Wednesday, December 1, 2010

DSA E-News #114, Dec. 2010

Hello Songwriter,

Wow, it's December already. The past two Mondays my songwiting students from Collin College gave a concert at the Allen Library. They were great! You can view video clips on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/commercialmusic .  The final class concert is next Wednesday, Dec. 8, at Escape Coffee in Allen. The poetry class is joining us for song/poem slam.

Dallas Songwriters is on Facebook. Go on Facebook and LIKE us.

Our Christmas party will be on Dec. 14. There will be ham, beans, veggies and fruit. We have a special program planned that will be lots of fun.

Other regularly scheduled monthly events are SongSwaps on 6th and 20th and Open Mic on the 23rd.

Not a DSA member? Then you've missed the musings via our member yahoo group of our DSA Prez, Buck Morgan. Catch up with what's going on here: http://dsaprezsez.blogspot.com/

QUICK LOOK CALENDAR OF DSA MONTHLY EVENTS - put this in your bookmark.
http://calendar.yahoo.com/dallassongwriters

I wish you a warm and bright holiday season and ask you to please remember DSA in your end of the year charitable giving.

 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 20th 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:
MISSION STATEMENT

We exist to enhance the overall personal growth and professionalism of our members through the following means:
• Provide a practical and realistic orientation for songwriters/artists on common standards and expectations of the music industry.
• Sharpen required competencies for excelling in the song writing profession.
• Serve as a forum for networking among peers and with industry experts to generate career opportunities.
• Serve as a non-political advocate for songwriters and performers in a liaison with peer organizations throughout the country.
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, but we are careful not to knock on your door too often.  We won’t be doing an appeal like this again until next December.

Now- back to your regularly scheduled newsletter!
Happy Holidays
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1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST - Fall kickoff planned. Stay tuned!
We'll set the deadline dates at the kickoff.

2009-10 SONG CONTEST - We've finally wrapped it up and delivered all prizes!
Winners were announced April 15 on the website and at the Dallas International guitar show.
See John Nitzinger and Tradition Guitars presenting the grand prize at the show.

See the press release on the song contest winners:

Get a hard copy of the April issue of Songwriters Notes with a list of winners and read about grand prize winner, Lanny Sherwin.

See the winners, be sure to scroll to the bottom for Roy Elkins comments on the cream of the crop.

Semifinalists were posted on the song contest website on March 15th.

Mimi Balkey won the drawing for the ipod.

THANKS TO TRADITION GUITARS FOR GENEROUSLY DONATING THE GUITAR TO OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

2008 SONG CONTEST - WINNERS

See past 2008 winners.

Here 2008 winning songs in a series of three podcasts at:
2008 SEMIFINALISTS

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2. DSA MEETINGS - Dec. 14 - DSA Christmas Party

Come out and bring a spouse or friend.

Part 1. Networking and eating
Part 2.  Christmas Caroling
Part 3. Program: My Favorite Christmas Song and Why? Barbara & Donna will present. Others are encouraged to bring a song also. Bring a Cd, tape or vinyl, and lyrics.
Part 4: Instant Song - Break up into co-write groups. Bring your instruments. Ken coordinates.

Free 

There will be plenty of food, ham, beans, veggies and fruit.


Sign in and Networking begins at 6:30
Announcements at 7PM
Program about 7:30


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DSA T-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 at Collin Creek Mall- Steve Sullivan, coordinator.
Tinos Mexican Restaurant Collin Creek Mall, Plano, Tx 972 2572
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3. SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS -

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

TEXAS SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND at  Hard Eight Cafe in Brady
 "2nd Saturday" if anyone can join us please do.
Hard Eight Cafe 6-9PM All original All the Time.
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4. LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked December 31th or enter online.

SUMMER 2010 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
SEMIFINALISTS

BLUE CRAYONS WRITE THE BEST by Mario Spinosa, Eynon, PA
NOW SON, TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY by Melina Barnett, Moreton in Marsh, UK
FLY FREE by Butch Schindel, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
ZEKE by Ron Walthall, Combine, Tx

WINNERS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. See the lyrics.

LYRICISTS GAIN RECOGNITION THROUGH COMPETITION
Next Lyric Contest Deadline is March 30th, 2010 for Spring Lyric Contest
Entry fee is $10
Please see lyric contest webpage for details.

April 2010 Hardcopy issue of Songwriters Notes has Summer & Fall 2009 winners posted.

October 2009 Hardcopy issue of Songwriters Notes has Fall 2008 & winter/spring 2009 Lyric contest winning songs listed:
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5. MEMBER NEWS -
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
* 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.

Wanna get involved? Become a committee member. It's fun!
To view a list of the 2010 Officer and Directors and Committees go to this link:

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Joe Milton, Shelby Cook, Mina Shamsa, Robert Montgomery, Tracy Merchant, Jan Osborne, Tim Schramm, Kevin Mountcastle, Brent Benton, Pru Gilmore, Timberly Padden won a fee membership in the guitar show drawing.. Tim Phillips, Pru Potter, Joanna Endley, Robert Tenorio, and song contest winners Ward Parker, Eric Christensen, Chris Trentham, Scott Tonkinson, Lisa Torres, Noel Cohen, David Spence, Edward Turton, Lauren Smith, Lanny Sherwin, John Watilo Louie Cate, Claire Ulanoff, Karyna Cruz, Peter Bacsalmasi, Bernadette Conant, Roger Kaye, Matt Dahan, Dom Stasi, Sinem Varoglu, John Visconti, Jaime Leopold,

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Morri Hartgraves, Roger Russell, Donna Scoggins. Ken Golden, Brook Malouf, Bill Honker, Scott Fant, Ed Willians, Tom Thomas, Trevor Dahen, Butch Schindel, Bob Paterno, Ian Dickson, Jackie Doss, Mary Guthrie, CB Luce

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

JULY: Michael Fredde, Dave Dalton, Dave Sanchez
SEPT: Don Wall
OCT: Reagan Redfern, Morri Hartgraves, Paul Penrod, Billy Roberson, George Ross, Rod Ballou, Stephen Blackwell, Curtis Goho, Erick Bunch, Robert Charles
NOV: Jose Cantu, Mimi Balkey, Michael Roth, Cheryl Anderson, Justin Marler
PLEASE RENEW THIS MONTH: Jeff Sharp, Genell Kelso, Michael Brandon and Krystal Pinkins.
Renew your membership online,
You'll find the link to the store on the panel to the right
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6. WORKSHOPS - DSA WORKSHOPS ARE SPONSORED BY BMI
(Each month we have a workshop at our monthly meeting on the 1st Monday, 3rd Monday and 2nd Tuesday. see item 3 above.) http://www.meetingblog.dallassongwriters.org

Occasionally we bring in special instructors for songwriting, performance or music education workshops.


7. EVENTS- Featuring local and worldwide events of the songwriting community including, seminars, conferences, and showcases.

DEC
2-5 Film and Showbiz Expo, LA http://www.theshowbizexpo.com
6  SF MusicTech Summit, San Francisco, CA http://www.sfmusictech.com
8  Collin Songwriters Sing Out with Poetry Slam, Escape Coffee, Allen Tx

JAN 2011
11 Jason Blume Songwriting Workshop, Nashville http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/548313
13-16 ASG Symposium www.austinsongwritersgroup.com
20 BMI Music 101, NYC http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/533383
22-23 Steve Seskin Songcrafting Seminar, Nashville, Tn
22 - 26 Midem, Cannes, France  http://www.midem.com

FEB
16-20 Folk Alliance, Memphis, TN http://www.folkalliance.org/
13 Grammy Awards, LA  http://www.grammy.com
14-16 New Music Seminar, LA http://newmusicseminar.com

MARCH
9-13 Canadian Music Week, Toronto, CAN http://canadianmusicfest.com/
16-20 SXSW, Austin, Tx http://sxsw.com/

APRIL
28-30 ASCAP I Create Music EXPO http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/events/expo/

TEXAS CONCERT LISTINGS

Comprehensive VENUE LIST - compliments of Uncle Calvins

DALLAS TEXAS CONCERT LISTINGS

Dallas Morning News Guide Live Music Listing ( hit search after opening the page)
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8. Featured Articles:
PREZ SEZ: Tune in to DSA President, Buck Morgan's, musings and DSA goings on.

Audio Slideshow: Rock's Music
BBC NewS -- Photographer Mick Rock's images helped define the music scene of the 1970s - with his portraits of the likes of David Bowie, Debbie Harry, Mick Jagger and Queen. Here, as photos from his new book - Exposed: The Faces of Rock N' Roll - go on public display in London, are some of them. Mick talks affectionately about the artists with whom he worked and ultimately became friends.
Stephen Sondheim Talks To Frank Rich About 'Glee' And What's Next
NPR -- As part of The New York Times' Times Talk series, Frank Rich sat down for a public, ninety minute chat with Stephen Sondheim. ... Sondheim's been opening up to everyone this year. In the spring, he gave candid video interviews that were integrated into the Broadway revue Sondheim on Sondheim, and he just published Finishing the Hat, a collection of lyrics and anecdotes that finds him dishing on everyone from his ninth grade Latin teacher to Oscar Hammerstein. The Times Talk was just as meaty.
Sir Elton John: 'I Will Never Write Another Pop Single'
By Heidi Blake -- Sir Elton John has called time on his song-writing career, declaring himself too old to write another pop single.
The Rhythm of Rock 'N' Roll: 'It's All in the 1, 2, 3'
By Marc Myers -- To illustrate the beat he invented in 1949—the beat that became rock 'n' roll—Fats Domino placed his fingers on the back of my hand. Using me as his keyboard, the legendary pianist tapped out his famed triplets. "Feel it?" he asked, a cherubic smile spreading across his face. "It's all in the 1, 2, 3."

MUSIC BUSINESS










Digital-Distribution of Music Goes from Fee to Flat Rate
By Alex Pham -- Less than five years after Jeff Price, CEO of TuneCore launched it, TuneCore has become the world's largest distributor of music, as measured by volume of releases. The New York company pumps out 15,000 to 30,000 new songs each week, more than most major record labels do in a year.


Bob Paterno's blog Making Music Making Money

Glossary of Terms Used in the Music Industry
Compiled by Mario F. Gonzalez, Esq.

CRAFT OF SONGWRITING
Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting

LITERARY DEVICES - Part 2 Similes
Let's look at some tools and formulas help you build similes.

Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary



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9. Song and Talent Contests
See contest details at:
A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com
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10. Songwriting Resources
Links to websites about songwriting, performance, music industry.

DSA Book Store - reviews, links, lists of recommended reading, and what's in the DSA Library.
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11. BEST SONGS of the 2nd Tuesday Meeting

JAN 2010
Man Card by Brooke Malouf
By Myself by Nancy Rynders
FEB
This Love by Bob Paterno
MARCH MADNESS - no critiques this month
APRIL Co-writes - no critiques this month
MAY
I Tell My Heart by Vern Dailey and Amber Dotson
JUNE
Loves Gonna Change Your Mind by Vern Dailey and Clay Potter
Will You Save A Drowning Man by Nancy Rynders
JULY
Worth Every Penny by Michael Brandenberger
SEPT
Blue Side of the Red River by Vern Dailey
Hero Where It Counts by Brooke Malouf
OCT













I Know by Brook Malouf












Kiss Me and Make Me Better by Nancy Rynders
NOV
The Checker at Counter Nine by Nancy Rynders and Vern Dailey
Whiskey Wins by Donna Scoggins





Read about 2009 Songwriter of the Year, Vern Dailey:  http://dsapress.blogspot.com/2010/08/legend-in-his-own-time.html

Download a pdf hard copy of the Oct 2009 Songwriters Notes with 2008 best songs of the meeting winners announced.http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1520070&da=y

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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12. SONGS FROM THE SOUL OF SERVICE
http://www.songssoulservice.org

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
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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,
Songwriter Notes
Founding President Emeritus, DSA
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