August 2021
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 26, No. 08
Live meetings are Cancelled due to CoronaVirus.
However, we will be having on-line Zoom meetings.
We will send details under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
We expect it to be scheduled for Sunday August 1st at 5pm.
If you want the zoom meeting details, please e-mail us
at isgorlando@gmail.com
Hopefully we will soon be meeting in person again.
Please stay tuned for more info.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
We have been forgetting to ask members to renew their dues. It costs only $5 per year, and it helps us to defray costs for the zoom meetings.
We have 2 methods of payment. Either paypal to our treasurer Asli Goncer's paypal account. The paypal access is at aslivision@gmail.com
or you can mail a $5 check to
Asli Goncer
2849 Babylon Court
Oviedo, FL 32765
Either way, we appreciate your continued support.
Here's a video from Anthony Ceseri from Success for music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsavrIM0h4
In this video, we look at a Taylor Swift song and how she uses the placement of her title to tie into the overall message of her lyrics.
Once you watch the video, you'll be able to use this concept in your own music to create an effective lyrical message.
Teaching Styles
By Jackie Mason
I attended Richard Thompson’s Frets and Refrains music camp in 2013. The teacher who most inspired me was Martin Simpson. He is one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists on the planet today. He is also a banjo player, slide guitarist, ukulele picker and a singer/ songwriter. He is also very underrated. I sat in a class with maybe fifteen others and was mesmerized by his playing. I remember thinking later that his teaching style was several rungs higher than any other guitar teacher that had taught me. It was a deep experience. He insisted that none of us had a guitar in our hands during his classes. It makes sense because who wants to hear fifteen people noodling on guitar at the same time? This was one reason his teaching was so profound. It was a master craftsman inspiring his pupils. We were being introduced to a very special musical philosophy. https://martinsimpson.com/workshops/
I call YouTube the poor man’s university. Since 2008, I would say that I’ve gone to that site almost every day. There’s a certain group of guitar teachers that I’m subscribed to and the same applies to songwriting teachers. I even have a favorite vocal teacher that I’m subscribed to, who teaches the harmonies of The Beatles. The guitar teachers focus on individual songs. It’s a completely different way of teaching compared to Martin Simpson.
The pandemic has affected all of us in different ways. We are all a little bit different to the people we were at the beginning of 2020. Lately, when approaching a teacher teaching a song on YouTube, I don’t have a guitar in my hands. I just watch and listen. I realize that I’ve become a better student. My level of understanding has matured. When it came to songwriting teachers I would take copious notes. The scribbling in the notebook was akin to the guitar noodling! They were distractions.
I approached songwriting coach Jai Josefs in the same way. No notebook in sight. No scribbling! Just eyes and ears. I was very impressed by his teaching style. It’s low key and at the same time deep and profound. Here’s the link to his web page. https://jaijomusic.com The video that I watched on YouTube that so impressed me was titled “Secrets of Successful Songwriting” and was made for the 2020 Music Expo Summit in San Francisco. Here’s the link to the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjdJmbfTgPM&list=FLxLx9ffd2vj4NoqKSTIVkaw&index=5&t=61s And this is a link to Music Expo.https://www.musicexpo.co
I love the way he describes the difference between the muse and the editor. The muse is the inspiration for the song. The editor is the craftsperson who takes the building blocks from the inspiration and crafts it into a successful song. The muse and the editor. You can’t have one without the other. Jai is one of those teachers who can make the difficult seem easy. He emphasizes that the song has to stand on it’s own with the most simple arrangement. As he explains on his website “the difference between a great track and a great song.” He does this by breaking down current hits. Another thing I enjoyed about Jai was watching him sing the song to himself as we listened to these song examples. While doing so he is always smiling.
On his webpage he has some videos available. They are at prices that won’t break the bank. He is available for one on one consultations. He has been teaching for over thirty years and it shows! Here’s the link to his videos https://jaijomusic.com/audio-video-programs/ He also runs a workshop every 3rd Saturday of the month. Here are some details. “The Saturday SongShop meets the third Saturday of every month at Jai’s home in Marin County from 12:30 to 5:00 PM. (currently meeting on Zoom for the duration of the pandemic). Its not a drop-in group – membership is for a four month cycle, and most members return for many cycles. If anyone leaves, there are spots open for new members to replace them at the beginning of each new four month cycle – February, June, and October.”
It’s true Marin County is a far distance to travel but Zoom is as near as your phone or computer! I’m really happy to introduce you to this excellent teacher! Stay safe everyone.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool
with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
Steve Hodak hosts several newly listed open mics on the East coast.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for July, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2021 ISG