Hello Songwriter,
Our song contest is coming to a close, with a deadline of May 14.
Wildflower will be blooming great music in a couple of weekends. Come out to the Courtyard Songwriter Stage run by Dallas Songwriters. Friday - Sunday, May 18-20 in Richardson, to hear us perform. See events #8 below for details. There is a Songwriter School with Beth Nielsen Chapman this year. See workshops below.
Our song contest, deadline is May 14th, has the smallest fee among all the contests. Only $20 to enter. It's a small but prestigious contest with chances to win in each category. Every entry has a chance to win in a drawing for an Ipod. Check out details here.
At the 2nd Tuesday meeting were having Extreme Co-writes back by demand. This time you'll be provided with a melody and you'll come up with the lyric.Lyricists, it's your time to shine! See details below in #2.
Our other regular DSA monthly events remain the same, 1st and 3rd Monday SongSwaps and 3rd Thursday Open Mic. For details, see #2 and #4 below.
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.
QUICK LOOK CALENDAR OF DSA MONTHLY EVENTS - put this in your bookmark.
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1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST -
2012 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest Deadline May 14
Now in its 22nd year, The DSA 2012 Song Contest is one of the longest running international song contests for amateur songwriters. Offering over $5,000 in cash and prizes this year, the DSA has EIGHT categories in all. See Contest Rules for eligibility. Accepting Submissions 2/1/2012 through 5/14/2012. Pick your category and enter today!
- Country
- Pop/Rock/RandB/Alternative
- Americana/Folk/Bluegrass
- Christian/Inspirational
- Love Songs/Easy Listening
- Children's/Novelty
- Singer-Songwriter
- Instrumental
Grand Prize is a Taylor Guitar signed by Beth Nielsen Chapman. The one she played on Good Morning Texas donated by our Prez, Roger Russell.
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
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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 Meeting, May 8,
Lyric Writing Program
6:30 Sign In - Network
7PM : Guest Speaker
8PM: Song Critiques - Got a song for Zane to sing?
See meeting page for more details
Future Programs:
JUNE: Richard Chalk, Top Cat Records
JULY: Sara Hickman, tent.
AUGUST: NO MEETING
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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 at Collin Creek Mall- Steve Sullivan, coordinator.
Tinos Mexican Restaurant Collin Creek Mall, Plano, Tx
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3. BEST SONGS of the 2nd Tuesday Meeting
Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year is in the process of being judged for 2012 and will probably be announced in March.
APRIL
Cricket symphony by James Pappas
Beer Muscles by Tom Biles
Critique Panel: Julie Jean White / Zane Williams
Beer Muscles by Tom Biles
Critique Panel: Julie Jean White / Zane Williams
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?
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 MIC
DUNN BROTHERS COFFEE HOUSE -
EVERY 3RD THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
SHOWCASE AND OPEN MIC
HOURS 6-9PM 211 San Antonio Street, Mason, TX 76856
Shows will be on the 3rd Thursday of each month starting in March.
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. LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked June 30th SPRING CONTEST or enter online.
2011 FALL WINNERS
Semifinalists
We'll Go Away As Friends by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ
Shadows on the Wall by George Puccini, Las Vegas, NV
Body Surfing by Larry Dodge, Dallas, Tx
In A Heartbeat by Dana Young, Anthony, KS
All of You by Jenifer Christmas, Arverne, NY
Don't Play That Song by Dana Young, Anthony, KS
My Momma, (She Really Loved To Dance) by Fremont Ashton,
Englewood, FL
I was Only Trying to Help Her Make Up My Mind by Bill Kapac,
Williamstown, NJ
The Homecoming Dance by Lisa Simmons, Lewisville, Tx
Jesus Rides this Freight Train With Me by Tony McCall, Brisbane,
Australia
Fade by Ryan Eichenwaid, Dallas, Tx
CURRENT WINNERS and PAST WINNERS and LYRICS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE
Fall contest is in the judging process.
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!
To view a list of the 2012 Officer and Directors and Committees 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 SAINTS: PAUL ZANDER, ROGER RUSSELL
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Robert, Harper, Dewey Stark, Mofor Otang, Kurt Echenwald, Molly Bush, Jim Baker, Alexandra Brooks, Robin Willis, Brian Coker, Corey Anderson, Terry Boss, Matt Boggs, Craig Crafton, Mark Sanders.
THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Casey Graham, Helene Cronin, Buz Craft, Madilyn Shaw, Holly Doubet, Julie Jean White, James Pappas, Andrew Boyer, Ross Smith, Morri Hartgraves, Robin Hughes, Will Brown, Kathryn Hallberg, Larry Dodge, Nancy Rynders
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: Toni Scott, Jason Winford
EXPIRED IN JAN: Steve Erickson, Alex Flores, Thomas Cavazos, Guy Rourk
EXPIRED IN FEB: Lisa Simmons, Jonathan Sargent, Trevor Dahlen, Tamara McGuchen, Wyler Delray, Raquel Sanchez Lomon.
EXPIRED IN MARCH: James Talavera, Katie Parr, Casundra Chambers DarKing, Chester May, Liza Mesiah, Coy Portier, Paul Cataldi, Minnie Murray, George Puccini
EXPIRED IN APRIL: Suzi Moore, Jeremy Ellis, Joanna Endsley, Gary Morse, Daniel Anchondo, Steve Johnson, Loretta Dunnaway, Casey Graham, Robert McHale, Margaret Cuddihee, hris Trentham, Lanny Sherwood.
PLEASE RENEW THIS MONTH: Richard Ray Hunt, Steve Wiseberg, Annie Cornelius
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
Or paste this link in your browser: http://store.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=7TE_LIVE&&
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7. WORKSHOPS - DSA WORKSHOPS ARE SPONSORED BY BMI
(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.)
Beth Nielson Chapman is back giving a workshop at the Wildflower Festival.
Grammy Award Winner Singer/Songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman will conduct a one-day Songwriting School (workshop) to kick off the City of Richardson's 2012 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival.
Friday, May 18, 2012
10:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Residence Inn by Marriott1040 Waterwood DriveRichardson, TX 75082Maximum Students: 40
For more info and to register, go to:http://www.bethnielsenchapman.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=10&products_id=32
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.
18-20 Wildflower Festival http://www.wildflowerfestival.com
JUNE
1-3 Nashville Songwriters Festival, Nashville http://www.songwritersfestival.org/
4 Billboard Country Music Summit, Nashville
7-9 Mob Fest, Chicago http://www.chicagomobfest.com/
11-17 NXNE, Toranto, CAN http://nxne.com/
17 - 19 New Music Seminar http://newmusicseminar.com/
21 - 24 Telluride Bluegrass Festival http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride/lineup.html
JULY
13 - 15 Taste of Dallas, http://www.tasteofdallas.org/
AUG
3 - 5 Lollapalooza, Chicago
SEPT
5 - 9 Music Fest NW, Portland, OR http://musicfestnw.com/
OCT
4 -7 Filter Culture Collide, LA http://culturecollide.com/
12 -14 ACL Fest, Austin http://www.aclfestival.com/
16 - 20 CMJ Marathon, NYC http://www.cmj.com/marathon/
Go to the events page to view links to local and Texas venues.
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9. Featured Articles:
PREZ SEZ: Tune in to DSA President, Roger Russell's, musings and DSA goings on.
Learn to Play a Virtual Musical Instrument by Waving Your Sound Wand Around
By Jamillah Knowles
By Jamillah Knowles
By David Burger
By Sarah Coles
Map of Music Styles
By Music Machinery -- I spent this weekend at Rethink Music Hackers' Weekend building a music hack called Map of Music Styles (aka MOMS). This hack presents a visualization of over 1,000 music styles. You can pan and zoom through the music space just like you can with Google maps. When you see an interesting style of music you can click on it to hear some samples of music of that style.
Carole King - The Legendary Demos
By hyperbolium.com -- Demos are an industry currency that fans don't often get to hear. They're an audio notebook in which songwriters sketch their vision, either for themselves, or more intriguingly, for those to whom they wish to sell songs...[Carole's songs will outlive all of us...and their copyrights! - DK]
VIDEOS
The Making Of "Bohemian Rhapsody"
By Bobby Owsinski -- Here's a great video where Queen guitarist Brian May takes us through the making of the bands seminal "Bohemian Rhapsody." It's really interesting to hear it all built up, especially the basic track with only Freddie Mercury's piano, John Deacon's bass and Roger Taylor's drums, which wasn't to a click but sounds incredibly in time. They're completely locked in together.
By Bobby Owsinski -- Here's a great video where Queen guitarist Brian May takes us through the making of the bands seminal "Bohemian Rhapsody." It's really interesting to hear it all built up, especially the basic track with only Freddie Mercury's piano, John Deacon's bass and Roger Taylor's drums, which wasn't to a click but sounds incredibly in time. They're completely locked in together.
MUSIC BUSINESS - more articles posted on the new blog DSA Music Biz News
By Chris Castle
Amanda Palmer Raises $437,000 In 72 Hours, Shatters Kickstarter Music Record
By Bruce Houghton -- Amanda Palmer has used the power of her fanbase to raise $437,000 from 7,300 backers for a new album, art book and tour on Kickstarter...Palmer has also launched a companion funding vehicle called LoanSpark, to enable her more wealth fans to loan her money to be paid back along with "creative interest."
By Louie Herr -- Buying music is easy but there's a lot of work that goes into creating it and we take a moment a to explore the process.
Turn Your CD Into a Kick-Ass Marketing Tool
By James Hill -- If you believe in the marketing power of the CD and you want to exhaust its marketing potential, here are the things you should include in your packaging to enhance its marketing power...
IN MEMORANDUM
["American Bandstand" in Philly was one of the stops for singing partner Hank Jones and me when promoting our RCA album in 1962. DK]
The Collected Wisdom of Dick Clark, 1929-2012
By Esquire -- Memories and lessons of one of television's most iconic hosts, excerpted from interviews and speeches over the years.
The Collected Wisdom of Dick Clark, 1929-2012
By Esquire -- Memories and lessons of one of television's most iconic hosts, excerpted from interviews and speeches over the years.
Levon Helm, Longtime Drummer in the Band, Dead at 71
By Ellen Wulfhorst -- Levon Helm, the drummer for The Band whose twangy vocals brought a poignancy and earthiness to songs like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek," died on Thursday at the age of 71 from cancer, his manager said.
By Ellen Wulfhorst -- Levon Helm, the drummer for The Band whose twangy vocals brought a poignancy and earthiness to songs like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up on Cripple Creek," died on Thursday at the age of 71 from cancer, his manager said.
By Jon Bonner -- Jim Marshall, the founder of Marshall Amplification and designer of one of the world's most popular line of amplifiers, passed away on Thursday, April 5th in Buckinghamshire, England. He was eighty-eight years old, and what he left behind is recognized throughout the world as being one of the loudest, smoothest line of rock amplifiers, praised by some of the most legendary musicians of our time.
PERFORMANCE
Bob Paterno's blog Making Music Making Money
CRAFT OF SONGWRITING
Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting
By Michael Gorman
Fostering Creativity: Advice From John Cleese
By Chris Robley
Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary
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10. Song and Talent Contests
See contest details at:
Song, Lyric and Fiddle Contests
DSA Song Contest deadline in May 14.
A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com
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11. 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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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
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.
Donations are welcome year round.
