THE 28th B.W. STEVENSON MEMORIAL SINGER/SONGWRITER COMPETITION:
ENTRY DEADLINE 4/15/2016
$1000 GRAND PRIZE!!!
CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON THE B.W. STEVENSON SINGER-SONGWRITERS COMPETITION 

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

DALLAS SONGWRITERS OLD WEBSITE WITH ARCHIVED LINKS TO PAST PROGRAMS

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 25th 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 Classeshttps://dallassongwriters.org/shop/dsa-membership/

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