Our workshop dates for Fall 2011 and Winter/Spring 2012 are now online. Check them out here.

Debra Alexander's Skype Songwriting Splashdown 10 week series

When: January 23 to March 31 in a weekly 45 minute time slot of your choice

Where: The comfort of your own home or writing space

What: 10 Songwriting Assignments

 

There are no shortcuts or magic formulas for developiong craft; you have to put in the time. Using a proven method pioneered by Sheila Davis, I will guide you as you accumulate the hours necessary to expand your skills, develop your working style and voice, and add 10 new lyrics/songs to your catalogue.

• Practice crucial aspects every songwriter should know in order to have complete understanding and command of the craft
• Build your skills in writing 3 major song forms, 3 points of view, 2 voices, moving time frames, different settings, and varied rhyming techniques
• Discover your own unique voice; express your ideas

This workshop is for you if:

• You want your songs to stand out
• You want to increase your output and build your catalogue
• You want to have an understanding of song craft that goes beyond the basics

Text: "Successful Lyric Writing: A Step By Step Course" by Sheila Davis

The assignments in the book are focussed on writing lyrics only, but if you choose to write music, we will examine how to best support your lyric with the appropriate melody, harmony, rhythm, and stylistic genre.

Cost: $450 SAC Members $440

Registration: Sign up now as spots are limited. Payments accepted via email money transfer to debra@wordmavenmusic.com or use the PayPal button on the workshops page at http://www.wordmavenmusic.com/Toronto_Songwriting_Wnorkshops.html

Questions? Email debra@wordmavenmusic.com.

 

NSAI Toronto gets a new coordinator

NSAI Toronto member Shaun Devlin is the new co-coordinator at NSAI Toronto effective immediately. Shaun will be assisting Dan McVeigh with various chapter activities.

About Shaun...

"I wrote my first song shortly after I started playing guitar in my late teens-it just seemed a lot easier to write my own songs than to try to learn somebody else’s.  After university, I played bass in a travelling country band and played my own songs occasionally in folk clubs and other local venues, but I stopped playing and performing actively as job and family beckoned. 

  I picked up the bass playing again in the 90’s and later resumed my songwriting on a casual basis. In 2007, I had an opportunity to work with a very talented Nashville friend of a friend, who helped me record a CD of my original tunes entitled “Central Standard Time”.  Based on the positive feedback I received on the CD, I began playing original material at songwriter clubs around Toronto again.

I also started actively participating in local NSAI workshops and learned just how challenging but how rewarding it can be to successfully learn more about songwriting and write better songs, and I hope my songs keep getting better all the time! As co-coordinator of the Toronto NSAI chapter, I hope that my efforts will help other writers like me move successfully along the learning path."

Phone: 416-963-5546 
Email: sdevlin@rogers.com

You've got seven seconds to get their attention. Ready. Set. Go.

Heard an interesting interview with Jay Frank, Senior VP of Music Strategy for CMT on CBC Radio's "Spark" show this weekend. You can download the interview from the CBC site here. Jay has some interesting insights into the modern ways of creating a hit. Forget waiting for the 1st verse, Jay  says you have seven seconds to catch the listener's attention. Now there's a challenge! You can read an excerpt from his book Futurehit.dna here.

June 13-2010, Just Announced - Bruce Michael Miller & Grammy Nominated Sally Barris in Toronto for mentoring and performance!

As we get closer to taking our summer break, we have another great opportunity for writers to meet pro-writers from Nashville and they are offering mentoring sessions while they visiting the Toronto area.

Bruce Micahel Miller and Grammy Nominated songwriter Sally Barris will be available for mentoring sessions during the week of June 20.

Bruce's sessions will be held on June 22 & 23, Sally Barris's sessions will be held on June 25 & 26.

You will also have a chance to see both artists perform while in the Toronto area. Ms. Barris in an intimate "Music in The Garden" performance. Bruce will be performing in an intimate house concert, at the Moonshine Cafe, and at Rememyi Music in Toronto with his violinist son.

To book a mentoring session, or buy tickets for any of the performances, please click on the links below.

For Bruce's bio and contact info (including his mentoring and performing schedule) click here.

For Sally's bio and contact info (including her mentoring and performing schedule) click here.

Nashville pro songwriter and teacher, Steve Leslie is coming up to Toronto for Tin Pan North and Music Row North in a few weeks.

Nashville pro songwriter and teacher, Steve Leslie is coming up to Toronto for Tin Pan North and Music Row North in a few weeks.

He will be holding mentoring sessions on Friday, May 28 in Toronto. These sessions will be booked between the hours of  9 AM to 4 PM. The cost is only $30 for a half hour session.

Here's what Steve says you'll get out of a session:

"Mentoring sessions with me are more like a co-write than anything else. I'll point out the ways in which your song is successful, both craft-wise, and market-wise. We'll find those areas that need improving, and have a ball at the same time! So, let's get in the books!"

As an educator Steve was adjunct professor of Jazz History at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, FL. from 1991-1992. He is a popular songwriting clinician, and has held workshops all over the country and in Canada at places like Morehead State University, Morehead, KY., Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN., Belmont University, Nashville, TN., Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA., Nashville Songwriters Association International, and NSAI Chapters in Toronto Canada, and Madison Wisconsin. He teaches songwriting courses online via Skype, offers song critique via mp3, and mentors students privately. Check it out! 

For more information on Steve: www.steveleslie.com
Please contact dman-music@rogers.com to book a session.

FACTOR to be our special guest at Workshop, May 4th-2010

Brian Heatherman and Julia Train from FACTOR will be coming to our regular meeting to discuss funding for songwriters and their various programs.

Open to all: free for members, $10.00 for non-members.

Don't miss this special workshop.

To learn more about FACTOR, click here.

Laura Ranieri/Doak Turners “Rocks in the River” Cut by Rising Nashville artist Kate Logan, Feb 23-2010

Back on a 3 week trip to Nashville in October 2008 – Former NSAI coordinator and “singer songwriter about town” Laura Ranieri  went down to that Parthenon park and tossed pebbles in the little duck pond  – each one for a burden, self doubt or regret and to “bless” the new trip. It was a little spiritual exercise she engaged in – inspired by her Christian artist friend Nelly Shin.

That next day – she took the experience to a cowrite with well known local songwriter Doak Turner – and out of it came the tune Rocks in the River.  Read more about it here.

NSAI Toronto at Winterfolk, Feb 13-2010

We will once again be showcasing at Winterfolk this year . The festival (now in its eighth year) runs from February 12th to the 15th, and features a wide range of folk performers. We will be hosting two rounds of music (starting at 1pm at the Willow Restaurant - 193 Danforth Avenue in Toronto.) Come on out and join us for a great afternoon of music.

Location: Willow Restaurant, 193 Danforth Avenue, Toronto
Date: Feb 13, 2010
Time: 1pm

Host: Dan McVeigh

The Performers:

Round 1 (1pm)

Connie Rossiter, Beth Hamilton, Shaun Devlin

Round 2 (2pm)

Annie Marleau, Terry Maxwell, Bruce Madole

October 20, 2009 - Line up announced for showcase at the Mooshine.

Sunday November 1
Joe Hash, Gerald Flemming, and John Serre

Monday November 23
Connie Rossiter, Beth Hamilton, and Bob Acost

Monday December 21*
Karl Widmeyer, Shaun Devlin, and Steven Demetrious

Monday January 18-2010*
Alison Lynn, Terry Maxwell, Tom McInerney

The round host for all shows will be Laura Ranieri.

 Format is open stage. The sign up is at 7:30. Writers round 8-9pm. 9pm open stage. All welcome! Please bring 4 groupies/fans or family!

* This will be the NSAI Christmas party. Not to be missed.

September 21, 2009 -NEW NSAI Songwriter Showcase night at the Moonshine – and OPEN STAGE FOR ALL

Yes, it’s back – the NSAI songwriter showcase where you can share your songs in an enlightened Nashville style round with your talented colleagues. We are now taking bookings to feature you – But you MUST bring out at least 3-4 friends.

Email now to reserve your spot!

Where? Our favourite west Toronto club – The Moonshine Café! 137 Kerr St. Oakville, ON. Or, as we like to call it – the Bluebird Café of Ontario!

DATES:
Sunday Nov1. 2009
Monday, Nov 23, 2009 
Monday Dec 21, 2009 (Christmas party) 
Monday, Jan 18, 2010 
Monday, Feb 15, 2010

Time: 7:30-11
Round happens 8-9
Open stage follows
BBQ dinner included - $10 only!

Contact us to be booked – or just come by to play 2 songs at the open stage! Mingle, Make Music. At the Moonshine NSAI Mondays!

Bruce Michael Miller to host workshop, October 6, 2009

Nashville veteran Bruce Michael Miller will be hosting a workshop on October 6, 2009 at our Toronto location.

Bruce’s songs have been featured in motion pictures and performed internationally by other artists. In February, 2004 he hosted the “Songwriter Sessions” for NPR with fellow songwriters Kathy Hussey and Wood Newton.

Bruce is currently working on his new CD "All Work and No Play".

As a Nashville veteran, Bruce will be providing us with insights from his songwriting career. Don't miss it!