International Songwriting Competition Deadline Approaches

When it comes to songwriting competitions very few would match the sheer size of The International Songwriting Competition. As the deadline approaches, a plethora of participants influx the mail box of this great contest.

The main advantage is that you can save money by entering now (at present the entry fee is $30 for the first song and $20 for additional entries) and save $10 per entry on multiple entires.

You can read the full press release here.

Calvin

[source http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/7/emw409917.htm / emediawire.com]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, online, tips, competition, international, songwriting

Macy Gray Presents $20,000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Maxell Song of the Year Prize to Winner Zane Williams

The John Lennon Songwriting Competition is an annual contest which is dedicated to providing opportunities to both the aspiring and established songwriter. There are 12 categories and the prizes all total to over $225,000. The selectee's are a array of stars - including Elton John, Wyclef Jean, Carlos Santana and many more.

This year, the song of the year was awarded to Zane Williams and the $20,000 prize was presented to him by award winning singer songwriter Macy Gray.

"NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2006--Zane Williams of Nashville, Tennessee, was presented with the $20,000 Maxell Song of the Year check for his winning song "Hurry Home," his entry in the Country music category. Multi-award winning recording artist Macy Gray and the Contest's Executive Director Brian Rothschild, as well as Maxell Corporation's Daniel Lee, Marketing VP, and Cheryl Severini, Senior Marketing Manager, were on hand to congratulate the winner at the opening evening's festivities at NAMM (International Music Products Association) Summer Session in Austin, TX. A total of $225,000 in cash and prizes is distributed each year by the JLSC to 96 talented songwriters...."

Click here to finish reading the article

[source Business Wire.com]

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/
index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060
714005116&newsLang=en

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, contest, tips

A Quincy Jones Interview

Quincy Jones is personally one of my favorite music mentors. From writing, conducting, producing, arranging to running his own label - he's certainly an example to follow.

I dug up this interview (with pics) from the man that has had success like very few of his peers.

Check it out here.

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, online, produce, music

Songwriting Legend for Arts Festival

Richard Thompson has been around for FIVE decades and still remains quite the secret. He is (in my opinion) one of England's best kept songwriting treasures.

He performs at the Galway Arts Festival. Here's an article on it...

Calvin

At 17 years old, Thompson became a founding member of seminal British folk band Fairport Convention. The band developed a personal and British based folk style, including stunning arrangements of traditional songs and ballads. The albums 'What We Did On Our Holidays', 'Unhalfbricking' and 'Liege and Lief', which were recorded and released in 1969, are generally regarded as the first coming of British folk-rock..."

Click here to finish reading the article.

[source - http://www.galwayindependent.com/entertainment/7861.html]
[Galway Independent]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, richard, thompson, online, tips, music, recording, publishing

Singer-Songwriter Van Hunt Take His Time for Commercial Success

Van Hunt released his first self-titled debut album release in 2004 and his latest offering this year 'On The Jungle Floor'. He has had great reviews on his music and critiques seem to love him.

But what about commercial success? Hunt is taking his time.

Calvin

"Van Hunt's guitar-laden rock 'n' soul riffs have earned critical raves and drawn comparisons to greats like Prince.

But for all the laurels he's received for his self-titled 2004 debut and this year's follow-up, "On The Jungle Floor," what the 29-year-old singer-songwriter hasn't achieved is commercial success....."

Click here to finish reading the article.

[source - http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20060710/ENTERTAINMENT01/607100310/1005/MTCN0303

[By Nekesha Mumbi Moody/ rctimes.com]

technorati tags:songwriting, tips, online, learn, van, hunt, success

Songstress Pushes Her Career

Singer-songwriter Chistine Evans believes "in order to effect change, we have to push for what we believe in". I couldn't have said it better myself.Enjoy the read...

"A reflection of this belief is Evans's second CD release, Push, for which she wrote all the songs. She alsoco-produced Push with producer Tom Hall in Seattle."I strongly believe in writing my own music. Artists have this powerful position. You should always write about what you believe and what you have to say," the singer/songwriter said from Seattle, while enjoying a family vacation prior to her upcoming Canadian tour....

"To finish reading the aricle, click here.

Source - http://www.vicnews.com/portals-code/
list.cgi?paper=36&cat=44&id=687582&more=

[Victoria News]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, tips, online, christine, evans, how, to

Songwriter & Producer Sean Garrett Set for Singing

BMI Award-winning songwriter Sean Garrett has had many hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for artists such as Nelly, Beyonce and Chris Brown - to name a few. The Urban song-star has now set his sights on his own singing and recording his own tracks.

"Songwriter/producer SEAN GARRETT plans to return to his singing routes and hit the studio to record his own tracks. Garrett, who is nicknamed the PENN by music mogul JAY-Z, has co-written songs with CIARA and USHER and is also producing BEYONCE KNOWLES' second solo offering B'DAY. The music star is looking forward to taking centre...."

To finish reading the article click here.

Source - http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/
article/garrett%20plans%20to%20sing_1002353

[contact music.com]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, news, sean, garrett, tips

No Matter How Stupid it Sounds - it Could Still Be a Good Song

Many of us cringe at the thought of something that we've written. There is nothing more important then listening from another persons ears.

But we always assume that we should be critical of ourselves and scrutinize every piece of lyrics, melody of chord - especially when we listen from others peoples ears. But I say this - don't be too hard on yourself. Listen again. Ask yourself:

A) Does my song have good structure? A verse, chorus, verse, chorus? Perhaps a mid section or a bridge? Good structure is important from a listener's point of view.

B) Does my song get across the point of what I'm trying to say? No matter how poetic or direct - does it resolve an issue? Does it complicate an issue? Whatever it's intention is. Does it justify with your end result?

C) Does you song 'sing well'? No Matter what level of a vocalist you are, does the syncopation of the words suite the way your melody flows?

Remember, no matter what your song 'sounds like', YOU must feel that it conveys what you're trying to say - through song & lyrics. Because if you don't, it's likely that not many others will.

Believe in the song, and others will believe you.

Calvin

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, online, tips

Starting with the Lyrics...

If you're going to start writing lyrics first, then write the lyrics in it's entire section before you attempt to write a tune or perhaps a chord sequence. And if you produce drum beats on your words, try and refrain from arranging anything until you've finished what you've started out.

This has help me immensely when songwriting.

It's the old principle of keeping things simple. There isn't any point worrying about what the melody for the chorus will sound like if the lyrics for it are only half written. Finish the chorus 'lyrically', then worry about the tune.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't create the melody while writing you're lyrics. That's NOT what I'm saying. I'm talking about 'section-by-section'.

Another example, there's no point starting to write a middle eight - leaving it unfinished, - and then starting a melody for it. You will probably, more often then so, end up back at the drawing board.

Calvin

technorati tags:how, to, write, a, song, learn, songwriting, online, tips

Super Songwriter & Producer Timbaland Stays with Warner Music

If there's anyone who's known for having a fleet of top 10 hits singles with global artists it's R&B and Hip-Hop veteran songwriter Timbaland. He has had a plethora of hits with artists such as Aaliyah,  Justin Timberlake, Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Ginuwine amongst many others.

He has one of the most extensive catalogues in the world today.

Needless to say, Warner music has retained this songwriting talent. You can read the full article here.

[Source NewYorkBusiness.com / Samantha Marshall]

"Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has just extended its publishing agreement with Timbaland, a songwriter and producer whose catalogue includes nearly 400 copyrights, including more than 40 Top 10 songs...."

http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?id=14116

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, publishing, online, tips, timbaland

Songwriter uses eBay to get noticed

Now this is something completely new and refreshing. At least it is to me. Songwriter Katherine Schell is selling the rights to her song "The Gravity Situation" on eBay. The successfully bidder will reserve the exclusive right to use the song in a commercial format for one year.

This is certainly one of the most innovative ways of marketing a song. A step up from 'My Space'.

I urge all to read the article here written in The Washington Times.

To check out her auction click this link www.katherineschell.com/ebay

To check out her website, click this link www.katherineschell.com

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, online, Katherine, Schell

Songwriter & Producer Dallas Austin Gets Help From Famous Friends

Recently, veteran Songwriter and Dallas Austin ( who has had hits with everybody from Michael Jackson to TLC) was charged with possession of cocaine. He could have faced 4 years in prison, but the drugs he was carrying was a small amount intented for personal use.

His songwriting peers Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie along with Utah republican senator Orrin Hatch and various other business and lawyers all vouch for Austins good character.

"A conservative Republican senator/songwriter, an '80s R&B singer whois inexplicably massive in the Middle East, a real-estate mogul,several ambassadors from around the globe and a Grammy-winning producer who is best known for moving musical - not political ones...."

To finish reading the article, click the source below...
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535959/20060710
/austin_dallas.jhtml?headlines=true

[MTV News]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, dallas, austin, online, publishing

Songwriter coposed instrumental to Win Competition

If you had a chance to enter a song in every category, would you do it? Would you want to spread you're little golden nuggets through-out the show? Well, Wyn Drabble would. Here's a good read...

Calvin

"A Havelock North song writer is busy recording his next musical composition after winning the instrumental section of this year's Pacific Songwriting Competition.

The international competition is now in its second year and attracts musical artists from all over the world.

This year Wyn Drabble, a Hawke's Bay Today columnist and high school teacher, won first place in the instrumental section with his guitar solo Judith, named after his wife.

Mr Drabble said initially he didn't intend to write an instrumental song about his wife but on completion decided it had a beauty which captured Judith."

To finish reading the article, click the source...
http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3691707&thesection=localnews&thesubsection
=&thesecondsubsection=

[by Lawrence Gullery]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, how, to, write, a, song, competition

Songstar Trent Tomlinson Finally Makes It

Country singer-songwriter has had a HARD 12 years before seeing any kind o success. Now, he pushes on though to the 'big time'

I always like to see success stories like these. It's truly inspiring.

Calvin

"For so many years, I had it tough as a songwriter," Tomlinson said. "I couldn't face my demons and insecurities. Once I finally started being honest with myself, the whole world opened up."

Tomlinson's songwriting themes are as rugged and real as a red dirt road. His songs are 100 percent autobiographical, he said, and they deal often with insecurities of the heart, the struggle to......."

To read full article click the source...
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll
article?AID=/20060709/LIFE/607090316/1004

[Herald-Dispatch.com]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, practice, songwriter, publishing, online

Songwriting: Chorus Construction

This article is SPOT ON.

You gotta read it.

Calvin

--------------------------------

By John Braheny

The majority of choruses adhere to certain guidelines. I say 'majority' because there are songs that ignore some of the guidelines and still win by the strength of their performance, arrangement and/or production.

1. The title should appear in the chorus, in a way that, by virtue of its placement in the chorus and/or its degree of repetition, we know it's the title. If words or phrases other than the title repeat in the chorus, or in strong positions, the listener won't know which is the title when they call the radio station to request it or ask for it at the record store, which is why you sometimes see songs with two titles, like "Untitled (How Does It Feel)," "Blue (Ba Da Dee)" or "C'mon and Ride It (The Train)" – that usually means that someone felt the song's title was not its strongest hook, or even that the song has two hooks and they're covering their bets by putting both in the title. Since you can't buy or request a song if you can't remember its name, these are very important commercial considerations.

2. Keep the information simple enough for people to remember easily. If you're a literary genius, you may tend to think most choruses are too simple. Don't worry about it. They need to be simple! ....

Click here to finish reading the article.

Source http://www.taxi.com/faq/songwriting/song-chorus.html#btm

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, online, tips, chorus, secrets

Songwriting: Steps to Writing Hit Lyrics

I have always wondered why for many songwriters, writing lyrics is much more difficult then writing a a melody. I've certainly been a victim - heck, I'd rather write chords all day long than to lyrics to a tune. It's happened on more than one occasion.

But why does sit happen? Is there anything we can do to rectify it? I dug up this wonderful article (written by Molly-Ann Leikin) giving us a deep but 'actioned based' insight on this common predicament.

Check it out...

Calvin

"Many of my clients find that melodies pour out of them like beer from a tap - but they get stuck on lyrics. I've thought about this for many years, and feel I finally understand why. I also know how to fix it. First, melodies are open to interpretation - so when you write one, what you feel or intend is still safe in your heart - you do not have to reveal yourself or....."

Click here to read the complete article.

source - http://www.musesmuse.com/2.8-November99.html#article
[Written by Molly-Ann Leikin of Creativity Consultant]

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, publishing, tips, writing, lyrics

Caral Barat of Dirty Pretty Things has Ditched the Drugs

Well, some people will be pleased to hear that the ex Libertines star Caral Barat has been 'clean' when writing music for his new bands debut album.

"DIRTY PRETTY THINGS front man CARL BARAT is proud of his new band's debut album, because it's the first he has ever written music not under the influence......"

Click here to to read complete article.

Source - http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/
barat%20ditched%20cocaine%20for%20new%20album_1001835

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, dirty, pretty, things, caral, barat, drugs, writing, music

Writing Songs on the Piano

Many of us start writing song on a harmonic instrument (ie. the piano or guitar) and often face several stumbling blocks on the way...I know I have done.

Everything from the topic of your song, to the chord changes -- the length of your intro, to the structure of your song -- you're melody... all these things come rushing in the mind at one. Many times the 'mood' of the song musically will often dictate the lyrical outcome too.

This article I found serves to be a handy quick guide on what to keep in mind when writing songs on the piano.

Calvin

http://www.davidnevue.com/pianoadvice2.htm
Written by David Nevue.

"In my 20 years of writing piano music, I've arranged over 120 compositions, about 85 of which I've released to the public on CD. A fan who read my advice for pianists article asked if I'd write a similar article for beginning composers. So, I've put together these 12 composition tips for anyone who would like to compose music for the piano..."

Click here to read the rest...

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, compose, music, piano, songwriter, write, a, song

Keep the Hook Simple and Stupid?

Erm, yes. Controversial title :-) Well, this is an interesting read on how simplicity and repetition are the the key elements to producing a great hook for a song.

I would certainly agree where Steve Moss (editor of Tunesmith Monthly) is coming from. Think of all the great pop classics over the last 30 years, then read this article.

Calvin

---------

What is a hook? Think of any song that was a hit back when you were a kid and start singing it. Chances are, the first thing you think of is its hook. A hook is a brief, memorable, irresistible bit of music, lyric, or both, that the listener will remember even after hearing your song only once. It's the part that gets a song on the radio and sells records. It's the part you can still remember and sing twenty years later...

Click here for the rest.

Source - http://www.musesmuse.com/5.4-July02.html#article2

Written by Steve Moss, editor of Tunesmith Monthly http://www.tunesmithmonthly.com

technorati tags:learn, songwriting, chorus, hook, how, to, write

Too Many Idea's Can Spoil A Song

Well, I've certainly been a victim of packing in too many chord changes or musical idea's in one song. I've dug up this article which explains how you shouldn't focus all your energy into creating several different idea's for one song - but rather zone in on that one GERAT idea, and repeat it over and over

Check it out...

Calvin

----------

When you listen to a song, you probably notice that the music is made up of certain phrases or ideas which repeat themselves throughout the song. These musical phrases are called motifs or themes. They may be as short as a few notes (like the first four notes of "America the Beautiful") or several measures in length. A motif may be melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, or a combination of these. The point being that each time you hear the motif in the song, it registers in your brain as something you've heard before -- and that makes the song easier to remember (and that's good).

A common mistake made by songwriters is thinking that the music becomes "boring" or "too simplistic" when phrases are repeated in this manner. As a songwriter full of musical ideas, you can easily get caught up in trying to be too clever. This usually results in a song that has too many musical ideas -- and that makes the song harder to remember (and that's not good). If one of your main goals as a songwriter is to write something that's memorable, then by far the best technique available to you, is the power of repetition. The trick is in knowing how to use repetition without getting "boring".

To complete reading the article, click here.

Source - http://www.craftofsongwriting.com/Column2.htm