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The Muse's News |
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Issue 10.9 - December 2007
ISSN 1480-6975
[ Back to The Muse's News Index ] [ Home ]
This issue sponsored by:
Beat Wire
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I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Music Reviews - Reid Murray, Chip Withrow & Gian Fiero
@-- 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 - Left to Right: Harnessing the power of the
brain to write better songs
by Anna Kaye Forsyth
@-- 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 1998-2007 - Jodi Krangle.
For more contact information, see end of issue.
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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 holiday gift for that songwriter
in your life, too - 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!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAS YOUR MUSIC BEEN FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES?
Beat Wire will deliver your press release directly to the
desktops of over 10,000 music editors at daily newspapers,
magazines, news agencies, top Web sites, radio stations--every
place you need to be promoted. Whether it's a new CD, upcoming
tour, charity concert, or any other music-associated event you
want to announce, there is hardly anything more potentially
rewarding than a positive response to a well-written press
release. Our clients have had their music featured in major media
outlets like New York Times, CNN, Entertainment Weekly and USA
Today to name just a few. In addition to press release
distribution, Beat Wire can also write a press release for you.
For more information, please got to http://www.beatwire.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
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Hello again for another month - and just before the Christmas
Season, too! I hope that those of you celebrating will have
a wonderful time with family and friends. I myself, am off to a
very small town in the middle of northern Alberta for the
Christmas holidays in order to visit my husband's family. We
haven't been to visit them in MANY years. Cold northern Alberta
wouldn't be my first choice for a winter holiday ... but it'll be
good to see family we haven't seen in a really long time. And
I'm sure that'll help keep us warm. ;)
Besides that, I mentioned that I'm getting into voice-over work,
right? Well, I've been thinking about this, and I'd love to lend
my voice talent to those of you who are promoting books. So if
you have a songwriting or music-related book that you think might
benefit from having a chapter read into MP3 format as a kind of
teaser (so that you can post it on your website), I'd love to
talk with you. (For that matter, I'm happy to do this for ANY
book you happen to be promoting.) My studio time is very
reasonably priced and for something like a single chapter, that's
likely to be a reading of 30 minutes or less, it probably
wouldn't cost much more than, say, advertising on The Muse's Muse
in one spot. :) But we can talk about that. I'd love to hear
from you! You're welcome to email me at
jodi@voiceoversandvocals.com to discuss it further. (And for
those of you who might actually be interested in advertising
HERE, feel free to visit http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html . :)
This is a great place to promote your latest music-related
publication.)
Just as a point of interest, for those of you wanting to support
this site, one of the best ways you can do that, is to buy
products - for yourself or others - through the Songwriting Store
at http://www.musesmuse.com/songwriting-store.html . There is a
donation button on the website now, but I fully understand that
that's not something a lot of folks will do. And I know what
it's like to be a struggling musician myself. ;) So if you're
already *looking* for product, buying it through here can help
out a lot more than you think. Every little bit helps!
In the meantime, here's the stuff my sponsors and I are giving
away for free. :)
* Guillaume Depierre, from Cluses, France, has won a copy of
Virtual Studio Systems' Lyricist software
(http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html).
* Bree Noble from San Dimas, CA, has won a free 3 month
membership to 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.
* Robb Bledsoe from Cahokia, IL, has won a copy of
Bronson Herrmuth's "100 Miles To A Record Deal"
(http://www.songrepair.com/bookforweb2.htm).
* Christiann Adams from Los Angeles, CA, has won a copy of
Indie-Music.com's Musician's Toolkit CD
(http://www.musicianstoolkit.com/muse/)
* David Skelton from, Bend, OR, has won a copy of the book
reviewed this month: 101 Songwriter Wrongs and How to Right Them:
How to craft and sell your songs by Pat and Pete Luboff
(http://www.writesongs.com/)
* Debra D. Parr from Austin, TX, 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.
I'm still always interested in hearing from folks that would like
to be considered for a raffle prize. When you write to me, let
me know what prize you're most interested in and what your second
choice might be. I'll also need your contact information in
order to get the prize to you.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season, everyone - no matter what it is
you're celebrating. :)
Best wishes,
--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!)
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9th ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST DEADLINE IS COMING SOON
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. 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 has been extended to December 7, 2007!
http://www.greatamericansong.com/
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M u s i c R e v i e w s : Reid Murray, Chip Withrow
& Gian Fiero
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NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
Reid Murray:
* Bendicion
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-bendicion-latinexplosion.html
* The David Joel Quartet
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-davidjoelquartet-spiral.html
Chip Withrow:
* Blue Larry Blue
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-bluelarry-analog.html
* Lane Thaw
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-lanethaw-tokyobelle.html
* Simon Scardanelli
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-simonscardanelli-sparkle.html
Gian Fiero:
* The Attorneys
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-attorneys-stereocracy.html
* Mello Mello
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-mellomello-wannaloveu.html
* Jarrod Tyler
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-jarrodtyler-pointgrey.html
* Robb Knight
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-robbknight-fear.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
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MELLO MELLO - Genre: R&B AND SOUL
Creating a unique sound, the super hot & exciting new neo soul
duo Mello Mello is destined to touch hearts and minds everywhere
with their debut album An Abstract Love Story.The vocals
vacillate between a smooth, Usher-like sound and a more
intelligent and complex Outkast sound says Neufutur Magazine.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/mellomello
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The Foley McKenna Band - Genre: ROCK
The Foley McKenna Band is Singer/Songwriter Ed McKenna along with
Bob Nage on acoustic guitar, Phil Seshens on drums, and Mike Joy
on bass. Their music is a combination of flavors ranging from
folk to groove to rock. Check them out!
http://thefmb.net/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFoleyMckennaBand
http://www.myspace.com/thefoleymckennaband
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MOTU - Genre: BLUES
The Long Island Blues Society calls him, "Interpretive, Talented,
and Visionary!" The Downstate NY Blues Association has praised
MOTU’s music by saying, "It delivers a bluesy feeling, with warm
earthtones, that can take you back to a quiet room on a rainy
day!" MOTU is intelligent Blues-Jazz-Roots Music!
http://www.motu.net/
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The Christine Spero Group - Genre: JAZZ
The Christine Spero Group's second release, "My Spanish Dream" is
a rich Brazilian/Latin/world fusion offering that dances blithely
between jazz and pop. It highlights Christine's songwriting
artistry creating a deep connection with the listener. Winner of
the 2004 USA Songwriting Competition/Jazz Category, her beautiful
voice and sizzling piano are complimented by Elliot Spero's
compelling sax and percussion.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/christinespero2
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Chip Raman - Genre: SINGER/SONGWRITER
This singer-songwriter's music has been described as intensely
personal and powerfully universal. Mixing stories of personal
growth, sweetly echoing love songs, and incisive social
commentary, Chip delivers the poetry of our times in a
contemporary folk style all is own.
http://www.chipraman.com/
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S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w : by Ed Teja
101 Songwriter Wrongs and How to Right Them
How to craft and sell your songs
by Pat and Pete Luboff
http://www.writesongs.com/http://www.writersdigestbooks.com/
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Inflation is everywhere. In its first incarnation, this book was
"88 Songwriting Wrongs and How to Right Them." Not only have they
updated their advice to reflect changes in the music business,
since that effort, through critiquing songs, writing and pitching
songs, and working as Taxi screeners, the Luboff's discovered
another baker's dozen worth of mistakes that many of us are
making - not just in writing, but in marketing, presenting, and
otherwise herding our beloved songs to market. In the competitive
world of songwriting, who can afford to make any of these
mistakes?
The book really focuses less on the mistakes we make than on
doing things correctly. It helps you avoid them in the first
place. The correct way to write songs is the one that produces a
well-crafted, toe tapping or heart wrenching song that will get
listened to by A&R people, artists, producers and other folks who
are in a position to get them recorded. The target audience is
the pure songwriter, who writes, demos, and plugs songs for
others to record. These are not art songs, but commercial songs -
potential hits. As you will learn, the criteria are, in some
ways, different from the challenges that face the
artist-songwriter (including bands, of course), because if you
are the artist, you don't need to catch the attention of the
powers that be to get it recorded. Yet, many of the principles
that will get a song recorded are the same you need to follow to
get the song accepted by a label and to get air play. So,
whichever type of songwriter you are, if you are looking for
commercial success, this book has something for you.
Learning should be fun. Thankfully, the Luboff's have created a
wonderfully readable book that takes us carefully through that
minefield that starts with song creation (should it rhyme? what
about form?) and ends with taking it to market. Along the way,
you get an education that painlessly gives you some vital
techniques and tips. The book is anecdotal at times, but the
anecdotes illustrate central issues, not odd and interesting
ones.
I was struck with the section on demos. Being a proud self
producing, home studio type, I found the Luboff's contention that
a songwriter should not do their own demos a bit threatening at
first. Ultimately their logic, their knowledge of the inner
workings, persuaded me to accept the reality that, in their
words: "You cannot overestimate the importance of a good demo."
In particular, they (and many of their colleagues) don't believe
that even good singers should sing their own demos. (You'll have
to get the book and read it to learn why.) This is just one
instance where the Luboff's helped me realize that perhaps I
didn't really know what I thought I knew about song plugging.
There is a good-sized and thoughtful section on collaborating -
the advantages, the pitfalls, and some precautions to take. As a
songwriter duo, the authors bring an enormous amount of
first-hand experience to the discussion.
Righting wrongs is a noble goal, and this book does it while
giving you the assurance that you can avoid the mistakes. In that
sense, it is inspirational. I highly recommend this book to all
songwriters. For those who can't seem to get moving in a coherent
direction, who feel they are spinning their wheels, it might be
the equivalent of first aid. Of course, it is up to you what you
do with the information, but it is there.
******
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 (http://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!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITE BETTER SONGS WITH MASTERWRITER AS YOUR SONGWRITING PARTNER
NOW WITH SPECIAL HOLIDAY 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 ** $90.00 ** 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.
Winner Best of Show Macworld 2003
http://www.musesmuse.com/masterwriter-songwriting-software.html
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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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2008 LYRIC WRITER AWARDS (ROUND 1)
The Lyric Writer Awards from We Are Listening is the ultimate
contest for writers seeking music publishing, co-writing and song
placement opportunities. If you long to work with professional
songwriters and dream of getting your songs cut by major label
artists, this could really be the chance of a lifetime!
Details: http://www.wearelistening.org/about_lwa.phpDeadline: March 31, 2008
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MUSKOGEE SONGWRITING CONTEST AND SONGFEST
Amateur songwriters are invited to enter the Muskogee Songwriting
Contest. The contest is open to anyone living in Oklahoma, and
allows entries exhibiting a broad range of genres, but containing
strong elements of one or more of the following types: country,
blues, folk and bluegrass. Songwriters can enter as many songs as
they want, but the cost for each entry is $15. Entries must be
mailed to the Muskogee Phoenix, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee, OK,
74402, and postmarked no later than Jan. 28, 2008. Ten finalists
will be invited to perform at the April 5 songfest in Muskogee.
First prize is $500, and finalists will receive travel
compensation. Contest rules and entry information can be found on
the banner at the bottom of the Phoenix Web site,
muskogeephoenix.com. The contest is co-sponsored by the Phoenix
and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
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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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REWRITING WORKSHOP IN NASHVILLE WITH PAT PATTISON AND JON VEZNER
Rewriting: This seminar, presented in a Master Class format, will
use participants' songs to demonstrate the rewriting process. We
will focus on various issues, including verse development,
productive repetition, phrasing, groove, matching of lyric and
melody, and prosody. We'll try to focus particularly on polishing
those small bumps in the road that distract the listener and let
air escape from the song's tires.
Contact: The Parlor Studio, 615-385-4466 or
larry@parlorproductions.com
Dates: December 1 & 2, 2007
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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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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
©1998-2007 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved.
Used By Permission
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A couple of years back, a friend of mine began telling me about a
website she had become addicted to. She told me the name of it,
but I'm terrible at remembering names, however I do recall that
she was very enthusiastic about the people she had "met" on this
site and the opportunities that she could see from it. At the
time it was very new and there weren't all that many members.
She said she spent hours there...it was some kind of virtual
community with virtual people in virtual places doing all kinds
of virtual (and some even questionable!) things.
Have you guessed it yet? If you haven't, then you're not an
internet junkie :-) It's called Second Life
(http://secondlife.com/). I wouldn't have thought anything more
of it except for the fact that I came across a really interesting
article last summer on a music e-magazine. It was all about a
singer/songwriter who had created a career based on Second Life.
What??? NOW, my curiosity was aroused! Yes, this fellow was
singing his songs, selling his CD's and getting PAID for all of
it, all on Second Life. Imagine that.
Well, you have to imagine it, until you join up and see for
yourself. Which is what I did. I spent hours trying to figure
out how to dress myself (yes, you start out naked!), how to walk,
how to fly (yes, you can fly), how to communicate and where the
heck to find everything. Now some of you may already have heard
of Second Life and know its capabilities, but for those of you
who haven't, I'll try to give you a picture of what it has become
since my friend discovered it a few years back.
Second Life is NOT for those who have very little computer savvy!
Technically, it takes a lot of understanding as to how to do just
about anything there. There is an area where you first "land"
and learn how the whole thing works as you go through different
sections. Once I had graduated from the beginners area, one of
the first things I encountered, oddly enough, was a virtual car
dealer. Yep. You can buy a car...they don't look anything like
the Ford Mustang convertible I'm always drooling over, but they
are pretty cool. However, I didn't have the $1000 Linden Dollars
necessary. Yes, that's right, you can spend money there...and
MAKE money, which is what a lot of Second Lifers do. They own
property, they sell clothes they've designed, they sell art,
autos, all kinds of businesses. And, they own clubs, bars,
coffeehouses, you name it. Which is where this fellow I was
mentioning was making his money. He performs at these places,
sometimes getting paid by the owners, sometimes getting "tips"
from customers. Real tips.
Kelley Martin, a woman who runs a singer/songwriter radio show
called Acoustic Pie out of San Diego, California, writes an
article all about the Singer/Songwriters of Second Life
(http://acousticpie.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/the-singersongwriter
s-of-second-life/), where she has discovered the world of
virtual performances for herself. You can also check out the
Music Community section of Second Life
(http://secondlife.com/community/music.php) and learn how and
where to go to listen or to perform. And yes, they have
songwriter nights and open stage events all over the virtual
place!
And if you decide to join up, come and look for me...my name is
Surely Flow. I don't have a guitar yet or know how to sit on a
stool, but I'll be bopping away in the audience somewhere until I
figure those things out and start performing myself! Oh yes, and
I'm no longer naked :-)
******
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
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F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e : By Anna Kaye Forsyth © 2007
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Harnessing the power of the brain to write better songs
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Did you know that your brain could be the thing that is stopping
you from writing better songs? If you feel like you have a mental
block or get stuck in a rut when it comes to your songwriting,
understanding how your brain operates could be just what you need
to open up whole new worlds of creativity.
Left to Right:
=============
Did you know that when you undertake any task, different types of
thinking operate from different sides or hemispheres of your
brain? Investigation and research into this has shown that the
following processes relate to the different sides.* Getting the
balance between them is the key to any endeavor.
LEFT BRAIN
Logical
Sequential
Rational
Analytical
Objective
Sees parts and individual aspects
RIGHT BRAIN
Random
Intuitive
Able to link and make connections
Subjective
Sees the whole picture
Creative
*Adapted from http://www.funderstanding.com/right_left_brain.cfm
In most individuals, it is possible to develop or habitually use
one side more than the other. This can be useful in certain
circumstances, for example if you are working as an accountant
and need to be consistently logical, sequential and rational.
There are 2 sides to the song writing process. Firstly there is
the creative and inspirational side, where ideas are formed and
then there is the craft, where these ideas need to be honed and
chiseled to create a pleasing end product. (Unless you are
writing an experimental piece, where creativity has free reign.)
By now you should be seeing that you might be stronger in one of
these areas than the other. Look at the left brain/right brain
list again and determine which side might need developing for you
personally as a songwriter.
Exercises for developing the right side of your brain:
=====================================================
Do you find it easy to come up with ideas and much harder to
implement them or put them together in a coherent way? You may
need help with developing the right side of your brain. Try some
of the following exercises, doing at least one per day for a week
and then try approaching your songwriting from this perspective
and see what happens.
I. Analyze this.
Take a song, any song. Pretend that your job is to analyze this
song an run it through a battery of tests for hit value. It may
seem as fun as pulling teeth for some of you, but you might be
surprised at what you will learn.
Analyze:
1. Parts of the song – bridge, chorus, verse, ABA etc.
2. Layers, harmonies and instrumentation
3. Lyrical structures
4. Tempo, length, time signature
5. Musical score (if available)
II. Chart it.
Make up a series of charts and checklists for your songs with
boxes to tick things off as you go. You could include some of the
aspects from the list in activity 1.
III. Mechanics and mathematics
You might snore, but they could be the key to writing a hit song!
Try getting maths tuition or getting a music teacher to teach you
a higher level of music theory.
IV. Try doing a jigsaw puzzle, Sudoku or look up logic puzzles
online.
V. Learn an instrument or theory. Research has shown a link
between learning the rudiments of music and mathematical genius.
Exercises for developing the left side of your brain:
====================================================
Do you find that you get so caught up in the details, that you
find it hard to unbridle your creativity? You might need to take
a break and harness the power of the left side of your brain.
Try one or two of the following:
I. Stream of consciousness
Write a poem, lyric or tune by simply doodling or putting down
whatever comes to you. Farm the kids off to the relatives for a
night, shut the door and give your creativity free reign. No
censorship allowed here. One way to think of this is to imagine a
magic bubble around your room. Within this bubble, there are no
mistakes. Only pure, unadulterated creativity. For those
hard-wired right brainers, this exercise might take some getting
used to, but with time you will come to enjoy the process. If it
doesn’t happen for you straight away, don’t worry. It will
happen!
Try keeping a censor-free journal and let your creativity run
wild.
II. Left hand, right hand
Try switching hands and writing and drawing with the other for a
time. There might be a subtle connection with the sides of your
brain. You never know until you try it.
III. Let loose
If all else fails, try some of these suggestions:
* Paint naked
* Play a completely new instrument
* Get out and about and see new sights and meet new people
* Turn your approach upside down and inside out and try
something new.
* Write at the beach instead of in a concrete room with no
windows
* Collaborate with someone and put your music to their lyrics
or vice versa
* Take a break and hit a punching bag
Hopefully these tips will help you harness the power of your
brain to really get that songwriting pumping. Have fun!
*****
Originally trained as a primary school teacher, Anna Kaye decided
to take an alternative career path as a freelance writer and
editor for education. In 2005, she discovered a passion for the
arts, including songwriting and performance poetry, and she has
been performing her original songs and poems on the live circuit
in Auckland ever since. She recently released a chapbook of
poetry called "Sometimes I wonder." As the director of Best
Light Communications, Anna is able to indulge her passion for the
arts, by writing bios and press releases for musicians and
artists, alongside her other writing work. She currently lives a
stone's throw away from the idyllic Takapuna beach on Auckland's
north shore, under the shadow of Rangitoto Island.
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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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Chord Connections - by Kole (Kyle Hicks)
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-kole-chordconnections.html
This article will focus on the movement of chords within a
progression and the possible ways to phrase your melodies based
off of this movement.
----
Daily Activities of a Career Songwriter - by Andrea Stolpe
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-andreastolpe-dailyactivities.html
It's true that no two songwriters' careers are alike. Most of us
start with no contacts, little experience, and a lot of
inspiration. Gradually we expand our network of contacts that
will play key roles in opening doors to that publishing deal,
artist deal, recording facility, producer, co-writer, event
booker, agent, manager, or that one fan that becomes an
unexpected loudspeaker to the world.
----
Playing with Uncommon Arpeggios - by Alex Jasperse
http://www.musesmuse.com/alex-arpeggios.html
The next step in stretching your fingers a little bit more.
----
Blue Collar Rockin' Presents - by Mick Polich
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-saturdaynight.html
Nope, not a Tom Waits song dissertation, but a look in the social
and cultural ramifications of what Saturday nights mean, and have
meant, in our 5-day workweek society.
----
Money and Music: How to Make Both - by Jaci Rae
http://www.musesmuse.com/jacirae-moneymusic.html
Indie / DIY musician and bands are beginning to have an advantage
over major label artists. Why? Because they are forced to learn
and have marketing savvy. Indie artists and bands who wish to
start the process of making, distributing, and getting radio
airplay for themselves, without the help of a major label
contract, are starting their own record label.
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Inspired by the songwriter's journey, and through understanding
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Muse's Muse Visitors - Enter Promo Code: 42567 for Discount.
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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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THE 8th EDITION OF THE INDIE BIBLE IS NOW AVAILABLE!
The Indie Bible shows you where to get your music reviewed, your
songs played, and your CDs sold. Now in its Seventh Edition, The
Indie Bible has 330 pages of valuable contacts and music-related
articles.
The 8th Edition of the Indie Bible contains:
4200 publications around the world that will REVIEW your CD!
3400 radio stations around the world that will PLAY your songs!
500 vendors and services that will help you to SELL your music!
200 sites where you can UPLOAD your band's MP3 files!
500 helpful resources and sites where you can PROMOTE your band!
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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REAL ANSWERS TO REAL QUESTIONS,
An eBook About Copyright & Publishing
If you want to know how to protect yourself as a songwriter in
this digital age, you need this book - EXCLUSIVELY offered
through The Muse's Muse. And it's now on sale for half price!
Visit http://www.musesmuse.com/realarealq.html to learn more!
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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
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All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues and other information (how to subscribe and
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The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for
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For further information, send your e-mail to:
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