October 2000
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 5, No. 10
NEXT MEETING: 5:00 P.M. Sunday October 1st, 2000
Meetings are held the first Sunday of each month at 5:00 P.M. The location is 3020 E Robinson St., Orlando, Florida. (The American Federation of Musicians Union Building)
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Co-Vice President/ newsletter
Susan Foster-Trewick (407) 679-4017
Co-Vice President/ Member Reception
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Vacant
President’s Letter
Dear Members,
While thinking, before starting my newsletter, I realize there are so many exciting events at this time. To name a few, Presidential TV coverage, Olympics, hurricane news, Television Award shows etc. Those of you that know me are thinking “I bet he’s writing songs for each of those subjects. Ha!”
I do have a few ideas to pass on to you. I have a lead for those of you that work professionally as musicians. One of the biggest agencies in the state of Florida has contacted me regarding auditions to be held locally for performers state wide. I will give you this information when requested.
I had a nice surprise a week after the last meeting. Craig Parton arrived saying he had forgotten plans made earlier for the holiday weekend our meeting was held. He was supposed to be at our September 3 meeting. As luck had it, I still had the tapes and lyric sheets given me in my briefcase. He left Orlando and promised to screen each individually to see if there might be a contemporary Christian song he can record on his label “Hand Records”. Thus far I haven’t heard anything from him. Keep your fingers crossed!
I have mentioned Xmas music several times lately. It’s getting closer to that time. I’m working on an idea I think you’ll like. I plan a live Xmas show in December, and would like to have those of you with talent perform your song before an audience at Beardall on stage. I’m waiting for an assigned date for a Saturday in December. Then, as a group, would leave after the show and have our Xmas party, nearby, at the club room we used last year. Connie and Roy Champion were the hosts.
Best ever
Russ Robinson
Song Critiquing - Part 1
by Matt Griffin
One of our primary functions as a songwriter's organization is providing critiques of one another's songs. For the benefit of anyone who has not attended an ISG meeting, the bulk of our time is spent playing members' original songs and giving (hopefully) constructive feedback to the writer or writers. It's important for many reasons. Each writer needs feedback to know where he/she is at as a songwriter, as well as to know what are the strong and weak points of a given song. Also, it's good practice for when (hopefully) a song of yours is reviewed by a publisher or producer; yes, it does take practice to accept criticism without getting your feelings hurt! And learning how to critique other people's songs helps you better critique your own.
The hardest part of critiquing songs is the "constructive" part. "That's a lousy song" only discourages the writer, and provides no useful information. "Maybe you could add a short bridge after the third verse" is an example of a constructive criticism; the writer is given a suggestion on how to improve the song and doesn't feel attacked. The most helpful critiques are the most specific ones: identify particular lines, chords, or even words that could be improved.
Occasionally, someone brings in a song that truly isn't very good. Try to be nice! We've all written songs we aren't that happy with in retrospect. Harsh critique of a new writer, in particular, sometimes chases them away permanently. Also, writers get better with practice and study. So we certainly don't want to discourage someone to the point where they give up songwriting altogether. Now, I'm not suggesting cheerful dishonesty, either; that helps no one. But criticism can be given with a spoonful of sugar, as in "that's a good concept, don't give up on it."
Songwriting Book Review: by Bill Frank
TUNESMITH: INSIDE THE ART OF SONGWRITING by Jimmy Webb
The only thing I love more than writing is talking to writers who truly love what they do. Reading TUNESMITH by Jimmy Webb (Hyperion, ISBN 0-7868-6I3I-2) has to be the next best thing. For those of you not familiar with Mr.. Webb (I can't imagine there are many of you) He wrote "By the Time I Get To Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "MacArthur Park", "Didn't We?", and many others you have heard. Never have I read a book on songwriting that covered so much in such a conversational manner. If you are like me, you read anything and everything to be found written on the subject of songwriting.
There are many wonderful books on lyric writing and a smaller number of books on writing pop music. But until now, I have never seen the lyrical, musical and even spiritual aspects of songwriting explained so well in a single volume. It has only been on the shelf for a few months and my copy is already well worn. The first two chapters introduce us to what it means to be a songwriter. He speaks of how his own talent was nurtured and of a gift given to him. That gift was the understanding that "creativity is a blameless process". Who has not beat themselves up for a less than stellar verse upon completion of a first draft? Chapters 3 through 5 delve deep into lyric structure and song form. Here, he provides a well rounded discussion about "the rules" of lyric writing and when and why a writer may chose to break them. Chapters 6 through 8 deal with music composition. Here the book soars past every other "how to write a song" book I have ever read. Mr.. Webb takes the time to talk about the basics for those unversed in music theory. Here, he provides practical music theory. Not the kind many of us studied in college. Chapters nine and ten offer some details about the job of songwriting. There are quotations from many of my favorite writers about the business, cowriting etc. Finally, in chapter 11, a real life reality check is offered in a discussion about some of the things wrong with the business. As if to say, 'if I haven't convinced you not to become a songwriter yet . . .' As if anything anyone could say would stop us (As I'm quite sure Mr. Webb knows). Once the voices start, we have to write.
Web Chatter
cybertoad2000@yahoo.com
Hi again, folks from cyberland. We had 5 new members join us last month. 4 of them came to the meeting and submitted songs that placed in the evaluation. They were: Kenneth Caldwell, Mary Ellen Benton, Lisa Firestone and Evelyn Nelson.
We also recently had news from Paula Douglas our former Vice President who has recently moved out to California, and is much missed by us. She has a website at: http://www.earbuzz.com/paulac Check it out, you can listen to some of her music and maybe drop her an E-mail at drumro11@juno.com I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.
I have recently discovered an organization for performing songwriters that is based in the Daytona Beach area. It is called Songwriters Showcases of America. Their web address is: http://www.ssa.cc They are starting to do showcases in the Orlando area, and if you go to their website, you can register to play in a showcase either in Orlando or the Daytona beach area.
Another website that I have recently run across is egroups. I drilled down through a few layers and came to: http://www.egroups.com/dir/Arts/Music/ Here you can find many topics on songwriting, composing, arranging, lyrics. Let the fun begin!!!
Business of Music and Songwriter’s Workshop update We are expecting Rusty Gordon to return on Sunday October the 8th with two workshops on song crafting. This will be the fourth in the series, and will be $15. Checks payable to Davilyn Whims for pre-registration by October 1st. This will be at the Musician’s Union, (where we have our meetings). Starting at 12:00 noon we will have an informal jam session, and the seminars will start promptly at 1:00.
Classifieds
Adjustable Double Keyboard stand for sale. Fits large keyboards and is like new. $80.00 Or nearest offer. Sharon Conway
We are asking folk to please pay their dues on time, so we can keep the newsletter in circulation. Also like to mention that e-letters are the wave of the future, so keep those e-mail addresses coming.
ISG Secretary Position is vacant
We are seeking nominations for the position of Secretary for the Guild. We would like someone who is willing to attend each month, and take concise minutes to submit for the next month’s newsletter. Dependability, legible handwriting, and punctuality would be some of the assets that we would like to see in such a person. Please give this some thought.
“NEWBIE” NEWS
New member, 12 year old Mary Ellen Benton, who placed in the top 5 last month, will sing one of Russ Robinson’s songs “Flight of the Butterfly”. This song was written for a forthcoming film “The First Miss America”.
Please feel free to contribute articles to the Newsletter
If you have any information that you would like to see added to the newsletter, please see Susan Foster-Trewick at the meetings, or you can E-mail her at cybertoad2000@yahoo.com.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing in the ISG. For more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for non-members, please call Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328, or e-mail: i_s_g_2000@yahoo.com
Welcome New members: Mary Ellen Benton, Kenneth Caldwell, Lisa Firestone, Ralph Lake and Evelyn Nelson.
September
TOP FIVE WINNERS
Of last month’s Evaluation Session
(Members only)
1st Place: Sunday Lisa Firestone
2nd Place: I told the sea Sharon Conway
3rd Place: Future Generation Evelyn Nelson
4th Place: Families Mary Ellen Benton
5th Place: Keep on Pressing Kenneth Caldwell
© 2000 ISG