Our workshop dates for Fall 2010 are now online. Check them out here.

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.

NSAI announces 11th Annual Sonwriting contest!

Get writing now! NSAI in partnership with CMT is proud to announce the 11th annual songwriting contest.

The deadline is October 31st/2010 so better get going!

There are great prizes to be won, including a mentorship session with Darius Rucker. Check out all the details here.

Songwriter Nights return to the Moonshine, Fall 2010

NSAI Toronto will be returning to the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville this Fall for a series of monthly songwriter nights. The series has been a resounding success and features four NSAI members showcasing original material each month performing "in the round."

Please note, we will be moving from Monday to Thursday nights for the fall.


The dates: September 3oth, October 28th, November 25th and December 16th. The shows start at 8pm. If you are an NSAI member and would like to book a spot, or just need more info, please contact us 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.

October 5, 2009 - NSAI/CMT Song Contest, Deadline October 31-2009

The 10th Annual NSAI Song Contest Presented By CMT is underway now!  As always, the contest boasts exciting prizes, as well as career-building industry relationships, designed to help unsigned songwriters along the road to becoming professional hitmakers.  Prizes include a single-song professional demo, tickets to the 2011 CMT Music Awards, a private tour of CMT studios, a performance at the legendary Bluebird Café, meetings with major music publishers and a one-year membership to NSAI, just to name a few, as well as the most coveted prize – a mentoring session with three-time Grammy nominee Jewel!  For a full list of prizes and how to enter, visit www.nsai.cmt.com.  Among our previous Grand Prize winners are Tracy Naples (2002 - label development deal with DreamWorks), Jesse Terry (2003 - publishing deal with MASville Music), Zane Williams (2005 - publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog Music), Charlie Worsham (2006 - his band, KingBilly, is signed to a publishing/recording deal with Chrysalis Music) and Diana Kelley (2007 - her winning song was signed to Wood Newton Music).  This could be your year!  Entries will be accepted until Saturday, October 31, 2009.  (Note:  NSAI members receive discounts on submissions.  All genres of music are encouraged.  Proceeds benefit the NSAI Legislative Fund to protect the rights of songwriters.)

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!