FIND THE PERFECT SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUR SONGWRITING!

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. Any of these items would be a great way to kick start your creativity and marketing efforts. Check it out!

Sponsor Message:
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)

WRITE BETTER SONGS WITH MASTERWRITER 2.0 - NEW PRICE!
(And Muse's News readers *still* get a special discount!)

Looking for something really special for that songwriter in your life? (Maybe it's you!) MasterWriter 2.0 is the most powerful suite of songwriting tools ever assembled in one program. MasterWriter is endorsed by ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, NSAI and is used by some of the world's leading songwriters including Gwen Stefani, Rob Thomas, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Jimmy Webb, Kenny Loggins, Trent Reznor, Clint Black, and many more.

In addition to giving you Rhymes, Close Rhymes, Phrases, Pop-Culture, Synonyms, and the Definition, new features include Word Families and Parts Of Speech, two unique and revolutionary reference dictionaries that will open up a new world of possibilities for descriptive words and ideas. There have been updates and improvements to the existing features, including greatly expanded Sound-Alikes (close rhymes), and a completely redesigned Interface. These are serious tools for the serious songwriter.

MasterWriter's NEW price is now only $199 - but you'll still get a *$20* discount (your price is just $179!) by ordering through The Muse's Muse! Take the Tour, Download a Free Trial, and get a $20 discount! Note that the auto-inserted discount number 3004 will apply the $20 discount when ordering online. Windows and Mac compatible.

Hello again for another month! As you can see, we're going through some changes here ... I like to think they're a giant leap forward. From now on, I'm going to basically just include some info here about what the issue contains and this Musing along with the raffle winners. Beyond that, you can pick up the issue online! That'll mean I can make it look the way I want it to without having to worry about all the different email programs out there mucking it up. ;) Yeah. It only took 13 years. ;) I hope you enjoy. And if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! And I hope, since you're looking at the issue on the website now, that you'll take the time to have a look around there, too. You never know what helpful information you'll find! :) 

I also have a question to put to you all. As it turns out, Ed Teja, the book/services/ reviewer here who has been doing such an excellent job for me for so long - will be doing some traveling. He'll be unable to continue to do reviews for The Muse's News and I can say that I will definitely miss him a LOT. (But I know you're doing what you want to do, Ed - and that's great! Go for it!)

That does leave an opening though - and I'd love it if someone who is a regular subscriber and knows this newsletter and cares about the songwriting industry and the people in it, would take up the mantle of reviewer. Unfortunately, it's not really a paying gig ... but you *do* get to keep all the review copies that get sent your way, after you're finished reviewing them. And I do reimburse you for any shipping costs involved in getting raffle winners their copies (typically, you're sent two - one for review, one to send out).

If you've been reading the newsletter and the reviews, you'll have a good idea of how they're done - the length, what's typically covered in them, etc. I try to have all contributions by the 20th of each month. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, please do let me know! I'd love to hear from you so that we can talk about it.

Lots of interesting information in this issue, and a great guest article by Sally Morgan of "Sing Like You Speak" that I think you'll all find inspirational.

In the meantime, here are the raffle winners for this month:

• Dale Matthies from Goderich, ON Canada, has won a beautiful (and highly useful!) notebook from The Jotted Line.
  
  
• Meg Tennant from Waterloo, ON Canada has won a copy of"100 Miles To A Record Deal" by author and publisher Bronson Herrmuth.
  
  
• Michael Blache from Mandeville, LA has won a copy of "The Rise and Fall of EMI" reviewed in a previous issue.
  
  
• Cliff Keller, from Cardiff, California, has won a copy of Virtual Studio Systems' Lyricist software.
  
  
• Kimberly Hales Kime, from Climax, NC, has won a free 3 month membership to SongU, 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.
  
  
• Shane L. Whelan, from Riverton, UT has won a downloadable version of Rhyme Genie, a dynamic rhyming dictionary featuring over 300,000 entries and 30 different rhyme types.

I know I say this a lot - but it's really true. :) If you're interested in one of the raffle prizes listed at the top of http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html - or in the books, software or services reviewed in these issues, please write to me with your first and second choice, and your mailing address so I know where to send the prize. :) They could really be yours! And I'm happy to send them to good homes.

For the products reviewed, I may or may not have another copy to raffle - or it might have already been given out - but it's always worth a try! The quicker you write to me about a product that was just recently reviewed, the better your chances are!

Happy July, everyone! Enjoy the newsletter!

All the best,

--Jodi

NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:

Cyrus Rhodes:

* The Better Death
* Michael Shouse

Dan Cohen:

* Bob Shimizu
* Sundar

Don Sechelski:

* Tara Linda
* The Last Barbarians

Click here for bios on each of the reviewers. 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!

Great music is only a click away!
Here is a selection of the great artists and bands highlighted
in the Artist Spotlight section of The Muse's Muse.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Graham Hobson & the BRS - Genre: POP

Award-winning piano powerpop that will have you singing at the top of your lungs in the car. Soccer mums stopped at traffic lights will be disturbed - you'll play air drums - you rock! If you dig Folds, Elton and Billy you'll love Graham Hobson & the BRS!

-----

Ryan Asher - Genre: SINGER/SONGWRITER

Pennsylvania-based singer/songwriter Ryan Asher has been lighting up coffee houses and clubs throughout the Northeast with his unique combination of catchy pop melodies and contemplative undertones. Asher harmonizes with the sensitive side of music and enters into a realm that such notables as Duncan Sheik and David Gray have begun to explore.

A MONKEY MANUAL FOR SONGWRITERS
by Karin Paparelli and Bill DiLuigi - www.monkeyinaround.org
email:info@monkeyinaround.org

A lot of books that describe themselves as being about songwriting focus on the business of songwriting. But many writers just want to improve their skills and write better songs. They either think that good songs will bring success, or are focused on simply expressing themselves better in song, and not intent on making money from their art. The MONKEY MANUAL FOR SONGWRITERS addresses that need. (I will leave it to the authors to explain the emphasis on monkeys that permeates the book. But I should mention that it does manage to transcend the simply cutsie.)

Evolving from a songwriter circle in Nashville, it covers the basics of songwriting, which means the basics of song structures - what they are and what they do. The idea that songs are sold and that some songs are written to be hits isn't ignored, but it is covered just enough so that you will understand that aspect of the craft. There is a section on cowriting, and one on the process a song goes through in Nashville en route to becoming a hit (the authors live and work there). Both are interesting and revealing.

One of the joys of this book is that every subject is a quick take - a brief explanation, a chapter goal (so you know why you are being told what you are being told), and some exercises that will help you make the information seep into your subconscious. The explanations are simple and clear, in keeping with the idea that this is a basic manual, what the authors consider Songwriting 101. I would have liked to have seen more discussion in Chapter Five on the goal: "Learn how to use melody and harmonizing chords to convey particular emotions." As it stands, the information given simply suggests further exploration and doesn't, to my mind, even begin to address what harmonizing is about. Perhaps the authors consider that outside the scope of the book, and that might be right, but I felt that they didn't offer enough information to truly understand how to approach the goal in a robust way.

Still, the idea of a manual is to get you thinking about the different factors that make your songs convey what they convey (sometimes, as opposed to what you intended to convey) and this section does open the door to exploring harmonization.

The authors use their own songs as examples of the principles they talk about, and have included a CD of those songs. This is an excellent help, as lyrics on a page doesn't express the overall song experience, and few people entering Songwriting 101 would be able to "hear music" by reading a score. It is also an excellent way of showing that they walk the walk and produce songs that are well crafted. So when a line in a song is supposed to play a specific role, or a section is supposed to evoke a particular emotion, you can hear how the authors expressed it.

Throughout the book you will find a series of tools. These are actually what I would call tips, but they are certainly useful, and since you will make something with them, it is hard to quibble. There are tools for unblocking that which is blocked, literary devices, metrical devices, and much more. In addition, there is a lot of inspirational material in the book. The reason is simple - sometimes writers need encouragement as much, or more, than they need information. After all, songwriting, like poetry, is supposed to be about expressing an inner vision. The mechanics are intended to help you express it, not be an obstacle to songwriting. And the authors understand that well. There is no formula to producing a great song, but there are things to learn that help, and you need to approach them as joyously as possible.

If you are looking to get a handle on what makes a song tick, and how to approach songwriting, this is a good place to start.

******

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!

THE 11th 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 11th 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.

Click here for details and to order online.

This month we're taking a look at a website called "Songwriter Universe", which has a few places to explore.

The real meat of the website is their Songwriter Universe Magazine where you can find interviews with high profile songwriters and artists including this month's feature interview with Sarah MacLachlan. Other interviews include John Legend, Dolly Parton, Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, among many others. SongwriterUniverse founder Dale Kawashima has a long list of accomplishments, including a background as President of several major publishing companies, an A&R executive and a music critic/journalist/editor, along with success in the pop, rock, R&B and country fields.

So as a result, you'll also find an extensive list of articles about the music industry and business and education articles as well. I particularly enjoyed the "Classic Songwriter Story" articles; for instance Frank Myers talks about his song "I Swear", which had been passed over for five years before it was finally recorded, first by John Michael Montgomery and then by the pop group All-4-One. Sometimes persistence pays! As a bonus, you can listen to some of the original demos of these songs. I couldn't get Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly's original demo of "Like A Virgin" to work for me, but maybe you can. That was another song that was passed up many times before it was finally recorded by Madonna.

There are other interviews with legendary songwriters like Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb and Holland/Dozier/Holland, and artists and songwriters in pop, rock, country and R&B.

On the site you'll also find a Song of the Month contest. It'll cost you $12 to submit your song, and I had a listen to some of the more recent entries and have to say there were some good entries in the mix. You can also get a critique from Dale Kawashima for a fee, but even if you don't want to go that far, you'll find plenty of info and interesting songwriter stories on the Songwriter Universe.

******

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

Lucky Emma. She survived a plane crash and then wrote a song about it.

The near-tragedy of January 16, 2009 that has been dubbed "Miracle on the Hudson" became Emma Saphina's 'Big Chance.' Emma was on the US Airways flight that made an emergency landing in the Hudson River.

Emma is an Australia singer/songwriter who had been in NYC writing music and was on the way to Atlanta to visit friends when the plane went down. Miraculously, all passengers and crew got out of the plane alive and well. Emma was luckiest of all.

Emma was lucky for several reasons.
#1 - she's alive! She survived a plane crash.
#2 - Emma's only connection in NYC was a songwriter.
#3 - she's adorable and full of spunky personality.
#4 - Mark Swersky, the songwriter Emma traveled to NYC to write with saw an opportunity and knew how to take advantage.
#5 - the time is right, the situation is right and Emma is ready.

Mark and Emma wrote a song about her surviving the plane crash. Within 10 days of the crash the song was written, recorded, produced and mastered. I met Emma less than 3 weeks after the crash when she was being interviewed by Extra and Entertainment tonight.

Lucky Emma. She survived a plane crash, wrote a song about it with a hit songwriter and is hopefully on her way to stardom. That's what we're all waiting for is that one stroke of good fortune to swoop in and make us a stars! Right?

Emma could not have taken advantage of this opportunity if she had not been ready at that very moment, though. Can you imagine her asking the gig to wait while she took a few voice lessons to get into shape? No! She had to be ready at that moment to go full speed into writing, recording, being interviewed, hair and make up and all.

Let's not confuse luck with being ready when the opportunity arises. Emma's readiness isn't luck, it's the result of focused hard work on her craft. When I speak to groups of junior high and high school students about a career in music, I ask what they want from their music. Inevitably, 95% of them answer, "I want to be rich and famous. I know with a little luck I can do it." Wrong answer!

You have to be passionately driven to create, to know every detail of your craft and to incessantly work on improving. In my book, Morganix Method™-Sing Like You Speak, at the beginning of every chapter there's a quote from a famous performer. Chapter 11 begins with, "I never wanted to be a star, I just wanted to get work." Gregory Hines.

Gregory Hines did become rich and famous not because he was aiming for fame and fortune, but because he loved his craft, gave it the respect it deserved by working constantly to make it better.

Why do you think there are so few people who make it in our business? There are millions of very talented people out there. So few people make it because few are so driven by the love of their craft - singing, acting, dancing, songwriting - to persist.

What do you think? Would you be ready if your plane went down in the Hudson and suddenly you had a chance at making your dreams come true?

*****

Sally Morgan is truly passionate about helping performers for 25+ years sing as simply and naturally as they speak. She is the author of the cutting edge vocal technique, Morganix Method: Sing Like You Speak (TM), singer, speaker, actress and vocal trainer. Sally's infectious energy and laser precise expertise make her a sought after speaker who challenges her audiences to become vocally empowered and professionally polished. Sally's clients appear on Broadway stages, Off-Broadway, Regional Theater, Major Label Recordings, national television and radio, in Federal Courts, and the U.S. Senate. http://www.SingLikeYouSpeak.com or mail Sally
SingLikeYouSpeak@gmail.com

GIGS & BEYOND - The Night I Gave My CD Away - by Cyrus Rhodes
I took a big risk in giving my CD away at a gig, not knowing what would happen next. Things changed. Here's how.

-----

Learning the 7 Modes - by Scott Morris
In my last article I explained the major scale formula which I taught to you in the key of C for the reason that in the key of C, all the notes played are "natural notes" which means there are no sharps (#) or flats (b) which makes one less thing to have to worry about memorizing when first learning about scales, modes and their formulas. In this lesson article, I'd like to introduce you to the 7 modes of C major scale.

-----

A Farewell for Now - by Mick Polich
Life happens, and when it does, you go on to the next chapter. Mick signs off for a short sabbatical from the blog, with a new adventure coming up...

-----

GIGS & BEYOND - Legitimate Reasons for Reduced or Non-Payment from a Venue or Booker - by Cyrus Rhodes
Here are some legitimate reasons you or your band might get a non-payment from a venue after your show.

-----

Improve Your Lead Guitar Playing: Lesson and Video - by Tom Hess
Learn how to become a better lead guitar player and improve your lead guitar solos.

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 $54.95! (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!

LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR - QUICKLY AND EASILY! & FOR LESS!

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.

But not only that - his lessons are currently $60 off their regular price - AND he's offering free shipping within the US! There's never been a better time than now to improve your guitar playing (and there's a bass guitar course there too!).

Want to know more? Click here.

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 is specifically created for the songwriter based on those findings. Through Power of Thought and Understanding the Law of Attraction, you will have the tools, knowledge & ability to create the thoughts, experiences, and circumstances to be a phenomenally Successful Songwriter. Included is a guided meditation that is as passionate as it is empowering!

Muse's Muse Visitors - Enter Promo Code: 42567 for Discount.
http://www.songwritermotivation.com/

Limited Introductory Offer of $12.95 for Digital Download Discounts for CD, and CD/Digital Download Combo shown on ordering page.

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. 7 lines (though I do make exceptions), where a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation. All contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com.

Click here for Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising opportunities.

Jodi Krangle, Editor: editor@musesmuse.com

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 will be available here.

The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for songwriters.

For further information, send your e-mail to:
adinfo@musesmuse.com - How to place a classified ad, pass on market information or sponsor The Muse's News.
info@musesmuse.com - How to subscribe or end your subscription.
editor@musesmuse.com - To submit articles,reviews,ideas,etc.

SNAILMAIL: Please contact me first at editor@musesmuse.com

Back issues of the newsletter can be read here or in an archive at the National Library of Canada ecollection.