Texas Independent Music Expo - Saturday, November 5

 WORKSHOPS • SHOWCASES 

 SONGS CRITIQUES • OPEN MIC

Texas Independent Music Expo is all about the Music! It was established to help independent music artists realize their potential, seek promotional opportunities and connect with music industry professionals through networking, exhibitor booths, music workshops and a performing songwriter competition.  Join us for a  full day of great music by aspiring singer-songwriters and musicians. The event will take place at Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St., Dallas, TX 75226.

http://www.texasindependentmusicexpo.com/index.html

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS SPONSORED BY Dallas Songwriters Association

• I Wrote A Song... Now What? 

Presented by Jo Musik

Recording a professional demo and what to look

for in a studio, producer, engineer.

• Music in Film & TV 

Presented by Linda (Kordek) Milton

The business of film music in LA and Dallas.

• Copyright! What You Need to Know! 

Presented by Craig Crafton

The legal elements of a song.

• Grammy CSI: What Makes a Hit Song 

Presented by Barbara McMillen. 

An examination of the elements and structure 
            of the 2010 Grammy winning 

           Song of the Year, 

         "Need You Now" by Lady Antibellum.

SONG CRITIQUES BY DSA PANEL

Opportunities to have your song critiqued will be available for performing or non-performing songwriters at $10 each. Your song will be reviewed in person by a panel of industry professional judges. Songs are submitted on a first come first serve basis by reserving an available 10 minute time slot on a sign up sheet.  You may submit as many songs as you wish.


The Critique Panel consists of 2 respected industry professionals. The Panel and guests will listen to each song and then judge each song based on 6 categories: Hook, Melody, Lyric, Structure, Originality, and Emotional Truth. The panel will give their comments and critiques about each song after the song is played. Lyric sheets and evaluation sheets will be returned with comments. After all songs have been played and critiques are complete, the judges scores will be tallied and the top two songs for the day will be picked. 1st place winner will get $50 in cash, 1st and 2nd place winners will get a free DSA membership ( a value of $50), and a DSA t-shirt.

1. Submitted song should be on a CD (that should include your name and phone number) or can per performed live. 

2. Approximately 2 typed lyric sheets should be provided to the judges for each song.

3. You may submit as many songs as you like.

4. You may submit a lyric only for critique.

5. Sign up is on a first come basis the day of the event. Sign up sheet will be located on a table in the front hall outside the front meeting room. Each time slot in 10 minutes to allow ample time for the judges comments.

6. All decisions of the judges are final.

7. Winners will be announced at 9:30PM on the main stage. Winners do not have to be present to win and if not present, will be notified by email.

8. Contest in not valid if their are less than ten entries, however, critiques will still be performed during the 10 minute time alloted.

Beth Nielsen Chapman Workshop, July 16, Love & War in Plano

THE MIRACLE OF THE CREATIVE FLOW 

Beth Nielsen Chapman's workshop is on songwriting and the power of dropping into the heart and listening to the guiding voice of the creative spirit. Beth’s songs, interspersed with story and insights, explore creative expression from the perspective of creativity in action. 

 The miracle of creative flow comes from the same source no matter what's growing. The great song, like the flower, is a divine expression of creativity.  The brain has to get out of the way and allow the heart and soul, the subconscious wells of creativity, to flow and work their magic.  Chapman balances the importance of balancing the craft with the inspiration: “If the heart and body and breath of great writing come from the soul, then you can thank the brain for help with the clothes, shoes, and matching handbag.” You'll experience some great insight on how to maximize the whole spectrum of what you can bring to your writing after a BNC workshop! 

Beth's style of critiquing a song is very supportive while cutting through to the best in what each song has to offer and working towards bringing up the overall quality and making it 'air-tight'.

Here are some comments from students:

.........."By far it has been the most interesting, stimulating and heartful songwriting workshop I’ve ever attended since I started pursuing songwriting!  It's very unique in its way and brings out the message of an endless universe with an endless inner potential to write songs or be creative in any way whatsoever.  It’s a great message to the psyche that can work both on a conscious and/or subconscious level to really make a difference in a person’s life!"

.........."thank you for your truly inspirational master class on Tuesday evening....  I came to the event dejected, and left feeling empowered.

        I am and will be forever grateful"

.....I left feeling inspired and nourished. You emit such an infectious joy and hopefulness – it is the most beautiful and powerful thing and I hope I can ‘grow up’ to be even a bit like that :)

........"Just to thank you for a wonderful workshop and concert.  It was inspiring, challenging and entertaining all rolled into one!"


Beth and 10 members judged to have the best songs submitted to her for evaluation prior to the workshop will take the stage between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM that evening. She will be adding a capability to her site to submit your best song soon. The two songs that she chooses as the best songs will get a scholarship where Beth will refund the enrollment fee. To take advantage of this opportunity, you must sign up before July 2nd. 


Sign up ahead of time at the links below. By the way, the text on her site says $35 for DSA and NSAI, and $40 for non-members, but this is a misprint that will be corrected. The actual cost is $40 for DSA and NSAI members and $50 for non-members. Sorry for the confusion. We are expecting a large attendance from people worldwide, so register soon, as seating is limited. Food and beverage will be available to be purchased from the restaurant and is not part of the registration fee. Love and War in Texas has a good menu of steaks, seafood, and other Texas cuisine.

This is a rare opportunity to work with Beth. She is the former president of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and has written a number of #1 hits for stars like Faith Hill (This Kiss), Willie Nelson (Nothing I Can Do About It Now) along with numerous album releases of her own. Here is a Wikipedia link for Beth and her work -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Nielsen_Chapman

10AM - 4PM at Love and War, Plano, 

5:30 - 7:30 Guitar Pull Circle

Workshop Fee $50      

$10 Discount for DSA Members

Register Online or by mail

Nielsen Chapman Workshop

Dallas Songwriters Assoc.

Sammons Center For The Arts

3630 Harry Hines #20

Dallas, Tx 75219

SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP with Tom Kimmel

When: Friday, May 20, 2011
10AM - 4PM
Where: Wildflower Festival, Richardson, TX
What: Songwriting Workshop

Although he has developed a following for his own releases over the course of a 20-year career, Tom Kimmel has had more success landing tracks on albums by better-known artists. Born in Memphis, TN, and raised in rural Alabama, Kimmel graduated from the University of Alabama and relocated to Nashville in the early '80s. Early credits as a songwriter came his way when his songs were cut by ex-Byrds Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman, as well as the Band's Levon Helm. Kimmel recorded two albums as a solo … » Read more

Registration details at http://www.wildflowerfestival.com/content/SingerSongwriterSchool.html

SONGWRITERS RECORDING WORKSHOP - March 19

DSA is holding a SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP with JOE MILTON on Saturday, March 19, 2pm at Jo-Musik studio. Joe has been nominated for a Dove Award for his musical, "What's Up Zac". Joe wrote, recorded and produced the 50 minutes of music and dialogue for the musical.


When:  Saturday, March 19, 2011
            2:00 – 3:30 pm

Where:  Jo-Musik Studio
            Sunnyvale, TX

What:   Workshop: “I Wrote a Song...Now What?”

• Finishing a song :  Finessing Lyrics / Refining Melody and Chords
• Recording a Professional Demo:  What to look for in a Studio / Producer / Engineer
• Before and After:   From scratch tracks to Master
• The Business of Songwriting:  Copyrighting / Performing Rights Societies / Marketing Your Song
• Studio Tour

Free to DSA members

Limited space – RSVP required

http://www.jo-musik.com

http://www.joemilton.com

http://www.openheartmusicals.com 

Joe and Linda Milton have made Dallas their home after 20 years in the bustling Los Angeles music scene. An accomplished artist, songwriter and producer, Joe Milton has recorded over 2,000 songs.  His music can be heard on such television shows as Desperate Housewives and Malcolm in the Middle, and he has worked with artists including The RZA of Wu Tang Clan and Jon Anderson of YES.

Linda (Kordek) Milton started her own boutique agency representing composers and music for film/tv and later joined The Agency Group, home to mega-bands including Nickelback and The White Stripes, where she created their film/tv music department.
Her clients have composed music for shows such as Hanna Montana, King of the Hill, and Dead Man Walking. Linda has taught full day seminars on The Business of Film Music in both Los Angeles and Dallas, and has created and moderated such film music panels as the Sundance Film Festival, AFI/Dallas and South By Southwest in Austin

Want to attend? Please RSVP to Judy Milton and we'll give you directions to the studio.

Kim Copeland & Susan Tucker Workshop

Songwriter’s Workshop

Sunday, February 20, 2011

1PM - 5PM

$10 cash at the door

RVSVP to Susan Tucker

Nashville publisher and author, Susan Tucker and independent producer Kim Copeland will share some valuable information about the business of songwriting and the recording industry. Kim will talk not only about the quality of demos that the hit songwriters are pitching, but will give you ideas on how to get as close to pro quality as your budget will allow. And to give you an insiderʼs view on what A&R and producers look for in songs, Kim will also share her process in looking for the "right" songs for an artistʼs album. 

Susan Tucker will share her insights and experiences in pitching songs to the Nashville market. She will answer your questions about songpluggers, pitching, demos and song contracts. They will also critique your song and offer helpful suggestions to help you get the most from your songwriting and artistry.

Sponsored by Dallas Songwriters Association

and the Collin County Songwriters Association

Love and War in Plano -

601 E. Plano Pkwy

(NE Intersection of US75 Central Expressway)

Plano, TX Thanks to Roger Russell for coordinating the place.

Kim Copeland is an experienced producer who has worked with countless artists in multiple genres. She both involves the artist in the process so their vision is realized, as well as handling the fine points of the recording process so the artist can focus on being - well, the artist!

Susan Tucker is the force behind Sage House Music in Nashville, and has authored two books on songwriting, “The Soul of a Writer” and “The Secrets of Songwriting”. She Partners with Kim Copeland Productions in the management and marketing behind emerging artist Rachel Williams and other talented songwriters and recording artists. She publishes a weekly e-zine called “The Songwriter' s Connection”.