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The Muse's News |
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Issue 11.4 - July
2008 ISSN 1480-6975
[ Back
to The Muse's News Index ] [ Home
] This
issue sponsored by: Brett
Manning's Singing Success Vocal Training System
=================================================================
I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Music Reviews - Jarrod Brogdon, Chris Propfe, Chip Withrow, & Don Sechelski @-- 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 - Pick A Direction - by Carley Baer @-- 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.
=================================================================
FIND WHAT YOU NEED AT THE SONGWRITING STORE ON THE MUSE'S MUSE
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 that songwriter in your
life, too - even if it's you!
http://www.musesmuse.com/songwriting-store.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
----------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to another Muse's News. :) Glad to have you with us!
This issue is packed with information, inspiration, reviews and all sorts of interesting stuff so I think you'll really enjoy it.
We also have another new reviewer on board by the name of Don Sechelski. Really happy to have him join the team. Have a look at the Music Reviews page at http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html for further information on him and all the other reviewers.
We have a new columnist too! Her first article is spotlighted in this newsletter further down, so you'll get a chance to read it and then hopefully will decide to visit her section and keep up to date with her newest articles. I think you're really going to enjoy what she puts together. :) Her name is Carley Baer and you can find out more about her and what her column will be about, here: http://www.musesmuse.com/col-carleybaer.html.
Though you're probably getting sick of me talking about this, I have some more demos online on my voice overs and vocals page at http://www.voiceoversandvocals.com/demos.html - and I'm currently just waiting for a narration demo to be finished the editing process (all the bits and pieces are in the producer's hands already) so I hope you'll check that page out to hear what I've been up to. And if this bores you to tears, my sincerest apologies. :D
On a different topic, and just as a point of interest, there's an advertiser at the top of the Classifieds section here that you might want to check out. His name is Njal Frode Lie and he's a wiz at mastering and mixing music tracks. Have a listen to some of the stuff on his website at www.nflproduksjoner.com and you'll see (and hear!) what I mean. His pricing is really reasonable too. The wonders of the Internet, hmm? (He's in Norway. Cool, huh?) :) So if you've been wondering how to make that song demo of yours really POP, or you've been trying to figure out how you could afford to master your finished CD, or if you just need help mixing all the parts together, it would be well worth your while to check his services out.
Now let's get to the raffle winners this month so that we can move on to the juicy bits. :) As I always mention, if you're interested in having a raffle prize of your very own, email me with your first and second choice (they're all listed at http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html) and your contact information so that I can eventually get the item to you, and you'll be good to go. That's all you have to do. Though sending me interesting stories and/or anecdotes about how you've enjoyed the newsletter and/or the website, are always welcome. We can all use a little egoboo sometimes, right? :D
* Florence Graham, from Atlanta, GA, has won a copy of Virtual Studio Systems' Lyricist software (http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html).
* Stevie Mann from Belfast, N. Ireland, 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.
* Scott Robison from Spiro, Oklahoma, has won a copy of Bronson Herrmuth's "100 Miles To A Record Deal" (http://www.songrepair.com/bookforweb2.htm).
* Larry Lesser from El Paso, TX, has won a copy of Sean Farrington's "The Little Black Book of Band Profit Secrets" (http://www.bandprofit.com/).
* Don Makoviney from Asheville, NC, has won a copy of Jeffrey Brabec & Todd Brabec's sixth edition of "MUSIC, MONEY AND SUCCESS The Insider's Guide to Making Money in the Music Business" (reviewed below).
And now, on to the meat and potatoes. :)
Have a great summer, folks!
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!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITE BETTER SONGS WITH MASTERWRITER AS YOUR SONGWRITING PARTNER NOW WITH SPECIAL DISCOUNTED PRICING!
"This remarkable piece of software turns your Mac or PC into a
valuable songwriter partner"
-- Richard Leiter, Keyboard Magazine
If you have a high speed connection, you can download a 30-Day
demo. If not, we will send you a copy for $9.95 which will be
deducted from the purchase price if you decide to buy.
Receive a special ** $70.00 ** discount off the $289.00 list
price when purchasing through the Muse's Muse!
Please use discount coupon # 3004.
Endorsed by: BMI, ASCAP, NSAI, PRS and Taxi.
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http://www.musesmuse.com/masterwriter-songwriting-software.html
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M u s i c R e v i e w s : Jarrod Brogdon, Chris Propfe,
Chip Withrow, & Don Sechelski
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NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
Jarrod Brogdon:
---------------
* Brian Bergeron and the Late Greats
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-brianbergeron-thegloryep.html
* Coffee House Gypsies
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-coffeehousegypsies-theartist.html
* Jagger Cook
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-jaggercook-handsdirty.html
Chip Withrow:
-------------
* Kenny Schick
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-kennyschick-under.html
* She
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-she-shimmy.html
* Tyler Burnett
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-tylerburnett-tb.html
* Si Hayden
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-sihayden-steelroots.html
* Andrew McKnight
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-andrewmcknight-swsf.html
Chris Propfe:
-------------
* Trueheart
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-trueheart-theroad.html
Don Sechelski:
--------------
* Brother Lou
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-brotherlou-asgood.html
* Effusion 35
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-effusion35-stonewind.html
* Zydeco-a-Go-Go
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-zydecoagogo-goodtimes.html
* Lawson Rollins
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-lawsonrollins-infinita.html
* Fred Prellberg
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-fredprellberg-tenpennies.html
---------------
******
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
----------------------------------------------------------------- Doug Spears - Genre: FOLK & TRADITIONAL
Thoughtful, intelligent lyrics in the style of Gordon Lightfoot
and John Prine, memorable melodies, a warm, engaging acoustic
guitar style and smooth, rich vocals reminiscent of John Denver.
That??™s acoustic folk artist, Doug Spears. Doug's songs tell
engaging stories mixing musical elements of Americana, bluegrass
and acoustic folk. Turn off the TV and the cell phone and enjoy.
http://www.dougspearsmusic.com/
-----
Adam Gilbert - Genre: POP
Over the past few years, as singer-songwriter Adam Gilbert has
established himself as a dynamic presence on the NYC club scene,
his mold-breaking, envelope pushing brand of piano driven
pop-rock has earned him comparisons to master piano-pop craftsmen
like Ben Folds and Billy Joel, with a crazy-cool touch of Frank
Zappa.
http://www.myspace.com/adamgilbert
-----
A Third Wish Granted - Genre: ROCK
A Third Wish Granted: an Alt-Prog Rock band with a Middle-Eastern
touch. Arabian-born frontman Emo Alaeddin is a 2007 nominee for
the LA Music Awards for Best Male Vocalist. He and guitarist
Jesse De Santo are September '07 winners of the coveted
Songoftheyear.com contest. Truly a magical live show!
http://www.a3wg.net/ =================================================================
S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w : by Ed Teja
MUSIC, MONEY AND SUCCESS The Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business
Sixth Edition
by Jeffrey Brabec & Todd Brabec (http://www.musicandmoney.com) Music Sales Corporation http://www.musicsales.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In my library of music books, the books that become keepers tend
to divide into those that I reread from time to time, simply
because they are an enjoyable read as well as informative, and
those that are valuable reference works. I usually read these
once through, to familiarize myself with their contents, but read
them for pleasure? I don't think so. Still, they are keepers
because the information is so valuable and clearly laid out, that
I can't imagine doing without them. MUSIC, MONEY AND SUCCESS is
that sort of book. While a front to back read takes a bit of
effort, the information is worth it. The authors provide a clear
and very comprehensive analysis of all things financial and legal
that affect songwriters and artists who are trying to market
songs and recordings. And that is pretty amazing.
Everything you need to know about the music business is presented
clearly, with examples that make legal generalizations
understandable. The way the material was separated into chapters
of specific interest (television, movies, recording contracts...)
makes finding the information, the relevant stuff, a quick and
simple task. That helps make this the "go to" book for getting
questions answered.
Did I say the book is comprehensive? Perhaps exhaustive is the
right word - if you are a layman trying to understand the issues.
It is hard to imagine a question you might have that doesn't have
a thorough explanation. If you have a question about contracts,
or types of agreements, you'll not only find very succinct
explanations, and sometimes a brief discussion about how the
rights or laws in question evolved. Want to know the legal
definition of a commercial release, or what happens to songs
after a co-publishing agreement expires? The information is
there. One entire chapter is dedicated to copyright - what the
laws are, your rights under those laws, what a "work made for
hire" really is, how compulsory licensing works, and much more.
If you are a recording artist wanting a contract with a major
label, you'll want to study Chapter 5 extensively and learn about
advances, royalty rates, packaging deductions, record club
albums, recouping video costs and all the other factors that will
affect your bottom line.
Often beginning writers want to know how much they can make from
placing a song with an artist or in television. Of course the
amounts vary a great deal, but the authors give examples in the
appropriate sections, so you can get a feel for the range of
income you are talking about for a type of placement. More
importantly, they discuss revenue sources you might not think of
initially. For instance, they point out that, for songs used in
television, the real money comes from sources other than the fee
paid initially. You need to know about option fees (that might
cover promotional use, pay television, and certain foreign
rights) and what happens if the program is sold on DVD. Again,
the details you need to know are all there - not just a sketch.
This is the sixth edition of the book, and a lot of information
Internet on the Internet is included. Naturally some will get
dated quickly, but I haven't seen another book that deals so
thoroughly with the evolution of SoundExchange and your rights
when music is used online. It gives you a basis for thinking
about how cyberspace will factor into your own marketing efforts.
Because the authors are songwriters and entertainment lawyers, as
well as teachers, the book takes on the music business from the
perspective of the songwriter and artist. That is an important
factor in achieving the success part promised by the title and
making it directly useful. A book like this one won't get you a
publishing or recording deal, but it will give you the background
to make sure you don't get sucked into a bad deal. It doesn't
replace an entertainment lawyer, but lets you know what sorts of
things to find out from your lawyer. And that is a very good
thing (it can save you money, if nothing else). The bottom line
is: If you are serious about marketing your music, you should have this book.
******
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
Ed Teja has been working on his own music and now his new CD --
"SOFT DREAMING BLUES" has been released released by Morrhythm
Records (www.outstandingmusic.com). It's a collection of original (written alone and with an international group of cowriters) smooth jazz vocals and instrumentals. 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 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!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10th ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES
The Great American Song Contest offers $10,000 in prizes and
features awards for 45 winners in 9 categories. Entrants receive
written evaluations of their songs from the judges.
Music-industry judges include prominent publishers, recording
artists, songwriters and producers. This annual International
event is sponsored by Songwriters Resource Network, a trusted
education resource for songwriters. Submission deadline
is Oct. 10th 2008.
http://www.greatamericansong.com
================================================================= 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! ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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/) ----------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES
The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting
entries for the 2009 competition. Offering better exposure,
bigger prizes ($150,000 (US) - including $25,000 (US) cash) and
the best judges for any songwriting competition in the world.
Judges for 2007 include: Tom Waits; Robert Smith (The Cure);
Loretta Lynn, Frank Black (Pixies) Nelly Furtado, and 7 record
label presidents from major and independent records labels. For
entry information and a complete list of judges please visit -
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE HUMBER SUMMER SONGWRITING WORKSHOP
The Humber Summer Songwriting Workshop (HSSW '08, July 19 -25)
will soon be here, an opportunity for songwriters at all levels
to immerse themselves in a truly creative, constructive,
inspiring environment. Held on the beautiful, lush and green
Lakeshore Campus of Humber College in Toronto, the week-long
workshop boasts a great faculty and an impressive lineup of
guests. Hang out and learn from Emm Gryner, for example. U2's
Bono recently named Emm's song "Almighty Love" one that he wishes
he had written (along with great songs by Bob Dylan and Oasis).
Rik Emmett, guitar hero from the legendary band Triumph, will
teach songwriting and how to better accompany yourself on guitar.
The writer of the Billboard # 1 hit "Black Velvet", Christopher
Ward, has a lot to say about hit songs and why they resonate with
people, and how to apply those ideas and strategies to your own
writing. Ember Swift, a fiercely independent singer/songwriter
will talk about building a career in the modern world of the
Internet. James Linderman will demonstrate how to build the
foundation for writing hit songs which helped him write 2 top ten
hits for Canadian Christian radio and sign a publishing deal with
Next Number One Music publishers in Nashville. In addition to
these and other great faculty members, we'll have visits from
entertainment lawyers, music supervisors, and major label- and
indie-artists all week long, including a special, intimate
concert with Lawrence Gowan, multi-Platinum singer/songwriter ("A
Criminal Mind", "All The Lovers In The World") who is very
experienced, informative (and very funny). Also, the HSSW '08
offers, once again, lots of performance opportunities (more than
ever!) and free song demo recording all week!
SAC members discounted price: $650 ($700 after June 19). Non-SAC
members price: $775 ($825 after June 19). Residence rooms are
available at a nominal extra charge. Visit
www.songwritingathumber.com for more details. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NEWNOISEREPORT.COM IS FEATURING TOP UNSIGNED SONGWRITERS!
NewNoiseReport.com is a brand new website dedicated to helping
the best unsigned songwriters (in the U.S.A and Canada) gain the
exposure necessary to succeed. The website is visited by
thousands of industry professionals such as Major and Indie label
A&R, Publishers, Attorneys, Booking Agents, and Managers. Check
out the site and submit your music today! www.newnoisereport.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- LEARN HOW TO LICENSE YOUR MUSIC FOR USE IN TV AND FILMS!
Would you like to learn how to license your music for use in TV
and Films and generate money with your music? Visit
aarondavison.com today to sign up for a free newsletter with
information on the music licensing business. Aaron is a Berklee
College Of Music Alumnus who has been working in the music
licensing business for over five years. Learn how to place you
songs in TV, Films, Video Games and more and create a passive
income stream with your music.
http://tinyurl.com/6xtusv
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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! ----------------------------------------------------------------- INDIE ARTISTS: JOIN MYBANDSMUSIC.COM & YOU COULD WIN $1000!
Come and join a new site called MyBandsMusic, dedicated to indie
artists where you can create a profile, upload tracks and videos,
start your own blog, open a storefront, post announcements and
events, get input from fans, and more. The best part is that it
is all free!
Currently we are running a contest until the end of March. The
artist that has the most fans sign up on their MyBandsMusic
account wins a check for $1000!! Visit MyBandsMusic.com for more details. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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
©1998-2008 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
----------------------------------------------------------------- I've been in New York for the last week. It's my first time here and I have to say it's been an overwhelming but exciting trip! That first walk out into the street after we arrived with suitcases in hand from the underground station, into the heat and the noise and the crowds and smells, was something I'll never forget. Maybe there's a song in there :-) . I can see why this city is the subject of a lot of songs, they have been whirling around my head continuously since I arrived!
This is a city that gave birth to many creations and inventions, including a great deal of music. Just yesterday we were walking down Broadway and came across a building that looked familiar. It was called the Brill Building...I rattled my brain a bit and realized that this was it; this was the Mecca where some of the most famous music ever written was conceived. A short introduction to the building from About.com can be found here: http://oldies.about.com/cs/oldieshistory/a/brill.htm. Don Kirshner and his partner Al Nevins, set up shop in the Brill Building in 1958, which was located in the garment district of New York in those years. Out of that building came many hit songs from songwriters who themselves became performers; people like Carole King, Neil Diamond and Burt Bacharach. But that only scratches the surface. In a city like New York, all you ever do is scratch the surface!
As I was perusing information about the Brill Building online, I came across another great website, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (http://www.songwritershalloffame.org). In the Inductee Exhibits by Era section they have a huge list of songwriters from Early American to Tin Pan Alley (the Brill Building era) to Rock 'n Roll. For almost every songwriter, they have a page dedicated to their music, biography, catalog highlights, recommended materials and related writers. You can listen to audio clips from some of their songs as well...some have only one or two clips, but songwriters like Irving Berlin have a huge list to peruse.
You can become a member of the SHoF, and sign up for some of their workshops that cover subjects such as the music business or going into a recording studio for the first time as well as songwriting itself. Members have the opportunity to get on one of the SHoF's New Writers CD, the latest one which is online and where you can listen to some of the tracks (http://www.songhall.org/writers_cd). There is also a section devoted to artists...those who did not write themselves but made many songs famous because of their performances of them.
So all of that came from a little walk down Broadway. Amazing what a change of scenery can do.
Wait...I feel another song coming on...
******
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 Carley Baer
Pick A Direction (© 2008) ----------------------------------------------------------------- One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was, "one step at a time." I repeat it to myself when I'm at the bottom of a massive hill, looking up at where I want to be. One step at a time. Don't think about the hill. Think about this next step. This next step is all there is. You'll get there eventually.
However, these days I feel less like I'm at the bottom of a hill and more like I'm in the middle of a valley, with hills coming up on all sides. Which hill should I climb? Which one gets me closer to where I want to go? One step at a time is all well and good, but it's not really going to help if I don't pick a direction first.
Well, get excited because for the first time, we musicians get to pick the direction. Whether you decide to do it all yourself, or hire professionals to do things like mastering or pressing, or even if you decide to stay on the well-traveled road that brought so many musicians here before you, the most important thing is that the choice is yours.
My problem is that when I have too many choices, I get stuck. There are so many plates to spin-- the Internet! the radio! the studio!--- and I get so overwhelmed by just thinking about it that I have trouble actually seeing any of it through to completion. I don't need to tell you how strategically ineffective this is. If you don't do anything, then nothing gets done, and in this industry time is of the essence.
So pick a direction.
Decide what your ultimate goal is; hopefully it's something a little more descriptive than, "I want to make it!" (My ultimate goal, for example, is to be a professional musician; i.e., I don't want to have to have a day job.) Think about all the things that are going to have to happen in order for you to reach that goal. Sometimes it helps to work backwards:
"I want to be a professional musician, so I have to be able to make money playing music. In order to make money, I have to have a following. To get a following, I have to get the word out. To get the word out, I have to make posters and get help hanging them around town and call the newspapers and blah blah blah..."
Sometimes there's more than one ultimate goal. "I want to make an awesome CD, and an awesome website. Then I want to go on tour, with awesome T-shirts and bumper stickers to sell."
This can quickly turn into the spinning-plate thing. This is what is constantly getting me into trouble. Basically, imagine that you are untangling a mess of cables that your sound guy handed you. You aren't going to get very far by attacking the middle of the knot and trying to loosen all the cables at once. Your best bet is to pick one cable, pull it through all the bull-jive in the middle, and out the other end. Bingo. That's one cable free (and one less sound guy in your future). Now the rest of the mess will be easier to sort through. And it's the same thing when you have more than one goal you want to achieve. You want to make an awesome CD and take it on tour? Well, you're going to have to book studio time as well as venues to play, but don't try to do both at the same time-- for one thing, you don't want to book shows to promote a CD that isn't done yet. More importantly, however, you want to be able to give whatever you're doing the privilege of your undivided attention. Once you get that awesome CD finished, you can set to the task of booking shows to promote it. Same thing with the merchandise: everybody wants a kick-ass merch table, but good merch isn't worth a dime if you don't have good music behind it.
If you really can't decide which goal should come first, do it the old-fashioned way. Grab a pencil and some paper and draw out what you want to achieve, and what you feel is most important. You are your own cartographer. You can decide how to navigate through the wilderness. You just have to pick a direction.
Now imagine yourself at the bottom of that hill, looking up at your goal. You won't get there tomorrow. In fact, at times it will seem like you won't get there at all, but don't think about that. The worst thing you could ever do is stop. No matter how long it takes, the important thing is that you keep moving. One step at a time.
**Email me with any stories, insights, queries, anecdotes or helpful hints of your own and I'll discuss them in a future column!**
For more information on Carley and her new column, visit: http://www.musesmuse.com/col-carleybaer.html
*****
Carley Baer is an indie musician with a fierce DIY spirit.
Having chosen the guitar over the violin at the tender age of 16,
she began writing deeply confessional songs and developing a
distinct vocal style. Since then, she's drawn on influences like
Ani Difranco and Ella Fitzgerald to create a sound that's all her
own. She has recorded and self-released two CDs and an EP, and
tours as often as she can. More information at
www.myspace.com/carleybaer, and www.carleybaer.com.
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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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Indie Record Shops: An Appreciation and Reflection
- by Mick Polich
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-indierecordshops.html
Indie record shops - well, Johnny, we hardly knew ye: some are
still holding on to a fanatic client base, while others get
schlepped out to sea. Some thoughts, and a personal, downhome
reflection....
-----
The X Factor (The Day The Fish Died) - By Bronson Herrmuth http://www.musesmuse.com/col-bronson-xfactor.html
A true story of a songwriter/artist pitch session with an A&R
label exec on Music Row in Nashville, TN.
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Obedia - 24-hour Tech Support for Musicians - by Jerry Flattum http://www.musesmuse.com/col-jerryflattum-obedia.html
A new service, Obedia, answers a long awaited need: 24-hour tech
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Music Life: 3 - Practicing With NO Instrument - by Brian Donovan http://www.musesmuse.com/col-briandonovan-musiclife3.html
If you're a human being, you won't ALWAYS be near your instrument
to practice. Here's how to bridge that gap...
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FM Radio Is Dead - Long Live FM Radio! - by Mick Polich http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-fmradio.html
What the hell happen to FM radio? It is alive and well - with a
new suit, and matching tie and spats!! A short look at where the
spirit of 'underground-anything-goes' music programming lives
today....
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Blue Collar Guest Blog #2 -DON MYERS!!!! - by Mick Polich (and Don Myers) http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-donmyers1.html
Well kids, the hits just keep a comin' - ANOTHER guest blog hot
on the heels of last months' blog: this time, the illustrious Mr.
Don Myers, singer/songwriter/musician par excellence from the ol'
home town of Des Moines, Ia., contributes his views on the
'dumbing down' of society and the arts (a well-heeded warning for
uninformed, and a reminder to us all to keep on keepin' on with
self - education!). A laurel and hardy handshake to Mr. Myers for
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