September 2000
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 5, No. 9
NEXT MEETING: 5:00 P.M. Sunday September 3rd, 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,
Here we are getting closer to the end of 2000 and with all the exciting things going on now, this should be a good time to put all these things happening into song. Think about it.
I can remember at the age of 14 I wrote a commercial for a candidate running for governor. My parents were angry because I wrote for the opposite party. I laughed out loud, I got $50.00 for the job. My first writing and it was heard state wide!
I’m pleased about all the services we offer at the Guild meetings, in learning the craft of songwriting, recording, publishing, and above all the many HOW’s we offer. Our critique force has proved to be very beneficial.
We have a very special guest coming to our September meeting. My friend Craig Parton of the famous Pigeon Forge, TN (Dollywood) family called saying he has a new record company label, “HAND”. This is contemporary christian music. We have some great songs in this genre by John Fales, Jack Gayle, Greg Goodwin, Ray Hock, Judy Sekenski, Annabelle Wosgien and others. I hope they will be at this meeting to meet Craig.
Mentioned in this issue is the upcoming workshop conducted by Rusty Gordon. She was here recently, and those of us that attended learned a lot. This is not a repeat, but another part of her series. Please put the date October 8th on your calendar.
Looking forward to seeing all of you Sunday. Bring your latest endeavors, and anything Christian that you think Craig will like hearing. Here it is close to Christmas and I’m anxious to have a Christmas show at Beardall theatre to feature all Xmas music. Those interested in performing on stage, or having me pick singers to do your songs let me know.
Best ever Russ Robinson
A Rhymer Primer--Part 3
by Matt Griffin
Our first two rhyme discussions were limited to simple, single-syllable rhyme. Today we're going to talk about multisyllabic and minor accent rhymes. Again, refer to Sheila Davis' "The Craft of Lyric Writing" for a more detailed treatment.
Two-syllable rhyme is commonly referred to as feminine rhyme (single-syllable rhyme is sometimes called masculine). Feminine rhyme (letter/better, preaching/teaching) tends to produce a sing-song effect and should therefore be used sparingly, unless of course sing-song is desired-two-syllable rhyme is typically used heavily in comedy songs. Because a fresh feminine rhyme tends to call attention to itself, reserve it for places where that's what you want.
Triple rhyme is the three-syllable variety (leverage/ beverage, relational/ sensational); it calls attention to itself even more than feminine rhyme. In fact it tends to sound quite silly. Comedy and theater songs are sprinkled with triple rhyme for light-hearted fun, but it's not very common in pop or country. Serious-minded ballads probably would do well to avoid triple rhyme, unless you want to risk the listener laughing at your dramatic climax.
A particularly difficult rhyme to pull off is what Davis calls mosaic rhyme; it's a multisyllabic rhyme where one or both of the rhyming agents are more than one word (dismay/this may, unintended/pun intended). The effect can be beautiful or jarring, so be careful. A fresh, well-placed mosaic rhyme can make a song.
There are lots of varieties of minor accent rhyme. The chief difference between them and the rhyme types we've looked at is that one or more of the rhyming or tag-along syllables is unaccented. An easy example is "carelessly" and "free". This is not considered perfect rhyme, since the last syllable of carelessly is unaccented; yet if utilized in a melody that fits the words, this kind of rhyme (light rhyme) can sound flawless. The trick is to mate melody to lyric so that each word sings naturally. In our example, we wouldn't want to use a melody that left us singing "care-less-LY".
A fun variation is what Ms. Davis calls broken rhyme, where one rhyming word or words matches up with a piece of another. Simplest examples have an extra trailing syllable on either the first or last rhyming agent (eat/meeting, proposal/suppose, lover/coverlet). But you can try multiple words, syllables on both ends, and combinations to produce many more possibilities (deception/exceptional, shall win/palindrome, versatility/perverse humility).
Now, armed with many of the tools of professional lyricists, go forth and rhyme!
Web Chatter
cybertoad2000@yahoo.com
Hi again, folks from cyberland. I’d like to welcome one of our newer members, Eric Groves (who placed third in last month’s evaluation) with his song “Find time to be mine”
I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to the other two members that joined last month. They were Asli Walker (who placed first for the evaluation, with her song “Spectre”), and Kevin Beauregard, who is a multi-instrumentalist..
Asli has a website at http://borrowedreality.com
She plays guitar, Keyboards and French horn (but not all at the same time). She also sings very well, and has a CD out called “More than you see”. I have a copy of it, and it is mellow. I like to describe it as “Message music”, she calls it soft rock. If you sign up on her mailing list, she will keep you informed by E-mail, of her gig schedule. She usually has a few neat jokes peppered in with her E-letter.
Speaking of E-letters, I hope to start producing them in the next few months, so please keep us up to date on your E-mail addresses.
We also had 2 first time guests that brought their music for us to listen to. There was Lisa Firestone, who played us a delightful song about writer’s block (of all things) called “Complicated”. Also we had a wonderful selection from Kisha Hall, which was produced by our own Dale Cunningham.
Other visitors were Joseph Sandusky (who plays a mean guitar, and belongs to the Musician’s Union.) and Joe McCarthy, who’s song “The Cat in the Hat” placed in the Casements Songwriters showcase this year.
We hope that these folk will return in the near future and join the Guild. It is wonderful to see and hear such talent in our midst.
ISG Brochure in the works !!!
We are currently working on a brochure/ information sheet on the Guild. We hope to have copies available at the next meeting. Please take copies to show to other fellow songwriters who may be interested in joining.
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.
Preliminary Survey results
The feedback from the membership survey is interesting so far. Of the 15 responses, most agreed with the Deluxe and the Standard membership levels, but felt that it wasn’t necessary to have too many (a plethora of) choices. One response suggested a first time free listen, and another member pointed out that we don’t want to discourage non-members by charging too much per song for them, suggesting a $5 per song non-member fee instead. Some members had fund raising ideas, eg. Contest with entry fee. We will continue to solicit your responses, and encourage you to attend the meeting on Sept. 3rd, so you can cast your vote and engage in fruitful discussion on the topic.
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
Business of Music and Songwriter’s Workshop update
We are expecting Rusty Gordon to return on October the 8th with a workshop on song crafting. This will be the fourth in the series, and will be $15. We will have more details in the next newsletter.
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.
Welcome New members: Kevin Beauregard, Eric Groves, Joe Sandusky, Asli Walker
August
TOP FIVE WINNERS
Of last month’s Evaluation Session
(Members only)
1st Place: Spectre Asli Walker
2nd Place: You talk too much Jeff Mason
3rd Place: Find time to be mine Eric Groves
4th Place: A Bull on the Roof Susan & Kent Trewick
5th Place: A table in a bar in Santa Fe Jack Gayle
© 2000 ISG