SONGWRITERS NOTES E-NEWS #181 NOVEMBER 2016

Hello Songwriter,
  You still have time to make your tax deductible donation to keep DSA running. In the President's letter below, Michael outlines all the reasons to donate to DSA.

"Dallas Songwriter Association Members and friends,
Fall is almost here and so is our annual fundraising drive!  Basically our funds come from dues and song contest fees, but those sources can fluctuate greatly.  We need your help keep the DSA a viable non-profit association that benefits our members and the community.  Your tax deductible donation will help the DSA keep alive all of the following, which makes us one of the busiest musical associations in the country.
• Educational programs and music industry speakers at regular monthly meeting.
• Song critiques by industry experts for your songs at each monthly meeting.
• Songwriting feedback sessions at Song Swap workshops twice a month.
• Worldwide lyric contests four time a year.
• Worldwide song contest once a year featuring 8 song categories and industry judges.
• Open mics for anyone to perform original songs 3 times a month, including the Kitchen Café, Dunn Brothers and Half Price Books
• Saturday night showcases for members at least once a month
• Performance opportunities for members at the Wildflower Festival and Poor David's Pub,
• Workshop opportunities with great song writers like the Girls From Nashville (Liz Rose, Allyssa McHeala, Ashley Ray, Heather Morgan) and music industry experts like Larry Beaird
• Monthly on-line newsletter with music industry information and help for songwriters
• A DSA website that enables members to having e their own page on the website to share their music and activities.
With $25 you will receive a DSA T-shirt, with $50 you will get a great DSA cap, and for $75 you get the DSA cap, T-shirt, and 2 DSA cuzzies.  For donations of $100 or more you will get the gift premiums plus recognition in the DSA newsletter every month as a special contributor to the DSA.
To donate, just go to the DSA website at Home - Dallas Songwriters Association and click on the donation link.
Many thanks. ... Michael Brandenberger, President, Dallas Songwriters Association  "
 
Our guest speaker for this month's 2nd Tuesday Meeting is Dr. William Brown who will discuss the effects of music on the brain. November is our Annual Membership Meeting to elect our directors. Please come or assign your proxy to someone who will be present. We need a quorum to vote. Also, bring your songs in for critique or submit via the website if you can't be there. We are toying with the idea of moving the Second Tuesday Meeting to the 1st Thursday and changing the location to Half price Books on NW Highway. Tell what you think.
 
On Nov.12th Tony Ramey is having a master songwriting clinic in Weatherford, Tx. For more information go to: http://www.tonyramey.com/songwriter-clinics . See #7 Workshops below.

The Spring Lyric Contest winners were announced and Summer Lyric Contest is currently being judged. Our next deadline is Dec. 31st See #5 below.

DSA now has 9 regular monthly events. We've added Burger Edge open mic on 2nd Thursday starting in November. Our regular DSA monthly events are 1st and 3rd Monday SongSwaps and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursdays and last Monday Open Mic, and our 2nd Tuesday Workshop and Critiques. The 4th Saturday Showcase at Angela's, is MOVED TO THE 3RD SATURDAY FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

Did you know we are live streaming on Facebook? Thanks to Harry Hewlett you can view some of our open mics and guest speakers in a live stream on Facebook? See guest speaker, moi, and latest Angela's showcase. Can't make it? Then tune in to Facebook/dallassongwriters. Want to be on our facebook streams? Show up and perform.

See the hardcopy issue of Songwriters Notes Fall 2016 that was distributed at the Arlington Guitar Shown in October.
https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-news-songwriters-notes-fall-2016/

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

Songcerely,
Barbe

Spring 2016 Songwriters Notes Get a pdf version here.

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PITCH OPPORTUNITY FROM OUR SPONSOR BEAIRD MUSIC

PITCH YOUR SONGS TO PUBLISHERS

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1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST - 2016 CLOSED - SEMIFINALIST ANNOUNCED NOV. 8 

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT AWARDS DINNER ON TUESDAY, DEC 13, 7PM, SONS OF HERMANN HALL

Enter on DSA website 

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-annual-song-contest/

Enter on Broadjam  

Enter by Mail  http://dsasongcontest.blogspot.com/

Now in its 26th year, The DSA 2016 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. 

1st Runner Up

 wins studio time at

2nd Runner up

wins recording time at 

Grand Prize winners receive:

1 Yr. Broadjam Primo MoB Membership

($199.95 Value) 

Includes Artist Website, 1 Yr. Hosting

1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

Category winners get cash prizes

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2015 SONG CONTEST WINNER T EDWIN DOSS WITH GRAND PRIZE CASIO PRIVIA

Read interview with 2015 winner T Edwin Doss and learn about out other Grand Prize Winners. ❤ 

https://dallassongwriters.org/t-edwin-doss-wins-2015-song-contest-jessie-brown/

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

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-song-contest-awards/

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

https://dallassongwriters.org/2015-dsa-song-contest-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/

Hard Copy of Songwriters Notes Spring 2016 issue with 2015 winners
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/8182067/dsanewsspring2016-pdf-2-4-meg?da=y 

SEMIFINALISTS   http://dsasongcontest.blogspot.com/ 

 WINNER OF THE IPOD – Samuel Miller, Chico, CA

Listen to the 2014 winners on Soundcloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/dallas_song_contest/sets/dsa-2014-song-contest-winners

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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

  NOV. 8th: Dr. William Brown -
 Songwriting, Music and Your Brain



Psychology Professor, Dr. William Brown has done extensive study and is an expert on the connection between the brain and the craft of songwriting.

Meadows Conference Center
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

DETAILS ON MEETING PROCEDURES

https://dallassongwriters.org/events/2nd-tuesday-meeting-agenda-and-song-critique/

Future Meetings

Dec. 13: Awards Dinner
Jan 5th: Rod Phelps from the American Music Channel

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Recordings of past DSA Second Tuesday guest speakers  

Oct 2016 Barbara McMillen - Polishing Your Final Draft by Applying the Secrets of the Popular Song.
https://www.facebook.com/dallassongwriters/videos/1245589945493228/

https://www.facebook.com/dallassongwriters/posts/1245608802158009

Sept 2016 Joe Milton on Preparing for a Recording Session

1 of 2

https://www.facebook.com/dallassongwriters/videos/1219779574740932/

2 of 2

https://www.facebook.com/dallassongwriters/videos/1219952578056965/

Reviews of past DSA Second Tuesday guest speakers  

Oct 2015  Tirk Wilder  https://dallassongwriters.org/busy-dsa-october-began-with-tirk-wilder/

Nov 2015 RonSowell https://dallassongwriters.org/ron-sowell-and-board-nominations-at-2nd-tuesday-dsa-meeting/

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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.

http://songswapworkshops.blogspot.com/

FIRST MONDAY in East Dallas - 

Half Price Books, 5803 E Northwest Hwy Dallas, TX 75231-6519 (214) 379-8000

 Jame Pappas, Gigi Gostas coordinating.

We'll be in the Community Room at the back left in the building.

THIRD MONDAY in PLANO - 

Tino's - Steve Sullivan, Gigi Gostas coordinating.

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

2016 
January - Time to Leave by Beth Murphy
February - My Pickup Truck by Charles Carter

March - Last Chance to Dance in Texas by Rio King
April - I'm Singing My Heart Out In Dallas Tonight by Charles Carter 
May - Dallas by Charles Carter
June - none
July - none
Aug - no meeting
Sept - Play Me Sump'm Like Dat - Rio King
Oct - no critiques

2015 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.

Q&A With Winner, Dori Weaver
https://dallassongwriters.org/qa-song-year-winner-dori-weaver/ 

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

QandA With Rio
https://dallassongwriters.org/rio-king-vern-dailey-award-winner-songwriter-year-2015/

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

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

11th Anniversary DSA 3rd Thursday Open Mic at Dunn Bros.

KITCHEN CAFE' - North Dallas

EVERY LAST MONDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Hosted by Michael Brandenberger

BURGER EDGE - North Dallas

EVERY 2ND THURSDAY - 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Hosted by Michael Brandenberger

The DSA is happy to announce a new performing opportunity!  There is now an open mic scheduled for the 2nd Thursday of every month at Burger Edge in Dallas.  The first one is scheduled for November 10 and will start a little earlier than usual.  The time will be from6:30 to 8:30.  It is open to DSA members as well as non-members.  

This a perfect venue for an open mic because it has a nice stage with a complete sound system. It also has a great food menu if you want to come early to eat or invite friends who can enjoy a very tasty burger or chicken sandwich while they listen to you perform.  

We also plan to have a rotating host so if you are interested in hosting an open mic, let me know.

Burger Edge is located in the Coit Rd/Campbell Rd area (near Marshall's), the address is 7529 Campbell Rd, Dallas, TX.

SHOWCASES

ANGELA'S AT THE CROSSWALK in downtown Plano
4th Saturday 7:30 - 11:00 Check out our facebook page where Harry is posting live streaming.

http://dsashowcases.blogspot.com/

Hosted by Buck and Harry

Because of Thanksgiving and Christmas, we're scheduling the Saturday Showcases at Angela's in downtown Plano for the 3rd Saturdays of November and December.
November 19
7:30 Buck ’n’ Harry
8:00 Ireland Casteel
8:30 Cat McGee, feature
9:15 Lynn McCracken, feature
10:00 Terry Bloss
10:30 Raquel Lindemann

Other area open mics OPEN MICS

http://www.openmicdallas.com/

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5. DSA LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked DEC 31

Enter onine https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/lyric-contest-entry/ 

or by mail
 SPRING 2016 -WINNERS
 WINNER
FENCES Bill Kapac, Williamstown, PA

 SEMIFINALISTS

FENCES by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, PA
A TASTE OF LOVE SO SWEET by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, PA
REMEMBER ME AS A SUNNY DAY by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, PA
SAID A FATHER TO HIS SON by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, PA
SUGAR FROM THE VINE by Ynana Rose, by San Luis Obispo, CA
RIVER OF MEMORIES by Charles Carter, Dallas, Tx

See comments on the website: : https://dallassongwriters.org/2016-spring-lyric-contest-winners/

See winners from 2016 and 2015 listed in the DSA 2016 Fall Hardcopy of Songwriters Notes featuring winner, Bill Kapac on front page. This issue was handed out at the Arlington Guitar Show in October.
https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-news-songwriters-notes-fall-2016/

See Winter 2016 on website: https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-lyric-contest-winners-winter-2016/

 SUMMER and FALL 2015 RESULTS

https://dallassongwriters.org/lyric-contest-results/

CRITIQUES FOR SUMMER AND FALL 2016
https://dallassongwriters.org/song-critiques-summer-2015-lyric-contest/

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.

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-lyric-contest/

HARD COPY OF 2012 WINNERS IN SPRING 2013 ISSUE OF SONGWRITERS NOTES.

HARD COPY OF 2013 FALL ISSUE INCLUDES SPRING AND SUMMER WINNERS 2013

HARD COPY OF SUMMER AND FALL 2013 WINNER ARE IN THE 2014 SPRING ISSUE OF SONGWRITERS NOTES

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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 Brandenberger, Bobby Montgomery, Dicky Johnson, Rachel Wilhelm, Dan Roark, Barbe McMillen, Joe Milton, Stephen McKinnell, Steve Sullivan, Ken Duren, James Pappas and Harry Hewlett. Welcome new board members Ginger, Marcus, and Charles

Current Officers

Michael Brandenberger -  Prez

Bobby Montgomery - Executive VP, VP Programs

Dicky Johnson - Treasurer
Secretary - Ginger Stanoiu

Dan Roark - Lyric Contest Director, showcases, workshops

Barbe McMillen - Communications, Administration, Newsletter
Harry Hewlett - A/R
VACANCY - VP of Membership 

Steve Sullivan and James Pappas - SongSwap Coordinators
Joe Milton, Ken Duren - At Large
Rachel Wilheim - Technology
Marcus Belmore - Webmaster

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: Cliff Monroe, Suzi Morse, Jon Jaggers

Patron Sponsor: Mimi Balkey

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Scott Mendenhall, Patrick Deasey, Stephen Houpt, Haley McDaniel, Joe Austin, Robin Dossey, Ginger Stanoiu

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Suzi Morse, Adriana Braddom, Ken Golden, Alexandra Brinkley, Marcus Belmore, JR Rosenberg, Michelle Boulden, Allen Larsen, John Mason, Mary Guthrie, Dorinda Weaver, Cousin Don Brown, Alexis Tap, Bill Honker, Gigi Gosta, Ken Duren, Lynn McCrackin

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 DEC: Kathryn Taylor

EXPIRED IN JAN: Terry Bloss, Bill Kapac, Matt Nestor, Ben Neumann, Al Hovden, Rob Lutzwig, Maxim Senin, Stephen Blackwell, Rene Safier, Kyle Vincent, Stacy Hogan, Jacquelyn Christina, Will Kincaid, John Martinez

EXPIRED IN FEB: Anthony Castillo, Mark Pierce, Katrina Pitts
EXPIRED IN MARCH: Pete Miller, Tippy Balady, Phoenix Rose, Tim York
EXPIRED IN APRIL: Phillip Wildman, Shane Andrews
EXPIRED IN MAY: Ted Pearce, Mark Evans, Tamara Stamps, Ray Baker, Timothy McGarity 
EXPIRED IN JUNE: John Thomas Lane
EXPIRED IN JULY: Michael Franceus, Tom Prasado Rao, Crystal Taylor, Bill Sibley
EXPIRED IN AUG: Yanna Zovich, Minnie Murray, Waren Hanson

EXPIRED IN SEPT: Tom Thomas, Harry Hewlett
EXPIRED IN SEPT: Denise Rosier, Katie Hardyman, Charlie Hill, Raquel Nguyen, Darren Rozell, M'Lynn Musgrove, Stephen McKinnell, Jenni Peal, Jay Gallagher, Rick Webster
TIME TO RENEW: Minnie Murray, Joe Milton, Ian Dickson, Mike Hyden

  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.)

http://dsameetings.blogspot.com

http://songswapworkshops.blogspot.com/

Nov 12 : Tony Ramey Master Songwriting Clinic, Weatherford, Tx
http://www.tonyramey.com/songwriter-clinics

November 12, 2016
@ The Boyer Cantina!
138 Scott Lane
Weatherford, TX 76085
You'll be sent a confirmation email of your reserved seat within six hours of online ticket purchase.

NEW SONGWRITING CAMP  in Tucson, Arizona. 
February 9-12, 2017
The camp is limited to 30 participants to ensure that each participant has time to interact with each of the three instructors - Sally Barris, Cliff Eberhardt, and Cosy Sheridan – WHO all nationally known touring singer/songwriters, and each is also in demand as a teacher, for both beginning and experienced songwriters. The camp will be held at the Biosphere 2 conference center, and will include workshops, song circles, and one-on-one critiques. For more information, see http://tucsonsongwriting.wordpress.com or contact Melissa Tatum at melissatatumarizona@gmail.com or 520-375-3811
 

 Review of Larry Beaird Workshop

https://dallassongwriters.org/larry-beaird-arranging-the-hit-songwriting-workshop/

Read the Review of the Roy Elkins Workshop

Roy Elkins’ Your Music and Your Business Workshop – Informative and Entertaining

For those of you who could not make it to the 2015 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, Video Access is now available for only $99!

More at:    http://dallassongwritersworkshops.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.

http://songwriterevents.blogspot.com/

2015

Review of the Arlington Guitar Show

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-booth-at-arlington-guitar-show/

2016

NOV

2 CMA AWARDS  on ABC

3 DSA   NO  Open Mic at Half Price Books

7 DSA Song Swap at Half Price Books

8 DSA Second Tuesday Meeting, Annual Membership Meeting and Elections
12 Tony Ramey Master Songwriting Clinic, Weatherford, Tx

17 DSA Open Mic at Dunn Brothers

19 - 6:30pm - Walt Wilkins, Susan Gibson, Drew Kennedy, Josh Grider, Kelly Mickwee & Brandy Zdan - Black Box Special Edition! MCL Grand Lewisville

26 DSA Showcase at Angelas 

28 DSA Open Mic at Kitchen Cafe

DEC

1 DSA Open Mic at Half Price Books

5 DSA Song Swap at Half Price Books
8 - 9 Blue Rock Christmas with Amy Speace and Billy Crockett, Wimbersly

11 - 6:30pm - Bill Ward & Tom Prasada Rau - Black Box Songwriter Concert Series MCL Grand Lewisville

13 DSA Awards Dinner

19 Song Swap at Tinos

15 DSA Open Mic at Dunn Brothers

24 DSA Showcase at Angelas 

26 DSA Open Mic at Kitchen Cafe

 2017

JAN

2 DSA Song Swap at Half Price Books

6 DSA Open Mic at Half Price Books

10 DSA Second Tuesday Meeting

13 - 17 ASG Songwriters Seminar - Austin, Tx

14 - 8pm - Radney Foster - Texas Tunes Concert Series MCL Grand Lewisville

16 Song Swap at Tinos

18 DSA Open Mic at Dunn Brothers

28 DSA Showcase at Angelas 

30 DSA Open Mic at Kitchen Cafe

Down the line in Lewisville

Saturday April 8, 2017 - Terri Hendrix/Lloyd Maines Songwriting Workshop 
Sunday, April 9, 2017 - 6:30pm - Terri and Lloyd - Black Box Songwriter Concert Series 

May 17 - Joe Ely - Black Box Songwriter Concert Series 

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:


Bob Dylan, the Musician: America's Great One-Man Songbook
By Jon Pareles
What took them so long? That’s the only question for the Nobel committee that finally chose Bob Dylan to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature this year. Continue Reading

The Making of The Last Waltz, the Band's Concert-Film Masterpiece
By Robbie Robertson
When the Band decided to stop touring, they asked a young director named Martin Scorsese to put their farewell concert on film. In an excerpt from his new memoir, Testimony, guitarist-songwriter Robbie Robertson recalls the night of Thanksgiving 1976, where electric performances by legends such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell created rock history. Continue Reading

Everything I Know I Learned From Bob Dylan
By Elizabeth Wurtzel
Who cares about the Nobel prize? Dylan made it cool to be Jewish, hot to be American and transformed literature. ... I learned from Bob Dylan that, if you are good with words, you can invent whatever life you want. That is the power of writing. Great authors create worlds, with cityscapes and neighborhoods and characters that they choose. I'll be damned if you can't become the person you render. Bob Dylan's masterpiece is himself, all his work and all the people it has affected. Continue Reading

Why Chuck Berry Is Even Greater Than You Think
Revelatory encounters with a rock & roll pioneer. -- Peter Guralnick looks back on meetings with Chuck Berry stretching back nearly 40 years, and explains why his genius is deeper than it seems. Continue Reading
Thanks to Sandra Aistars for the link.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2017 Nominees
By Patrick Ryan

MUSIC BUSINESS

Artists, label execs, A&Rs, and radio hosts weigh in.
Why Sign With a Label in 2016?
By Carter Maness
Why would an artist sign with a label at this point? In a series of interviews with industry veterans and tastemakers, we heard again and again that, beyond helping to fund a lifestyle where it's feasible to record music as a job, the biggest reasons left to sign with a label are distribution, radio promotion and good old-fashioned connections. ... It's near impossible to break through without the help of label professionals who already live on the other side. ... Let's let the experts explain. Continue Reading

3 Reasons You Keep Hearing "No" on Your Demos
By Dan Reifsnyder

10 Dos and Don'ts of Contacting a Venue Owner
By Jhoni Jackson
Your relationships with talent buyers, booking agents and venues are crucial to growing your fan base and career – don't taint them by making mistakes from the get-go. Continue Reading

5 Non-Musical Skills Musicians Should Work To Improve
By Jesse Sterling Harrison
Certainly improving one's musical ability is paramount when it comes to maintaining a successful music career, but music is a business, meaning that there are some non-music related skills artists must also hone, or else risk the ruination of their career. Continue Reading

How To Get Featured In Popular Playlists On Music Streaming Services
By Nicholas Rubrigh
Getting featured in a well-followed, highly shared playlist is one of the best ways to promote your music online – but how can you get your music placed in a well-followed playlist? Here's a step-by-step approach. Continue Reading

Mastering Your Income: 4 Key Cash Streams For Musicians
By W. Tyler Allen
Making money is important when you're an artist, but relying on a single source of income is unlikely to generate sufficient revenue to live by. Here we look at four key revenue streams that can allow a musician to sustain themselves with the support of their fans and community. Continue Reading

How To Write An Effective Musician Bio (With Examples!)
By Bandzoogle

3 Ways To Drive Lasting Traffic To Your Music Website
By Nicholas Rubright
A website is a valuable resource for musicians and, when used properly,can be a powerful tool for converting fans, but before turning them into long-term followers, it's important to get them there in the first place. Continue Reading


RECORDING

7 Quotes From the World's Greatest Producers to Inspire You in the Studio
By Casey van Wensem
"If you had a sign above every studio door saying, 'This Studio is a Musical Instrument,' it would make such a different approach to recording." – Brian Eno Continue Reading

What to Expect When Working With Studio Musicians
By Nicholas David
For artists looking to step up their recording game and take their project to the next level, bringing in studio musicians is often a good call. Here we review what you can expect from such artists for hire, and how you can make the most out of their time in the studio. Continue Reading 


PERFORMANCE

Magical Musical Moments In A Nashville Mansion
By Bob Boilen
The Luck Mansion sessions was one of the coolest things at AmericanaFest 2016. In the parlor of an old mansion in East Nashville, the label Third Man Records and the mansion's hosts, the organization Luck Reunion, paired musicians together to record a song. But it was more social and way more laid-back than just that, with time and space for musicians to hang out, jam, talk, drink and eat together while figuring out what they would commit to tape. Continue Reading

How Do House Concerts Work? The Truth Laid Out!
By David Andrew Wiebe
You've heard about house concerts. Perhaps you've even considered playing one. But you're not entirely sure how they work or what you can do to get booked for one (or) what to expect... Continue Reading

5 Mental Habits That Will Make You a Better Bandleader
By Hugh McIntyre
Being a good musician is hard, but being a good leader of musicians can be even harder. Continue Reading

LISTEN

Billboard Top 50 this week

'Love For Sale': A History Of Pop Music That's As Personal As It Gets
NPR's Scott Simon talks to music critic David Hajdu about his new book, "Love For Sale," in which he chronicles the 100-plus year history of American pop music. Continue Reading

IN MEMMORIUM

RIP Oscar Brand, the Man Who Built the Foundation for Modern Folk Music
By Tim Sommer
Oscar Brand, who died on September 30 at 96, was the teacher, the man who gave the folk music revolutionaries their tools. Oscar Brand may not have been the face of folk music, as, say, Seeger or Dylan were, but he was the rock upon which the church was built. Through his radio shows, his songs, his concerts, his TV shows and his documentaries, he did more to build the framework for modern folk music than any man on our continent. Continue Reading

R.I.P. "Thriller" & "Off The Wall" Writer, Rod Temperton, Dies At 66
iloveoldschoolmusic.com
...many may not know him by name because he kept a low key profile and was even nicknamed 'The Invisible Man' for much of his career. But he was very instrumental in the history of soul music and if you love soul music, you definitely know his work. Continue Reading
Includes videos of many of Rod's greatest hits.


VIDEO

Nashville then and now:
16th Avenue (Video)
1982 - Lacy J. Dalton's classic recording of Thom Schuyler's powerful musical portrait of Nashville Continue Reading

16th Avenue Revisited (Video)
2016 - Thom takes a look at 16th Avenue as it is today. Continue Reading
You'll need a beer to cry in.


CRAFT OF SONGWRITING

WATCH Creating Hooks: Songwriting Tips from Neil Diercks
In this songwriting tutorial, filmed at the 2016 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, Berklee Online songwriting instructor Neil Diercks offers tips for creating different types and layers of hooks that will make your songs memorable and impactful. Continue Reading

Insider Secrets from Successful Songwriters
By The SongCat Team
The life of a songwriter can be rather unpredictable but the promise of glorious uncertainty is enough motivation for many. This is a statement many songwriters, who have managed to find some level of success, can attest to. For hit makers, such as Sia, Ester Dean, and even the great Bob Dylan, the keys to finding success are pretty similar. Here are a few of their success secrets: Continue Reading

Never listen to yo' momma.
The Art of Accepting Criticism as a Musician
By Anthony Cerullo

Are Music Supervisors Really "Killing Songwriting"? A Music Supervisor Responds
By Thomas Golubic
Ed. note: Recently, L.A. Weekly published an opinion piece titled "TV and Film Music Supervisors Are Killing Real Songwriting." Due to the outpouring of criticism the piece received from music supervisors and their industry peers, we felt that it was important to give a member of their community a chance to respond. L.A.-based music supervisor Thomas Golubic kindly agreed to do so. Continue Reading

"WE CREATE MUSIC" BLOG
Driving Around the Road Cones: Two Easy Strategies for Moving Beyond the First Verse
Have you ever written a verse and chorus, but can't seem to write a second verse? This experience may not be writer's block at all, but a symptom of two process errors in lyric writing. Songwriter/educator Keppie Coutts explains how to get past them.

Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting

http://craftofsongwriting.blogspot.com/

Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary

http://www.rhymezone.com//

http://thesaurus.reference.com/

Great web tool for lyric writing

http://www.visualthesaurus.com/

Music Theory Resource

http://www.hooktheory.com/

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10. Song and Talent Contests

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

Next deadline - Dec 31

DSA Song Contest Closed - Semifinalists Announced Nov. 8

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-annual-song-contest/

A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com

http://www.musesmuse.com/muselinks/Songwriting/Contests/index.html

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11. Songwriting Resources -  Now accepting book reviews

Links to websites about songwriting, performance, music industry.

http://songwritingresources.blogspot.com/

DSA Book Store - reviews, links, lists of recommended reading, and what's in the DSA Library.

http://dsabookstore.blogspot.com/

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12. Archives of Past Programs and Activities

DALLAS SONGWRITERS OLD WEBSITE WITH ARCHIVED LINKS TO PAST PROGRAMS

http://dallassongwriters.blogspot.com

SONGS FROM THE SOUL OF SERVICE

http://songssoulservice.blogspot.com/

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.

Tribute to our fallen soldiers from DFW at our Podomatic site:

You Know Me Tribute to Fallen

URL:%20http://dallassongwriters.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-05-21T21_14_44-07_00

Read the latest story about this years winners

http://songssoulservice.blogspot.com/

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,

  Songwriting Consulting Services

  Online Songwriting Workshops and Classes