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The Muse's News |
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Issue 11.10 - January
2009
ISSN 1480-6975 This
issue sponsored by: 
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I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Music Reviews - Alex Jasperse, Chip Withrow, Gian Fiero,
Dan Cohen, Don Sechelski & JJ Biener
@-- New Artist Spotlight Additions
@-- New Artist Spotlight Additions
@-- Songwriting Book Review - by Ed Teja
@-- Musical Notes - Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
@-- Muse's Clues - Songwriting Web sites that inspire - brought
to you by singer/songwriter & teacher, Irene Jackson.
@-- Featured Article - The Importance of Listening
by Jason Cannata
@-- On Site Featured Article - An article already online for your
viewing pleasure.
@-- Classifieds & Useful Services
@-- Contact information
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ISSN 1480-6975. Copyright 1998-2008 - Jodi Krangle.
For more contact information, see end of issue.
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FIND THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE SONGWRITING IN YOUR LIFE!
All sorts of products and services especially for songwriters,
negotiated so that you get the best price possible. You'll find
means of promotion and distribution, songwriting aids,
educational products, musical instruments and their accessories,
and lots more. Find the perfect gift for the songwriter in your
life - even if it's you!
http://www.musesmuse.com/songwriting-store.html
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MakeAStar.com BRINGS WEB MUSIC CONTESTS TO A NATIONAL TV AUDIENCE
Make A Star is the first web-to-TV talent competition that gives
amateur and upstart artists a free and equal chance to gain
national TV exposure and thousands in cash prizes.
Artists and fans can register for free at www.MakeAStar.com to
upload their music videos, record a live performance on webcam,
and vote for their favorite music. The website works in concert
with the weekly television broadcast of Make A Star, which
premiered on FUSE cable network Saturday December 6th and airs
every Saturday at 10:30AM for 13 weeks.
By the end of the show's first season in February 2009, a $10,000
cash prize will be awarded for the best original music, and a
$1,000 cash prize will go to the best webcam a cappella
performance. Fans and artists are also eligible for a number of
cash prizes just for being active and voting on MakeAStar.com.
Go to http://www.MakeAStar.com and submit your music today! Music
videos do not have to be expensive or have full production. You
can simply plug in your webcam and use the site's embedded webcam
recorder to record and submit your song.
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E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
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I hope you all had a wonderful holiday - whatever that happens to
have been. I'm not going to talk about New Year's resolutions.
(Sorry for even mentioning it there.) You all know if you need
to change something you're not happy with. Why does this time of
year happen to be so special in that regard? Motivation and
inspiration can come from a lot of different sources - not just
at the end of one year and the beginning of another. Keep your
eyes and ears open ... and you just never know. :)
Lots of stuff in this newsletter though - new CD reviews (a TON
of them) plus Gian's 2008 Muse's Muse Music Awards (they're at
http://www.musesmuse.com/gian2008-intro.html if you just can't
wait!), a great article by Jason Cannatta of Song Warrior Music,
the usual informative and interesting Muse's Clues from Irene
Jackson and a great review of a new book about Dolly Parton by Ed
Teja. And of course, there's more information about new
songwriting contests and other marketing avenues for you to get
the word out about what you can do. So without any further fuss
and bother, here are the raffle winners for this month so that we
can get on with it. :)
* Dana Russell, from Rossville, GA, has won a copy of
Virtual Studio Systems' Lyricist software
(http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html).
* Rayn Storm from Denver, CO has won a free 3
month membership to SongU (http://www.SongU.com), an
Internet-based learning environment providing online coaching,
co-writing and pitching opportunities, in addition to over 70
multi-level courses developed by award-winning songwriters.
* Bruce Mandel, from Otis, MA, has won a copy of
Indie-Music.com's Musician's Toolkit CD
(http://www.musicianstoolkit.com/muse/)
* Darryl Ellyson from Chesterfield, VA, has won a 6 month
subscription to the Onlinegigs (http://www.onlinegigs.com/)
service. This valuable service is a powerful tool for musicians,
agents, record companies and managers designed to virtually
automate the administration of booking and promoting a band or
bands.
* John Hamilton from Boulder, CO, has won a copy of
Bronson Herrmuth's "100 Miles To A Record Deal"
(http://www.songrepair.com/bookforweb2.htm).
* Christie Simmons from Calgary, Alberta, has won a copy of the
book reviewed in this month's issue: SMART BLONDE — Dolly Parton
by Stephen Miller (http://www.omnibuspress.com)
I had a lot of people write to me after my plea last month.
Thanks for taking the time! As always, if you'd like one of
these great raffle prizes for your very own, all you need to do
is write to me with your first two choices for your prize and
your address info (this is important!) so that I can get it to
you. The prizes are all listed at the top of
http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html .
A very Happy New Year to you all! May it be a productive and
successful one for you - no matter how you judge "success". :)
All the best,
--Jodi
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRETT MANNING'S SINGING SUCCESS SYSTEMATIC VOCAL TRAINING SYSTEM:
It's the "secret weapon" used by some of the winners of the
world's most prestigious vocal awards, including the Doves, the
CMA Awards, and yes, the Grammies.
Learn the one mistake even professional singers make, that drains
away 3 times more vocal energy and yields only half the needed
vocal power. Find out about the 3 simple exercises that allow
even a "beginner" to make rapid increases in range (this also
eliminates vocal strain). Learn Brett's secret for "dissolving"
your break, so you'll never have to flip into falsetto again, but
you'll still sing as high as you want--in full voice - and LOTS
more.
The package includes 12 audio CDs (packed with 17 repeatable
lessons, including both technique--the simple, yet powerful
exercises, and style lessons for building vocal licks and
trills); a workbook for illustration; and a DVD for visual
reference and demonstration. It's a complete course - and it has
a money-back guarantee!
Visit http://tinyurl.com/35t3lz for more details and start
yourself on the road to improving your vocal chops today!
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M u s i c R e v i e w s : Alex Jasperse, Chip Withrow,
Gian Fiero, Dan Cohen,
Don Sechelski & JJ Biener
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Gian Fiero's 2008 Muse's Muse Awards are now online!
Visit http://www.musesmuse.com/gian2008-intro.html for details.
NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
Alex Jasperse:
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* Shouse
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-shouse-alone.html
Chip Withrow:
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* Jam-Lab
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-jamlab-gain.html
* Kickin Grass Band
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-thekickingrassband.html
Gian Fiero:
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* Tracy Millar
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-tracymillar-notthatgirl.html
* Coko
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-coko-thegreatest.html
* Tracy Cruz
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-tracycruz-feelosophy.html
* Duffy
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-duffy-steppingstone.html
* Justin Stein
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-justinstein-js.html
* Saint
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-saint-rollwitme.html
* Six O'Clock News
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-sixoclocknews-angryplace.html
Dan Cohen:
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* Ranlom
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-ranlom-goingonholiday.html
* Groovy Ruby
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-groovyruby-strong.html
Don Sechelski:
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* Tom Kimmel
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-tomkimmel-neversawblue.html
* Tara Linda and Luna Nueva
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-taralindalunanueva.html
* Greenlight Caravan
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-greenlight-mother.html
JJ Biener:
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* Art Carter
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-artcarter-freedomrains.html
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******
For bios on each of the reviewers, see
http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html . If you're
considering sending in your own CD for review, you can also view
that page to find out which reviewer reviews your genre. Thanks!
Back to Menu
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N e w A r t i s t S p o t l i g h t A d d i t i o n s :
Great music is only a click away!
Here are just some of the great CDs highlighted in the
Artist Spotlight section of The Muse's Muse at
http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights.html
----------------------------------------------------------------- Frank Villafañe - Genre: JAZZ
Punto De Vista (ViewPoint), Frank Villafañe's latest CD, blends
traditional latin rhythms and forms with contemporary technology.
Incorporating modern inventive stylings and electronica, it
strikes a balance between the established and the unconventional.
Completely computer generated, Punto De Vista (ViewPoint) is an
atypical latin jazz release, and perfects Frank's pioneer concept
of virtual latin jazz.
http://www.myspace.com/frankvillafane
-----
Andy Michaels - Genre: EASY LISTENING
Andy Michaels is a Australian singer/songwriter and performer
with a passionate and heart felt voice who combines beautiful
music and melodies with lyrics in the genre of Bob Dylan and
Neil Young. He believes a song should be a whole story spelling
experience.
http://www.andymichaels.com/ =================================================================
S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w : by Ed Teja
SMART BLONDE — Dolly Parton
by Stephen Miller
http://www.omnibuspress.com
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There seem to be a large number of biographies of music
personalities coming out these days. Perhaps in these chaotic
times it is even more interesting to learn how successful people
accomplished all that they did. Dolly Parton has accomplished
more than most. An extremely successful songwriter and performer,
she has also done well in other businesses. And she started with
nothing but determination, making this a classic rags to riches
story.
Although this is an unofficial biography, Miller managed to get
insights from people close to his subject, including one of her
sisters and people in the business. Combined with public records
and publicly known information he pieced together a coherent
and compelling picture of a very focused girl, then woman, who
set out to make her mark in the music industry with as few
missteps as possible. She worked quickly, and did not languish
long in the crowd of struggling performers. Swept up by Porter
Wagoner's Wagon Train, she immediately captured the attention of
the public. A series of duet albums with Porter lasted many
years, even when that relationship was no longer so golden.
Ironically, she seemed to be more sure footed, more clear about
her image, when she was an unknown than once she achieved a
certain amount of fame. She changed musical styles a great deal,
but some seemed to be, for her fans at least, mistakes. But then
she would go back to her roots and all was forgiven. Her work
with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt took all three back to
music they loved and undoubtedly won new fans for all three. And,
over the years, Dolly recorded with many well known singers, such
as Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson,
Brenda Lee and Kris Kristofferson. But she was always herself,
and not someone's costar. That sustained her efforts, even
through her work in television, movies, and Broadway. Hit or
miss, success or failure, she puts a unique stamp on her work.
There are multiple stories in this book, giving it some
dimensionality that sometimes goes missing from celebrity
stories. At the core of the woman who would be a singing star is
the struggling songwriter who wants to express her unique self in
her music, and the woman who must establish relationships with
family and friends while remaining in charge of her life. It is a
battle fought on several fronts, and with the press creating
additional difficulties, especially in their speculations about a
part of her life that she has kept out of public view. You don't
get any special insights into that private side in this book.
That isn't what it is about, and the author doesn't seem to think
it important to the larger story. For that, a giant salute.
******
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
Ed Teja writes a broad range of music. His songs and
instrumentals have appeared in television shows (Court TV and
Discover Channel) and in a variety of videos. He has had two CDs
released by Morrhythm Records (www.outstandingmusic.com) and is
currently cowriting songs with an exciting singer who is working
on her second CD. As a performer, Ed has appeared at strange
venues in Hong Kong, Canada, St. Martin, Bequia, Venezuela,
Grenada and Trinidad, as well as the Silver City (New Mexico)
Blues festival, Pickamania, and the Tucson (Arizona) Folk
Festival.
You can hear some of Ed's music at: http://www.myspace.com/edteja
If you'd like *your* book reviewed (as long as it has something
to do with songwriting, of course!), please do email us and let
us know!
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR - QUICKLY AND EASILY!
You Can Play Guitar author and publisher Scott Morris now offers
7 Free email guitar lessons that include easy to learn guitar
tablature, a sound file and free guitar lesson videos of his easy
to learn Billboard top rated guitar method that includes learning
guitar scales and theory used by professional songwriters. The
Free Guitar Lesson Videos - teach samples of learning the names
of the notes, sharps and flats, easy to play guitar chords and
more great information for beginner to professional level
guitarist.
http://tinyurl.com/6o27j7
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M u s i c a l N o t e s : Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
In the interest of conserving space, I will only be including
changes to this listing in this newsletter. All other contests
and market information that have already been listed here, are
displayed at http://www.musesmuse.com/contests.html &
http://www.musesmuse.com/markets.html . Please check there
regularly for updates!
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THE 12TH ANNUAL COOCH MUSIC AMATUER SONGWRITING CONTEST
Cooch Music has launched its 12th Amateur Songwriting
Competition. The International songwriting contest began in 1999
giving songwriters, bands and musicians the ability to enter a
contest that is aimed at amateurs (writers who make less then
$5000 a year in royalties) only)!
Arinana Stewart, R&B winner of the 8th Cooch Music Songwriting
Competition, was signed by a producer after winning and her first
assignment was to co-write three songs for Bad Boy Records new
super group B5!
Songs are to be judged on originality, lyrics, melody and
composition. Quality of performance and production will not be
considered. All prizes are designed to help the amateur
songwriter further their career. Complete prize list can be seen
at coochmusic.com. Cooch Music's categories include:
Rock/Alternative, Country, Pop/Dance, Folk/World, Rhythm & Blues,
Hip Hop/ Rap, Gospel/Inspirational, Latin,
Novelty/Comedy/Children's, and Lyrics Only. Prize Alert!!!! Grand
Prize winner will receive and autographed acoustic guitar signed
by all the members of Three Doors Down. Visit the official
website for a complete list of all sponsors and prizes.
Deadline: 31st January 2009
Fee: $20
Details: http://www.coochmusic.com
Special Offer for Musesmuse.com visitors!
1/2 price entries! That's right Now Only $10 an entry for
Musesmuse.com visitors! MAIL IN OFFER ONLY. ENTER AS MANY ENTRIES
AS YOU WANT WITH NO LIMIT ON THE SPECIAL OFFER. SAVE $10 on every
entry. And a chance to win the autographed guitar by 3 Doors
Down! But you must enter by Jan 31ST.2008 in order to get this
special offer! Just print out this ad and send it in with your
entries!
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2008 USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED, 2009 BEGINS
Jordan Zevon wins the Overall Grand Prize of the 2008 USA
Songwriting Competition along with co-writers Jordan Summers &
Morty Coyle. His winning song home will be on the USA Songwriting
Competition's compilation CD this year. See complete winners'
list here: http://www.songwriting.net/winnners.html
14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition is now accepting entries.
Winning songs will receive radio airplay in United States and
Canada along with great prizes such as a Top Prize of over
$50,000. Please obtain the entry form at:
http://www.songwriting.net/entryform.html
Or enter online here with your MP3: http://online.songwriting.net
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AFFORDABLE PRESS RELEASE DISTRIBUTION
My PR Music Wire offers press release writing and direct email
distribution to thousands of music journalists, radio stations,
and managers. You can also post your music press release for free
on our website by emailing it to freewire@myprmusicwire.com.
Receive 10% off your entire order when you enter the coupon code
muse10 at checkout!
http://www.myprmusicwire.com/
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STACK THE ODDS IN YOUR FAVOR WITH THE ULTIMATE PROMOTION AND FREE
CONSULTATIONS
Do you have a dream of having your music heard, being on the
radio, or writing songs for other artists? You're not alone. And
now, there's a faster and better way than ever before to get
there. Song Warrior Music will promote your music professionally,
to only publishers, producers, and record labels who specialize
in your style of music and are actively seeking new songs. From
the design and production of presentation materials to follow up
calls/letters/mailings, and unlimited consultation before,
during, and after the promotion, everything is custom designed to
fit your music and your specific goals. Song Warrior Music is
committed to putting the music first and giving you the absolute
best possible chance for achieving your dream, because it's not
just a career, it's your music. So, if you are ready to go for
that dream, to schedule your free consultation, just go to
http://www.songwarriormusic.com/musesmuse or call (573) 814-2169.
You can talk with the owner, Jason Cannata, directly, ask him any
questions you have, and find out more about The Song Warrior
Music Promotion. If you believe in yourself and your dreams, and
never give up, anything is possible, so contact Song Warrior
Music today and
Go For It!
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HOW CAN MUSOWIKI HELP YOU?
Musowiki.net is a FREE global directory of music-industry
services. It helps Musos who want to grow their music to connect
with people offering help. Whether you need to write better
songs, learn to play or to book your next tour of Europe,
Musowiki contains services that bring your goals within reach.
People offering services that help Musos can LIST THEMSELVES FREE
(instructions are here:
http://musowiki.net/index.php/Category:Listing). Just copy, paste
and fill in the blanks.
If someone has done a great job for you, give them a boost by
saying so on their discussion page. There are many ways you can
support the project - feel free to explore the community.
www.musowiki.net
---------------------------------------------------------
THE DELI: A MUSIC WEBSITE FOCUSING ON LOCAL MUSIC SCENES
The Deli is the website that every A&R person and local promoter
checks out on a weekly basis. Our publication and web sites focus
on local music scenes and emerging artists (from rock to folk to
experimental, with a little bit of hip hop as well). We currently
publish a printed magazine about the NYC music scene and have
daily updated , separate web pages tackling the new emerging
music in NYC, LA, SF and Nashville. Check it out here
www.thedelimagazine.com.
You can submit your music via the web through our open blog pages
(here's the one for Nashville:
http://www.thedelimagazine.com/nashville/openblog/)
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FREE MUSIC PROMOTIONS EBOOK!
The author of The Little Black Book Of Band Profit Secrets has
come thru again! He's just published: "Co-Op Synergy Power, Your
Fast-Track To Profit, Exposure And Free Advertising..." and
musesmuse.com fans can get it for free.
Click here> http://jodimuse.ssl4000.hop.clickbank.net/
And be sure to check out The Little Black Book Of Band Profit
Secrets while your there... It's worth the look.
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STUDIOTRAXX.COM: BREAKING NEW GROUND - FOR YOU!
StudioTraxx.com provides an e-commerce platform that allows
artists/bands to purchase and book time with musicians,
engineers, producers, and other music professionals for online
studio collaboration purposes. They facilitate the entire music
production process from beginning to end — from finding and
booking the right talent to managing all resulting collaboration
activities.
StudioTraxx is actively building its talent network and is
encouraging both those who offer services and those who need
services to sign up and register. There are no costs to join the
site. Creating an account is FREE.
http://www.studiotraxx.com/?partner=837
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THE INDIE GUIDE IS ON SALE FOR $10.95 AND INCLUDES THE INDIE
CONTACT GUIDE!
For a limited time only, North Shore Records, Inc, in celebration
of tour season and music success has put The Indie Guide on sale
for $10.95 plus shipping. The normal cost is $25.95 plus
shipping. In addition to the 190-page book, The Indie Contact
Guide, which contains thousands of contact names, address, email
addresses, phone numbers and contact names will be included.
To Your Music Success! http://www.theindieguide.com
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FREE SONGWRITING, FILM, TV, AND VIDEO GAME SUBMISSIONS AT
MUSICGORILLA.COM!
MusicGorilla.com works with Songwriters, Bands, Musicians, and
Artists to get their original material into the eyes and ears of
industry members who have the ability to take their careers to
the next level. We work with Reps from all facets of the Music
Industry. Our artists have the opportunity to submit their songs
to established artists looking for new material. In addition, our
clients get access to submissions for film, TV and video games,
all of our submissions are FREE. MG Artists are eligible for free
live label showcases, digital distribution with MSN and Loudeye
and more. We don't take any piece of any deals made on our site,
and have had many successes including placement, songwriting and
publishing deals.
Muse's Muse artists get 10% off of memberships!
Just enter the promotional code "muse" during registration.
http://www.musicgorilla.com
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THE INDIE VENUE BIBLE - A GROUNDBREAKING VENUE DIRECTORY FOR ANY
ARTIST PLANNING TO TOUR IN THE US OR CANADA!
26,000 live music venues of all sizes are featured including
clubs, bars, restaurants, lounges, coffee shops, theaters, halls,
churches, book stores, community centers, house concerts and open
mics. There are also 1,500 festivals listed as well as over
1,000 colleges for any artist that wants to plan a college tour.
Jumpstart your tour today!
Visit https://nt4.magma.ca/bigmeteor/ivbmuse_order.cfm
for more information!
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SONGWRITING CONSULTATION SPECIAL OFFER:
Pete & Pat Luboff will pay for the phone call for Muse's Muse
songwriters who use the Luboffs' songwriting consultation
service. The service provides detailed, constructive song
analysis, answers to all your creative and business questions and
references to contacts when appropriate. Visit
http://www.writesongs.com/consults.htm for more information.
Back to Menu
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M u s e ' s C l u e s : by Irene Jackson
©1998-2009 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved.
Used By Permission
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Considering the present state of the economy world-wide, you
wouldn't think that there would be much chance for someone to get
back IN to the business, let alone start from the very beginning.
But sometimes talent and hard work simply win out.
I remember a number of years back when Leonard Cohen stepped up
to accept his Juno (the Canadian Grammy) for "Best Male Vocal".
"Only in Canada," he said, "could someone like ME get Best Male
Vocal!" It was funny because Cohen, of course, has a voice that
only some can truly appreciate. My husband, for instance, can't
stand the guy...my brother things he is utterly amazing.
In more recent years, the 74-year-old Cohen has struggled
financially because his long-time manager allegedly
misappropriated US $5 million from his retirement fund, leaving
Cohen with no choice but to get back to his writing and
performing to try and make some of it back. He must have built
up some pretty good karma in his quiet years (he's a Buddhist
:-)) because since making that decision, he has enjoyed great
success in more than one way. Not only have his live concerts
done exceptionally well, but his song "Hallelujah" has become a
hit yet again in 2008 from two separate sources, one being Jeff
Buckley's version which went to number 1 on iTunes after being
performed on American Idol, and the second from singer/songwriter
Kate Foegele after her version was released on the teenage
television show "One Tree Hill".
Leonard Cohen is one of those rare songwriters who has
successfully bridged poetry and lyrics. He also writes fiction
along with his poetry and songs, and is reported to have always
had a very strong work ethic, living sparsely and writing
furiously through the 60's and 70's, for example, when he moved
to the US to become a singer/songwriter.
Because of his recent resurgence, there have been a number of
interesting articles written about Leonard and his lyrics, two of
them being on the UK's Guardian website. One called the "High
Priest of Minimalism"
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jun/28/culture.popandrock),
is an exploration of Cohen's taste for literary references in his
lyrics over the years. Another article titled "Who's Got the
Definitive Hallelujah?"
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/18/popandrock-christmas)
discusses the song in its many incarnations. Hallelujah is
reported to have been pared down from an original 80 verses and
took 5 years to write. How many of you out there have spent that
much time (and that many verses) on one song? I personally enjoy
the Rufus Wainwright version...if you ever get the chance to
listen to that one, you'll see what I mean.
Love him or hate him, you have to admire the fact that Leonard
Cohen has managed to put himself back into the spotlight when
most guys his age would be sitting back and enjoying the scenery.
Assuming they could afford to, that is.
So I leave you on that note (ha, a little pun). Here's to a
Happy and Prosperous New Year for all of you songwriters out
there!
******
Irene Jackson is a performing songwriter from Victoria, BC in
Canada. Aside from writing, recording and performing, she also
maintains a website for songwriters that includes tips, articles
and a songwriter's messageboard.
Songwriting Tips: http://www.irenejackson.com/tips.html
Homepage: http://www.irenejackson.com
Songs: http://www.soundclick.com/irenejackson
Back to Menu
=================================================================
F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e : by Jason Cannata
THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING © 2008
http://www.songwarriormusic.com
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I know you've heard a lot of songs, but the next time you hear
them, try to concentrate on things you weren't thinking of
before. What's causing you to react the way you do to it? If
you really like it and you feel moved by it, find out why. Take
a look at it closely and take each part separately. Is it the
lyrics that drew you in? Or maybe it's the guitar part, or a
certain chord they used in the chorus. Listen to each of the
background instruments too. By doing this, you'll see all the
clever little tricks that have been used and more importantly,
you will understand why they work.
Don't just listen that way to your favorite songs, concentrate on
the ones you don't like too. Are the lyrics stupid? Is the
melody annoying or not interesting enough? Many times, the songs
you don't care for can teach you just as much as the ones you
enjoy. They can show you what to avoid so you don't
unintentionally fall into the same traps. And then there are the
songs that you may not like, but there are still one or two
things about them that impressed you. Be honest and give credit
where credit is due. I've listened to many songs where I thought
"wow, that melody is really catchy, but it's too bad the lyrics
aren't that good and don't go well with it". In that case, I
would focus on the melody and try to find what techniques were
used with it.
The more songs you listen to from the "inside out", the more
techniques you will be exposed to, and pick up along the way.
This will give you a much greater range of things to work with
when you write your songs. Eventually, you will be prepared for
virtually every situation you encounter in writing your songs.
When you get to that part where you're not sure what should come
next in a song you're working on, you'll have tons of ideas
because you will have the knowledge you got from listening and
understanding all those different kinds of songs. Then,
songwriting will not only become easier, but it will also be a
lot more fun for you. In creativity, the more options you have
to work with, the better.
Using the analogy of painting a picture, you can imagine how the
artist would be limited if all he/she had to work with were three
colors, blue, red, and yellow. They have to create a picture
that they know will work with those colors. That means that they
can't draw whatever their imagination thinks of. Their
imagination is now limited to creating things that will only work
within the means they have to create the picture. But if they
had more colors, such as purple, orange, and pink, they would
have a little more room and it opens up the possibility of new
ideas. So they keep building and building their collection of
colors until finally they have ones like magenta, teal, and cadet
blue, and so on. Now, when they get to a part of the painting
where they have to use red, they have several options. They
don't have to settle for just "red". They now have things like
scarlet, crimson, and violet red to choose from. The paintings
are really brought to life and they have much more depth to them
because the painter can go wherever their imagination takes them.
The things you learn from the songs you listen to are your
"colors". You can never have enough different colors or ways to
use them. Building your color palette takes time, but the good
news is it's also a lot of fun because you'll be doing one of
your favorite things, listening to music! So the next time you
hear a song, really listen to it. It also helps to keep notes on
each song so you can refer back to them. They don't have to be
detailed explanations, just short phrases so you remember what
you were thinking of when you listened to it. These notes can
also help you deal with writer's block by giving you new ideas to
write with.
*****
Jason Cannata has been in the music business for over fifteen
years as a songwriter, artist, and producer, with five songs on
the radio, and he has created a company, Song Warrior Music, that
is focused on helping others achieve their dreams in a completely
new way that is changing how the music industry works forever.
If your goal is having your music heard, being on the radio, or
writing music for other artists, go to
http://www.songwarriormusic.com/musesmuse today and schedule your
free consultation to see how Jason can help you enjoy building a
successful music career.
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" O N S I T E " F E A T U R E D A R T I C L E :
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New Year's Resolutions for Songwriters - By Mary Dawson
http://www.musesmuse.com/marydawson-resolutions2009.html
It's almost time to make our New Year's resolutions for 2009. Are
you ready for the New Year? Will your resolutions collapse by
February? Or will you actually make some progress this year?
Mary's article will help you make a New Year's plan that works.
-----
Q&A: What about compilation CDs? Are they a good deal for an
aspiring songwriter or not? - Answered by Mary Dawson
http://www.musesmuse.com/qa-compilations.html
Meilyssia asks whether or not it's a good idea for a songwriter
to get a song published in a "compilation CD".
-----
Blue Collar Holiday Reflections 2008 - By Mick Polich
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-michpolich-xmas08reflections.html
Break out the nog, and nestle up to the fire, as ol' Uncle Mick
looks back 20 years ago to do a bit of holiday reflection of
music,community, and spirit...
-----
I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It - A Lot!!! - By Khaliq Glover
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-khaliq-bettersongwriting.html
How to become a better songwriter by studying the masters of the
past such as Cole Porter, Kern, Gershwin, and more. This modern
hit song by Katy Perry uses some of the same techniques of songs
written 60-80 years ago.
-----
This Is Who You Are, This Is What You Do - By Mick Polich
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-whoyouare.html
Happy holidays, peeps! Blue Collar is into year-end reflections
before we head into the new era - this time, Mick explores a bit
about searching for ' you' in your art and music...
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C l a s s i f i e d s & U s e f u l S e r v i c e s :
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THE 9th EDITION OF THE INDIE BIBLE IS NOW AVAILABLE!
The Indie Bible shows you where to get your music reviewed, your
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The 9th Edition of the Indie Bible contains:
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52 articles that will help your career to MOVE forward rapidly!
Listings include web, e-mail and physical address, as well as
phone and fax numbers.
For details and to order online visit:
http://www.bigmeteor.com/muse
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THE SUCCESSFUL SONGWRITER MOTIVATION & MEDITATION AUDIO
Inspired by the songwriter's journey, and through understanding
the principles talked about in "THE SECRET", this audio program
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Muse's Muse Visitors - Enter Promo Code: 42567 for Discount.
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Discounts for CD, and CD/Digital Download Combo shown on ordering
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LYRICIST VERSION 3: THE SONGWRITER'S BEST FRIEND
Lyricist is the first-of-its-kind word processor designed
specifically for musicians, songwriters, and poets. The software
includes a Rhyming Dictionary, Thesaurus, Album Categorization,
Chord Charting, Chord Generator, Song Arrangement, and On-Line
Copyright Link.
The new version 3 release adds support for "Piano Style" chord
symbols, Nashville Number System, and Transposition features -
all in one easy-to-use package - and all for only $44.95! (That's
$5.00 off to all Muse's News readers who purchase from the review
link at www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html!)
This tool will revolutionize the way you write and organize your
writing. Be the best songwriter you can be and purchase Lyricist
today! http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html
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INDIE-MUSIC.COM - WHERE SERIOUS MUSICIANS SURF
One of the most respected and imitated indie music sites on the
web, Indie-Music.com has been serving the Independent Music
Community since 1996 with streaming audio, monthly CD Reviews,
huge industry search directory, success-building resources,
classifieds, and much-needed recognition. The site offers a
wealth of information to artists trying to survive & thrive in
today's competitive music industry.
http://www.indie-music.com/
=================================================================
ADVERTISING RATES: For Classifieds: US$50 Max. 8 lines, where
a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation. All
contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com
For Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising
opportunities, please see http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html .
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=================================================================
C o n t a c t I n f o & C r e d i t s :
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Jodi Krangle ............................................. EDITOR
Kathryn Obenshain ...........................GRACIOUS PROOFREADER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Muse's News is a free monthly newsletter for and about
songwriters. Subscribers are welcome to recirculate or reprint
The Muse's News for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate
credit is given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is
included (including credits and information at the end of each
issue). Others should contact me at editor@musesmuse.com.
All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues and other information (how to subscribe and
unsubscribe, etc.) will be available at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html
The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for
songwriters: http://www.musesmuse.com/
For further information, send your e-mail to:
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adinfo@musesmuse.com - How to place a classified ad, pass
on market information or sponsor
The Muse's News.
editor@musesmuse.com - To submit articles,reviews,ideas,etc.
SNAILMAIL: Please contact me first at editor@musesmuse.com
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Back issues of the newsletter can be read at the National
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