1. art and entertainment
2. music
3. music genres
4. country music

2012 FACULTY INFORMATION
Learn all about your favorite SongPosium instructors and find out
what classes they are teaching this year!
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Each section includes:
Instructor Bio
Class Titles
Class Category
Class Number
Class Descriptions
Refer to the full SongPosium Class Booklet for Date, Time and
Location information for each class
Faculty is listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Charles Alexander
Bio:
Charles Alexander is an independent singer/songwriter, digital
music & media strategist and music technology educator. He is
the founder & owner of Outside The Box Music & Media, a
digital media development, strategy, licensing and artist
services company. He helps artists, musicians & songwriters
create and extend their online presence. He implements
strategies and runs campaigns on behalf of his clients to
increase fan acquisition, fan engagement, as well as, create
brand awareness. The intent of these efforts is to acquire and nurture a fan base that would help
artists build and maintain sustainable careers. He recently established "Rock Your Net", a digital
music initiative geared towards educating artists, songwriters, artist managers and other music
business professionals on how to leverage the internet to further their careers.
He has been quoted in The Washington Post, Country Aircheck and The Tennessean and
featured on the front page of the international music technology blog, HypeBot.Com. He has
been a speaker and panelist at Leadership Music's Digital Summit, ASCAP, The International Folk
Alliance and Nashville Songwriters International (NSAI). He's has been a NewSong Music
Competition Regional Finalist and performs at venues like The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville,
Tennessee on a regular basis. He speaks at national & regional indie & digital music events and
is an ardent advocate for independent music. He currently is in the process of developing a coexperience music technology platform.
Total Classes: 3
Rock Your Net: Creating an Effective Online Presence—Business (Class #13-08)
You've heard that the Internet is the new frontier but you have no idea how to stake your
claim? Can't tell your ReverbNation from your Bandcamp from your Topspin? You want
to learn how to effectively use your mailing list? You wanna make money from your
music online?
This class will teach you:
* How to build a proper online infrastructure and connect & market directly to a public
hungry for great music in the global marketplace.
* You will learn how to use powerful online tools to help people discover your songs and
your music.
* You will understand what makes a great online music presence and how to integrate
all of that into social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.
* How to distribute your music online.
We will provide test cases and case studies all along the way. We also encourage you to
bring your laptops.
Video Made a Net Superstar: How to Kill it on YouTube—Business (Class #14-08)
You've seen it happen. One day someone is an unknown, the next day they get a
gazillion hits on YouTube and become an Internet superstar. What is the secret? What
makes a video go "viral?" How do you become the next Kina Grannis, Pomplamoose or
Amanda Palmer? (Wait...did you just say, "Who is that?")
But more importantly how can you use online video to further your own musical and
songwriting career. We'll explore what made some YouTube music videos and artists
"Blow Up." Learn how to incorporate those successful techniques into your own videos.
You don't want to miss this. We encourage you to bring your laptops.
The Digital ―Gig Bag‖: What You Need On Stage to Go Online—Business (Class #23-08)
Sure. You have your guitar, your keyboard, your capo and your lyrics. But what should
you have in your gig bag the next time you go play a show so that you can leverage
that live performance into an asset you can use to market your music online?We'll tell
you about some must haves. Some are new fangled gadgets. Some are web sites you
can login to for your show or co-writing sessions. Some are just old school tools. Finally,
we'll show you how you can turn your living room into an online "Bluebird Cafe" where
everyone can come watch you perform. We encourage you to bring your laptops.
Susan Anders
Bio:
Susan Anders, MA, has coached singers for over twenty-five years in the
SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Nashville. She is the creator of the No
Scales, Just Songs Vocal Workout, Singing with Style, Singing Live, and
Harmony Singing By Ear, methods that are being used by singers
worldwide. Performers Susan has coached include Hillary Scott (Lady
Antebellum), Josh Gracin, Rose MacGowan, Joey Heatherton, and L7.
www.susananders.com
Total Classes: 3
How to Sing Harmony by Ear—Vocal (Class #14-05)
Come ready to sing: with this step-by-step method you'll learn how to hear and sing
simple parallel harmonies above and below a melody. We'll go over a bit of harmonizing
theory, learn a simple harmonizing method and then apply that method to several songs.
Though the main focus will be parallel harmonizing, if time allows we'll also look at block
chord harmonizing ("ooh-oohs"), counterpoint, call-response, and other kinds of
harmonies heard in country, pop, rock and R&B.
Prerequisite: modest ability to carry a tune. Knowledge of music theory and/or instrument
playing ability is not required. You are also welcome to attend this class without singing if
you want to learn some how to harmonize theory.
Singing Technique Essentials for Beginners and Pros—Vocal (Class #24-05)
Whether you are a complete beginner or are gigging five nights a week, knowing the
basics of good voice technique will improve your vocal quality, range, strength and
endurance. Using exercises and songs we‘ll go through all the basics: breathing, posture,
resonance, how to increase your range and volume, how to warm up, how to avoid
straining, and how to build and maintain your vocal strength. This class covers different
material than "Singing for Songwriters" and can be taken in tandem.
Recommended for beginning to professional singers, singers who have sung on their own
and want to know if they‘re doing it right, songwriters who want to get some singing
basics, and producers looking for tricks to help their singers.
Singing for Songwriters: What Every Songwriter Needs to Know About Singing—Vocal
(Class #34-05)
Songwriters and singers are both welcome in this class: singers, you'll learn aspects of
singing that aren't covered in Singing Technique Essentials for Beginners and Pros.
Songwriters, you'll learn singing knowledge that will make you a better songwriter and
help you write songs that singers love to sing.
Topics covered include:
• How to make a song more "singable" (because songs that are too difficult to sing may
not get cut).
• Singer's diction: how to use it in your lyrics to make high notes soar and low notes pop.
Singer's diction knowledge is one of the gateways to increasing your range and vocal
strength.
• Pitch and intonation: how to efficiently improve your sense of pitch so your co-writers
and demo singers hear the true melody that's in your head. Great intonation is a must for
all singers.
• Inflection and phrasing: so your songs and/or your singing are as fluid and natural as
possible.
Singing in class is recommended but not required.
Marc Alan Barnette
Bio: MARC-ALAN BARNETTE or "MAB" has been a performing
songwriter since he was 16 years old. Winning a major battle
of the bands, the Miller High Life Rock to Riches National
Talent Search" in 1984, kick-started his vast successful career
with songs recorded by SHELBY LYNNE, JOHN BERRY, and
country legend DAVID BALL. You‘ve may have also heard his
songs featured in major television motion pictures, and is on many artist's and writer's CD's
around the world. He hosts MARC-ALAN BARNETTE'S Personalized Musical Songwriter tours of
Nashville, and has worked with thousands of people in their musical journey's and workshops. He
is currently working as a writer and producer for hundreds of artists and writers, and has most
recently been instrumental in working with and developing FRANKIE BALLARD, THE KINLEY'S and
STEEL MAGNOLIA. More information In addition to being a prolific writer, MAB is a dynamic
performer, opening concerts for Charlie Daniels, John Anderson, Restless Heart, T. Graham
Brown, Garth Brooks, Amy Grant and many, many others.
Although I don‘t conduct full day ―tours‖ during SongPosium week, I have limited availability for
hourly appointments on a first come, first serve.
Total Classes: 3
Must Have a Presence to Win (Accessing Nashville from Outside the Town)—Business
(Class #13-03)
A detailed look at the most important aspects of building relationships in Nashville
without physically moving. Details include the craft of Songwriting, performance
techniques, networking tips and business acumen…maximizing your efforts from your
home town.
Making Them Shut Up! Performance and Songwriting Tips—Performance (Class #23-03)
Many Songwriters don't see themselves as performers. Performers sometimes feel
inadequate, while good performers sometimes go too "OVER THE TOP." Learn ways to
maximize your performance, song selection, tips on dynamics, guitar techniques, pacing
and reading your audience response. Tips to up the level of your odds of getting positive
attention, passing the Bluebird Audition, impress writer's night hosts, capturing the ear of
publishers…getting the most of your live performances.
Freshman Year in Nashville—Career (Class #33-03)
If you are thinking of making the move to Nashville, new to Nashville, or moved and
haven’t gained the traction you hoped…this is for you. Learning the dynamics of
Nashville to build your songwriting universe while saving you time and /or money. Tips on
approaching and attracting co-writers, focusing your time, and maximizing your efforts.
How to best approach publishers, song pluggers artists, and when / what to demo. What
the "insiders look for and try to avoid." What is ―Gherming,‖ how NOT to be a ―Gherm,‖
and avoiding other common mistakes.
Bring a song and a random selection will pick three songs (depending on time) for a
critique.
Sally Barris
Bio:
Sally Barris is an A-list Nashville songwriter who has had songs
covered by such top-level artists as Kathy Mattea, Martina
McBride, and Lee Ann Womack. Her song ―Let The Wind
Chase You‖, recorded by Trisha Yearwood and Keith Urban,
received a Grammy nomination for vocal collaboration in
2009. Film credits include ―Honey Suckle Sweet‖ from the
Miramax film "An Unfinished Life" and ―Liars Lie‖ featured in
the Tim McGraw, Gwyneth Paltrow film "Country Strong".
While her writing credits mightily impress, fans and peers are
most captivated by her bright spirit and expressive mountain soprano. Dirty Linen says ―Barris
knows how to write lyrics that are as forthright as a stream of clear water and how to support
them with melodies that share that quality‖.
Sally is currently touring with her 4th cd ―Wilder Girl‖ co-produced with Steven Sheehan. In the
last 2 years, the Minnesota native has performed Mountain Stage, New Bedford Summer Fest,
The Kerrville Folk Festival and taught songwriting at The Swannanoa Gathering. She is also a
member of the ―The Waymores‖, with Don Henry and Tom Kimmel.
Total Classes: 1
Getting From Good to Great—Craft (Class #13-09)
This is a class for songwriters who want to take it up a notch. There are songs and then
there are ―songs‖! What makes a song magic? What gives it the mojo to transcend time
and space? How do you reach a wider audience and even get to a pro level?
Each student will receive in-depth feedback, a full tool kit of stradegies, and new skills
that will widely broaden their songwriting horizons.
Larry Beaird
Bio:
Larry Beaird has several different roles in the Nashville recording scene.
As a musician, he has played acoustic guitar, banjo and mandolin on
thousands of recording sessions including records for Rascal Flatts, Faith
Hill, and Trace Adkins. Larry recently performed on a new album for the
rock group, America. He also played on the records for back to back
ACM Songs of the Year, "I'm Movin' On" (recorded by Rascal Flatts) and
"Three Wooden Crosses" (recorded by Randy Travis). He was a 2004
nominee for the Academy of Country Music Guitarist of the Year.
As a producer, he has produced songs featuring such artists as Dolly Parton, Billy Dean and Mark
O'Connor. He is also the owner of Beaird Music Group, Inc. a Nashville recording service
featuring 3 recording studios. His company has recorded the demos for several #1 songs
including Carrie Underwood's "All-American Girl", Blake Shelton's "She Wouldn't Be Gone", and
Chris Young's "Getting You Home". Beaird Music Group also recorded the demo for Lady
Antebellum's "I Run to You" which was voted 2009 CMA Single of the Year and nominated for a
Grammy for Best Country Song.
Total Classes: 2
Arranging the Hit—Craft (Class #11-05 and #21-05)
While great songwriters focus on lyrics and melodies, professional arranger and producer
Larry Beaird thinks about intros, tempos, solos, grooves, unique chord progressions,
modulations, dynamics, and musical hooks that will make those lyrics and melodies
sound like hits. Twenty years of experience have taught Beaird the value of great
arrangements and how successful songwriters benefit from that value every day. In his
workshop you‘ll have the opportunity to observe how techniques of skilled arrangers can
be used to enhance the sound of your songs. Beaird also keeps his hand on the pulse of
what publishers expect to hear by hosting EVENING WITH A PUBLISHER™ events at Beaird
Music Group. Writers are encouraged to submit songs in advance which may be
possibly charted and included in the class discussion. Please send mp3s with lyrics to
[email protected].
Rick Beresford
Bio:
Rick teaches commercial songwriting at BELMONT UNIVERSITY and is
the director of the KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL SONG SCHOOL held in
Kerrville, Texas and staff for the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL'S song camps and Workshops. Many of Rick's private
song coaching clients have received publishing contracts or recording
contracts as a result of his coaching including Barry Dean, Chris Mann,
Lisa Aschmann, and David Wilcox.
Rick is a staff songwriter with ZAVITSON MUSIC GROUP in Nashville, Tennessee and got 2 songs on
Elizabeth Eckert's 2009 EP and 4 songs on the Sweethearts of the Rodeo record in 2010. He has
had songs recorded by such artists as George Jones (If Drinkin Don't Kill Me), Don Williams
(Especially You), Mickey Gilley, the Everly Brothers, John Conlee, BJ Thomas, Brenda Lee with two
BMI AWARDS, CANADIAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD and a MUSIC CITY NEWS AWARD to his credit.
Total Classes: 3
History of Hits in 6 Songs—Craft (Class #11-04)
There are only 6 basic topics to all hit songs! Read on... Simply by memorizing these 6 hit
standards you will have a quick and easy reference to every basic song topic, song form
and plot development technique! Too easy? That's what I thought until I read the book
"The World In Six Songs" by Daniel Levitin, who runs the Laboratory for Music Perception,
Cognition and Expertise at McGill University. He researched the idea that there are but 6
song topics in all of songwriting that connect and bond with the brain and create hit
songs. I've expanded his theory to include the variations in song form that have been
proven over the history of pop music to deliver hits.
6 Ways to Create Winning Song Angles—Craft (Class #21-04)
We have been told over and over "a hit song has to have a unique angle, a fresh
approach". So we naturally think that coming up with a unique story is the path to glory.
But inventing a different story is only one if the 6 road tested techniques we can use to
create original, memorable and irresistible hit songs! You will know and be able to use all
6 when you leave this master class.
Secrets to Powerful, Emotional Writing—Craft (Class #31-04)
Emotional writing can be so predictable and clichéd. Examine the great emotional
songwriters and discover their secrets for diverse, engaging and original emotional music
and lyric. Learn how to make minimalist lyric an effective tool in the songwriting process.
Get techniques to replace or deal with clichés.
Rand Bishop
Bio:
In his four-decade career, Rand Bishop has filled nearly every
role in the creative end of the music business: recording artist
(Elektra, A&M, MCA, Epic); session vocalist (Rita Coolidge, Quiet
Riot, Ted Nugent, Beach Boys); producer (Outlaws, Kick Axe,
Trent Summar, Rhythm Corps); A&R exec, publisher, and
recording engineer. A Grammy Nominated songwriter, Bishop
counts close to 300 cuts to his credit, by such diverse artists as
Heart, Beach Boys, Tim McGraw, Cheap Trick, and Indigo Girls. His Tim James co-write, ―My List,‖
was a five-week #1 for Toby Keith and the most played country single of 2002.
Most recently, Bishop has been writing with as well as producing several up-and-coming
recording artists. Bishop is also the author of four published books, several screenplays, a stage
play, numerous grocery lists, and dozens of dirty limericks. Bishop‘s column, ―Makin‘ Stuff Up,‖
appears in American Songwriter Magazine.
Total Classes: 3
Songs as Mini Movies—Craft (Class #44-02)
This one-of-a-kind, interactive workshop reveals how every songwriter can apply proven
screenwriting techniques to create more vivid and captivating lyrical imagery, stronger
characters, and powerful story telling. Every song is, in essence, a mini-movie. Just like
authoring a tightly structured screenplay, penning a bulletproof song requires
economical, inventive, yet relatable language, clearly drawn characters, a solid story
line, and a passionate point of view. How can you make every song a mini-movie?
Attend this class to learn how.
Conducted by Grammy-nominated songwriter, music producer, author, screenwriter,
and song craft coach, Rand Bishop. With nearly 300 cuts, from the Beach Boys and Heart
to Tim McGraw and Toby Keith (Bishop‘s ―My List‖ was a five-week #1 for Keith in 2002,
and the most-played song on country radio for that year), four published books, and
award-winning screenplays to his credit, Bishop‘s eclectic experience informs these fresh,
exciting, and liberating techniques you can use to bolster your song craft.
Your Performing Songwriter Brand—Performance (Class #33-02)
So, you‘re a performing songwriter. A good one. How can you stand out from the pack?
How do you build and expand a devoted fan base? It all begins with the songs you
write, record, and perform. Using examples of some of the most captivating and popular
performers from all branches of the pop music tree, Rand Bishop will demonstrate how
every performing artist can approach his or her song craft armed with a greater selfawareness. This knowledge will enable you to reveal a stronger, more honest and
fascinating artist persona to the world. Simple, strategic questions are aimed at helping
every attendee become a more focused, charismatic, and successful artist.
Having begun his career as a performing songwriter signed to several major labels
through the ‗70s, Bishop then held an A&R exec/staff producer position, and continues to
coach and mentor developing artists. This impressive resume/discography adds up to the
perfect background to facilitate this powerful, life-changing experience. If you want to
take the next, giant step forward as a performing songwriter, this class might just give you
the tools you need to break big.
From the Attic to #1—Career (Class #34-02)
How does it happen? What mysterious, serendipitous factors have to come together for
some little tune you made up in your attic to become not only a hit record but a major
copyright? Having been blessed with that wondrous experience, Rand Bishop tells the
tale in this revealing, light-hearted class. This instructive and entertaining workshop proves
that, with perseverance, self-awareness, unwavering intent — along with a dollop of
dumb luck — any dream is possible and any prayer can be answered.
After 30 years as a music-biz professional (recording and performing artist, Grammynominated songwriter, platinum producer, music publisher, A&R exec) Rand Bishop left
the industry. Two years later, as he was building a thriving enterprise in the ―straight‖
business world, country music superstar Toby Keith cut one of Bishop‘s compositions and
took it to the top of the charts. The abundance and recognition that, for decades, had
seemed just beyond Bishop‘s grasp was finally due. Ironically his greatest success came
from the very dream he‘d gratefully abandoned. Workshop attendees will learn a lot
about how this baffling business works when this hit songwriter, author, and columnist
(American Songwriter) shares his true-life tale, one that articulates clearly how all the
factors can (and must) actually come together to give one song the chance to affect
thousands of lives and generate millions in income.
Sherrill Blackman
Bio:
Blackman arrived in Nashville in 1980 and graduated from Belmont
University with a Music Business degree in 1982. Since then, his many
jobs have included a one year stint as production coordinator with
American Image Productions, six years on staff at The Nashville
Songwriters Association, and four years as general manager for
Buckhorn Music. Founded in 1994, his SDB music group, a publishing
and independent songplugging company, has secured recordings in
Country, Pop, Rock, Gospel, Bluegrass, Blues, Jazz, and Polka.
Because of his knowledge and experience, Blackman has traveled
extensively as a featured guest speaker at most major songwriter workshops and music business
seminars across the United States and Canada. He has been interviewed by various national
and international magazines such as MUSIC ROW, AMERICAN SONGWRITER, CMA CLOSE UP,
SONG LINK, ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN, and BLUEGRASS NOW. His thought provoking quotes
appear in the books ―YOUR FIRST CUT A Step-by-Step Guide To Getting There‖ by Jerry Vandiver
& Gracie Hollombe , ―THE MUSICIAN‘S GUIDE TO NASHVILLE‖ by Sherry Bond, ―6 STEPS TO
SONGWRITING SUCCESS‖ by Jason Blume, and ―SONGPLUGGER: The Cuts and The Bruises‖ by
Penny Dionne & Troy McConnell. Blackman is a co-founder of The Independent Pluggers
Association; a three term past president of The Nashville Publishers' Network; and was named
Music Row Magazine's Songplugger of The Year in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Total Classes: 3
10 MORE Specific Guidelines to Further Your Songwriting Career—Business (Class #33-08)
An expansion on Sherrill‘s popular ―20 Specific Guidelines…‖course, this new installment
takes you to the NEXT LEVEL. Are you doing it wrong or right? Has it been hard to find
relevant information that applies directly to you and your career? This class will present
specific observations and tips from one of the most successful song pluggers in the music
business that will help give you the edge over your competition.
Why My Songs Get Recorded and Yours Don‘t…Yet—Business (Class #43-08)
What is the difference between songs that make it into the studios, onto albums and up
the charts and those that don't? Find out from one of Music Row's most experienced
publishers/pluggers, who has secured recordings in Country, Pop, Gospel, Bluegrass, Jazz,
and Polka.
Song Critiques That Matter with Steve Bloch—Business (Class #44-08)
 What do publishers look for in a writer?
 Is YOUR song really ready for a publisher or producer to hear?
 What do you need to know to become a better songplugger for your own songs?
This conversation will unfold through the process of having your song critiqued by TWO highly
successful, high-profile veteran Nashville songpluggers. Together, STEVE BLOCH and SHERRILL
BLACKMAN have almost 50 years of experience working in the trenches, pitching songs to
the power players of Music Row.
Everyone is encouraged to bring one country song on a CD with typed lyrics to the session.
This exercise is optional and promises to be beneficial whether or not you bring a song.
Those who do will leave with the experience of having it listened to as though it were
actually being "pitched" on Music Row, with the added advantage of receiving a valuable,
professional critique.
Steve Bloch
Bio:
STEVE BLOCH is sole proprietor of Southern Cow Music and cofounder of Writer Zone Music. As well, he is an independent
consultant for ARTIST & REPERTOIRE, LLC., focusing on writer
development and song plugging services.
STEVE also provides independent song scouting services for
Doug Johnson, creative head of BLACK RIVER ENTERTAINMENT
whose roster includes Craig Morgan, Glen Templeton, Sarah
Darling, and Due West.
STEVE is a frequent guest of the West Coast Songwriters Association, the Durango Songwriters
Expo, the Arizona Songwriters Association, TAXI, and various NSAI (he's an NSAI Pro-on-the-Road)
and SGA events.
As Steve always says, "you never know where you'll find the magic."
Total Classes: 3
Before They Were Hits—Craft (Class #24-08)
Ever wonder how the artists first heard (chose) the songs that helped shape their
careers? Why they chose to invest their futures (financially, as well as artistically) in these
songs out of the thousands they hear to best prepare for each project?
In this class we‘ll play several demos BEFORE THEY WERE HITS and put ourselves in the
artists‘ hearts, minds, (and ears). Together, we‘ll analyze what made these songs work,
and in doing so, you‘ll hone your own skills in becoming part of Nashville‘s next wave of
successful, hit songwriters.
Inside Pitch—Business (Class #34-08)
Bring a song to independent A&R consultant, STEVE BLOCH.
Steve listens for the Creative Director of a major label and will share ―distinctions in
listening‖ that he has learned as a result of 19 years experience pitching songs to the
powers-that-be in Nashville. He can speak to what works and why from an insider‘s point
of view.
Though it is not mandatory, everyone is invited to bring one country song with typed lyric
to be reviewed during the session. If your song has what it takes, Steve will present it
personally to Black River label head, Doug Johnson.
Song Critiques That Matter with Sherrill Blackman—Business (Class #44-08)
 What do publishers look for in a writer?
 Is YOUR song really ready for a publisher or producer to hear?
 What do you need to know to become a better songplugger for your own songs?
This conversation will unfold through the process of having your song critiqued by TWO highly
successful, high-profile veteran Nashville songpluggers. Together, STEVE BLOCH and SHERRILL
BLACKMAN have almost 50 years of experience working in the trenches, pitching songs to
the power players of Music Row.
Everyone is encouraged to bring one country song on a CD with typed lyrics to the session.
This exercise is optional and promises to be beneficial whether or not you bring a song.
Those who do will leave with the experience of having it listened to as though it were
actually being "pitched" on Music Row, with the added advantage of receiving a valuable,
professional critique.
Jason Blume
Bio:
Jason Blume‘s songs are on three Grammy-nominated albums and
have sold more than 50,000,000 copies. One of only a few writers to
ever have songs on the pop, country, and R&B charts, all at the same
time--his songs have been recorded by artists including Britney Spears,
the Gipsy Kings, the Backstreet Boys, Jesse McCartney, the Nashville
Chamber Orchestra, Scandinavian, Greek, and Japanese superstars,
and country stars including Collin Raye (6 cuts), Steve Azar, the Oak
Ridge Boys, and John Berry (―Change My Mind,‖ a top 5 single that
earned a BMI ―Million-Aire‖ Award for garnering more than one million
airplays). He began 2012 by earning a ―Gold‖ record in Scandinavia
by X-Factor star Endre, and a new recording by Collin Raye.
His songs have been included in films and television shows including ―Scrubs,‖ ―Friday Night
Lights,‖ Disney‘s ―Kim Possible‖ and ―First Kid,‖ MTV‘s ―Next Thing‖ and ―Taking the Stage,‖
―MVP,‖ ―The Dating Guy,‖ ―Barbie of Swan Lake,‖ ―Dangerous Minds,‖ ―Kickin‘ it Old Skool,‖
―Fame,‖ ―The Guiding Light,‖ ―The Miss America Pageant,‖ and many more.
Jason Blume is the author of 6 Steps to Songwriting Success, Inside Songwriting, and This Business
of Songwriting, (all published by Billboard Books). Acknowledged as one of the world‘s top
songwriting instructors, Blume developed, and is in his sixteenth year of teaching the BMI
Nashville Songwriters workshops. He presented an acclaimed master class at the Liverpool
Institute for Performing Arts (founded by Sir Paul McCartney) and has taught at conferences,
colleges, and universities throughout the U.S. and in countries including Australia, New Zealand,
Norway, Ireland, the U.K., Canada, Bermuda, and Jamaica.
For additional information, visit www.jasonblume.com
Total Classes: 3
Melody Master Class: What the #1s Did Right and How You Can Do It Too—Craft (Class #21-10)
Examine the melodic tools and techniques that compelled an artist to choose these
songs—and propelled them to #1. Topics include incorporating fresh, unexpected
rhythms in your vocal melodies; melodic ―magic moments‖; how to use repetition,
repetition and repetition—without seeming simplistic; how to make your choruses
demand to be remembered; incorporating melodic contrast; and much more.
Knowledge of music theory and the ability to play an instrument are NOT required to
benefit from this class—or to write hit songs.
Lyric Master Class: What the #1s Did Right and How You Can Do It Too—Craft (Class #22-10)
Examine the tools and techniques used in the lyrics of recent #1‘s. There are reasons
why some lyrics touch listeners‘ hearts—and others fail to do so.
Learn: how to evoke emotion in your listeners; 3 steps to writing great verse lyrics; ―tricks‖
to incorporate detail; how to tell a story—when that‘s not the natural way you write; the
secrets to writing opening lines that instantly make a listener want to hear more;
maintaining momentum in your 2nd verse; supporting your title; and much more.
The Next Level: 10 Tools for Writers Who are Ready to Go From Good to ―Wow!‖—Craft
(Class #31-10)
This class is NOT for beginners. You already know how to write perfectly crafted songs—so
why aren‘t you having HITS?
There are reasons why some songs jump out of the pile and demand to be recorded. It‘s
not just ―luck‖ and ―who you know.‖ It‘s all about the songs—and there are things you
can do to take yours to that next level. Walk away with (10) concrete tools to write
melodies and lyrics that compete with today‘s hit-makers and staff-writers. Includes a
checklist so you can continue to be sure you‘re using all the tools.
Woody Bomar
Bio:
Woody Bomar began his music career as a songwriter at Combine
Music, penning hits for the likes of Loretta Lynn, Jim Glaser and
Conway Twitty. He later became General Manager, but left
Combine to start Little Big Town Music Group with partner Kerry
O‘Neil. After a 10-year string of hits, including 15 #1s, they sold the
company to Sony/ATV Music Publishing where Woody was
employed as Sr. VP & GM of Creative Services. While at Sony/ATV,
Woody signed publishing deals with such artist/writers as Dierks Bentley, Marty Stuart and Blake
Shelton. He was also instrumental in signing Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Gretchen
Wilson, Eric Church, and Miranda Lambert. He is now President/Owner of Green Hills Music
Group where he and his staff market the music of Steve Mitchell, Bonnie Baker, Steve Williams,
Georgia Middleman, Bob Regan and Rick Giles.
Woody is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. He is a member of NSAI, CMA, ACM,
AMA, Leadership Music, The Songwriters Guild, The Canadian CMA, ASCAP, Copyright Society of
The South, Recording Academy (Board) and Belmont University‘s Entertainment Industry Advisory
Board. He is recipient of The NSAI President‘s Award (twice) and is an inductee into the MTSU
College of Mass Communications Wall of Fame.
Total Classes: 2
Taking it to the Next Level: The Search for a Publisher—Business (Class #11-09 and #21-09)
It is an extremely challenging time for the songwriter/music publisher relationship. The
economic downturn, declining revenues and consolidations have reduced the number
of publishing companies. Many other factors have reduced traditional income streams
from music. Longtime Nashville music publisher, Woody Bomar, offers strategies for
increasing your odds of success in marketing your music. His insights come from working
in both the corporate publishing and independent publishing worlds. Topics discussed
will include: (1) How to get an appointment, (2) What to do and not do in that first
meeting with a publisher, (3) Single Song or Staff Writing deal?, (4) Reasonable
expectations for ―the deal,‖ (5) How to keep from getting ―dropped‖ by your publisher
and (6) Making a living making music. INTERACTIVE: You are welcome to send in
questions in advance to [email protected] about topics you would like covered. Just
be sure to put ―Songposium Question‖ in the subject line.
Each “Taking It To The Next Level” class participant is invited to bring one song on CD
with lyric sheet to the class instructor. Be sure to include your phone number and email
address. Woody will take them and review them during the following week. He will
respond to you and let you know his level of interest. This is not a critique session, but an
opportunity to pitch your best song to a Nashville publisher.
Ellen Britton
Bio:
ELLEN BRITTON is a veteran musician with decades of writing, recording,
teaching, and performing experience. Touring credits include playing
guitar and singing backup for such artists as Martina McBride, Sara
Evans, Pam Tillis, Jo Dee Messina, Lari White, Maura O‘Connell, and
Tanya Tucker. She has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,
Late Night with Conan O‘Brien, The Rosie O‘Donnell Show, The Today
Show, and The View.
Her work as a guitar teacher to prominent and aspiring artists and
songwriters in Music City has been spotlighted on the ABC Family Channel. Students include
recording artists Jimmy Wayne (―Do You Believe Me Now?‖), Jamie Lynn Spears (―All That‖,
―Zooey 101‖/Nickelodeon), JD Souther ("Her Town Too), Chuck Wicks (―Stealing Cinderella‖),
Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town (―Bring It on Home to Me‖), and Pam Tillis
(―Spilled Perfume‖); songwriters Barry Dean (―God‘s Will‖/Martina McBride), Tim Nichols (―Live
Like You Were Dying‖/Tim McGraw), Jennifer Hanson (―Country Strong"/Gwyneth Paltrow),
Tammi Kidd (―Probably Wouldn‘t Be This Way‖/LeAnn Rimes), Dennis Matkosky (―You‘ll Think of
Me‖/Keith Urban), Ann Marie Boskovich (―American Idol‖ finalist); Music Row pros Jim Catino
(RCA Records), Laura Stroud (Sony Music & Big Alpha Publishing).
Delighting audiences with her soulful singing, romping guitar playing, and winning humor, Ellen
has brought her original songs and love of performing to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the
Swallow at the Hollow in Atlanta, as well as Nashville‘s prestigious Bluebird Café in the round with
Amy Grant and Vince Gill.
Total Classes: 3
Exploring the Key of Eeeeee!—Guitar (Class #41-06)
Tired of the key of G? Then break out of "G jail" and discover a whole new palette of
sounds in the key of E, as in "Fallin' for You"/Colbie Caillat, "Making Memories of Us"/Keith
Urban, and half of Taylor Swift's last record ("Dear John", "Mean", "Sparks Fly", "The Story of
Us") and more.
How Not to Suck When Performing Your Songs—GUITAR (Class #42-06)
We‘ll cover everything you need to know to present your song well at a writers night,
open mic, guitar pull, or critique session: tuning, accompaniment, plugging in your guitar,
mic technique, dealing with nerves, and lots more, focusing on what's important as well
as what NOT to worry about. No performing experience necessary!
Rule the World with the Nashville Numbers—Craft (Class #43-06)
If you count to 8, you can learn this common sense language -- a must for songwriters,
singers, and players alike. The number system is just a way to write down what your ear
already knows. Whether or not you play an instrument, you'll want to learn how to "talk
numbers" -- and there's no algebra required, so don't be left out of the loop anymore!
Lori Bumgarner
Bio:
Lori is the owner of the Nashville-based image consulting company
paNASH Style LLC, providing imaging services such as wardrobe
styling, media coaching, bio writing, and more. For the past four
years she has worked with a variety of clients including Grammyaward winning artists, songwriters, labels, and music industry
professionals on branding, image and presentation skills. Lori is the
author of the Amazon #1 bestselling book Advance Your Image,
currently serves as a NSAI pro-faculty member, and has been
featured in various music industry publications. Her experience
includes 10 years as a career adviser prior to becoming an image
consultant, and she has completed styling training in New York City
under the tutelage of Stacy London (co-host of TLC‘s What Not To Wear).
Total Classes: 3
IMAGE: Yeah, It‘s THAT Important (For Artists AND Songwriters!)—Career (Class #11-07 and
#42-07)
We live during a time in the music industry where, more than ever before, image is
everything. Since most music is now first discovered online, it is often the case that the
artist‘s or songwriter‘s photo pops up well before the music ever starts to download or
play. But image is not just about how you look. It‘s also about how you present yourself
to industry leaders who have the power to take your career to the next level. During this
session, you will learn what all image includes, what role it plays in your career as a singer
and/or songwriter, and how it can lead to success. You‘ll also learn step-by-step ways to
strategically improve your image through your appearance, your networking skills, and
the promotion of yourself to labels and publishers. If you‘ve got the talent, it‘s now time
to attract the attention you deserve!
Who is (Insert Your Name Here)?—Career (Class #21-07)
Most likely you have no problems telling others about yourself through your songs, but do
you know how to express who you are without your guitar? Are you able to articulate
what you have to offer the industry and the world when you‘re meeting people at
events such as SongPosium or, more importantly, when meeting with someone who has
the power to take your career to the next level? Most singers and songwriters find it more
difficult to pitch themselves, especially to potential labels or publishers, than to pitch a
song. This session will provide hands-on self-reflective activities that will not only help you
discover underlying skills and teach you how to market yourself as a musician, but will
also help you clarify who you are as a person. You will walk away from this session with a
new perspective of yourself and a new confidence that will open doors with the right
people. And who knows, what you unearth in this session might just be the inspiration for
your next big song!
Bill Cakmis
Bio:
For over thirty years Bill has mentored, trained and developed many
of the country's leading performers and entertainers. As a media
consultant and 'Show Doctor' he has partnered with major film
studios, production companies, local television stations, and the
country‘s top networks and cable stations to create productions that
are unique, creative and powerful. Past clients include: Phil Stacey
(American Idol), Tim Nichols (Grammy Winner), Lance Bass (N‘SYNC),
Linda Davis (Grammy Winner), Lisa Rinna (Emmy nominated Actress,
Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, Celebrity Apprentice), Scott MacIntyre (American Idol),
Melinda Clarke (Nikita, The O.C., CSI), Laura Spenser (Good Morning America, The Insider), Bob
Goen (Host: Entertainment Tonight), D. Vincent Williams (singer/songwriter – 15 million records
sold), David Ruprecht (Host: SuperMarket Sweeps), and Gary Chapman (Host: Prime Time
Country, Male vocalist of the year – GMA Dove Awards). Client companies include Provident
(Sony), Bigger Picture Group (Bob Ezrin and Bob Cahill), Big Idea Entertainment (Veggie Tales),
NewsChannel 5, TNN, Dick Clark Productions, ABC/Walt Disney, CBS, FOX, NBC/Universal,
Paramount and the Christian Broadcast Network. For more information please visit Bill‘s web site
at www.cakmis.com.
Total Classes: 2
Dynamic Interview and Performance Technique—Career (Class #12-07)
Your interviews and performances should be as dynamic as your music! Talent is a
wonderful thing but talent alone will only suggest your potential as a star. Understanding
and utilizing the proper techniques can preserve your integrity while promoting your
talents in a powerful and unique fashion. This class will cover those techniques and
answer any specific questions or concerns the participants may have concerning their
individual situations.
Turn Your Dreams Into Reality—Career (Class #22-07)
It is impossible to hit a target you cannot see. Learn how to set short term and long term
goals so that the journey to success is a real path you can visualize and follow. This class
will also answer any specific questions or concerns the participants may have
concerning their individual situations.
John Capek
Bio:
John Capek has achieved international acclaim as a composer,
songwriter, keyboard player, producer, arranger and scorer for feature
films and television.
Rod Stewart leads the list of popular music icons who have recorded
Capek compositions. Others include Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Diana Ross, Joe
Cocker, Toto, Chicago, Olivia Newton John, Little River Band, Heart,
Manhattan Transfer and Amanda Marshall.
John Capek‘s most performed award winning songs include: ―Rhythm of My Heart,‖ ‖This,‖ ‖Soul
on Soul‖ and ―Carmelia.‖ Capek‘s most performed productions include Dan Hill‘s Billboard hit
duet with Vonda Sheppard, ―Can‘t We Try‖ as well as work with Ken Tobias, Gene McLellan,
Good Brothers and Downchild. As a keyboard player, John has recorded with Diana Ross, Olivia
Newton John, Stan Rogers, Ian Thomas, Marc Jordan, Dan Hill, Kermit, The Chipmunks, The
Simpsons and countless other international performers. For more information go to
www.johncapek.com
I've been a fan of John's music for many years. He's one of the deepest, most talented
and soulful writers I know and I find myself listening to his albums for inspiration and
pleasure all the time.
- Bonnie Raitt
Total Classes: 3
Waddya Know? Put your hands up and step away from that guitar! (Fundamental questions
that need to be answered before you start your next song.) —Craft (Class #13-07)
BEGINNER CLASS
This is songwriting 101.
There are some very rudimentary but essential basic concepts regarding the process of
songwriting that are rarely discussed or described. Without a knowledge of the most
basic fundamentals, we tend to make assumptions. And we all know what happens
when we make assumptions!
This is an interactive class conversation based on a preset list of questions that covers the
most essential starting points of a songwriter‘s journey. What is the meaning of life? Why
are we here? Why write a song at all? Why quit your day job?
Waddya Know? Put your hands up and step away from that guitar! (Fundamental questions
that need to be answered before you start your next song.) —Craft (Class #23-07)
ADVANCED CLASS
Writing a song is a creative process. What do Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and Socrates
have in common with songwriters? More than you would imagine. How do we create
something from nothing? What is the path we take to get from a musical point A to point
B. How do we get inspired?
This is a class that covers the most basic fundamentals of writing songs, and then extends
the process into an exploration of invention, creativity and inspiration. How do we know
our song is finished? What is prosody and why do we care? What comes first, music or
lyrics? Why am I not getting cuts?
All of this and more will be covered in this more advanced songwriting 101 class.
The Other Half of a Song: Melody and Harmony—Craft (Class #33-07)
Intros, endings, cadences, tension and release. Why do we care? How do you make a
melody? Do we need to be great instrumentalists to be great songwriters? Is tempo
important and does it matter what key the song is in? Minor keys, what do they mean?
Do these words fit my melody?
Music is the other half of a song. It often takes second place in the songwriting process
where lyric is king. Except for the fact that great melodies are the thing that history
remembers.
This class discusses the process of music making in our songs and how to make better
melodies and harmonies.
Barbara Cloyd
Bio: Barbara made the move to Nashville in 1983, a town she had
never been to before and where she didn't know anyone. Within a
few days of arriving she knew she was home. Three years later she was
hired to organize and run the Open Mic at the Bluebird Cafe, which
was well on its way to becoming the world-renowned songwriter's
venue it is today. Her struggle to perfect her craft as a writer paid off
in 1993 when she had the hit single "I Guess You Had to Be There"
recorded by Lorrie Morgan.
Over years of performing at and hosting writers nights in Nashville, Barbara's energetic
personality and genuine love for songwriters has endeared her to the community. She has
served as a workshop moderator for the Nashville Songwriters Association and was the creator
and host of the long-running Country Song Contest at Gibson Cafe which helped many writers
make connections in the music industry. She has hosted popular writers nights at local venues
such as Radio Cafe, The French Quarter and The Broken Spoke. Currently she books all the early
shows at the Bluebird Cafe, writes a question/answer column for thestagehand.com, is a board
member for the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival and a mentor for Just Plain Folks.
In 2001, in response to continual requests for help from developing writers, she founded a
consultation service which she named "Ready for the Row." Through workshops, classes,
recorded critiques and individual sessions she is helping new writers to develop their writing skills
and navigate their way through the maze of the music business.
Because of her growing reputation for being able to spot talent there are many Nashville
publishers eager to listen to writers she recommends. She secured initial appointments at Almo
Irving Music for Bret Jones ("Better Man, Better Off," "Little Past Little Rock") and Anthony Smith
(Mercury Recording Artist and writer of "Run," "I'm Trying" & "Didn't I") where both have both
enjoyed significant success. The introductions she made for singer/songwriter Marcel after his
performance on the Bluebird Cafe Open Mic opened Music Row doors for him the led to his
artist deal on Mercury Records.
Amid all her efforts on behalf of other writers, Barbara has never abandoned her own creative
talents and in 2002 she completed her first CD, "Possibilities."
Total Classes: 3
Putting Pro Polish on Your Songs—Craft (Class #31-01)
What separates a smart, clever, well-crafted song from one that has a real chance of
getting cut? Barbara says, "I hear so many songs by talented writers that are beautiful,
intelligent and well put together but I know they'll never get cut." In this class she'll go
over the main mistakes she sees writers making that keep their songs from being
competitive in the commercial market.
Writing for the Row—Craft (Class #32-01)
You can write a great song, but it still might not be a great song for the commercial
Country market. If you want to write a hit, why not study hit songs to see what makes
them work? In this class you will use a simple set of exercises to analyze a broad
selection of current and classic songs. In the process you will; get a clear picture of the
main qualities a song needs in order to appeal to Music Row, and after the class you can
keep using the exercises on other songs to deepen your understanding.
Getting Noticed in Nashville—Career (Class #41-01)
This is a very crowded field and you need to stand out if you want to succeed. The
publishers, producers and labels are too busy to take appointments with people they
don't know, so what makes them want to get to know you? And what makes them want
to run the other direction? Most hit writers started out as strangers to the Nashville
scene, which proves that there are ways to work though the filtering system to get to the
people who make decisions. This class offers insight into what Music Row is looking for
and tips on proper etiquette as well as practical, specific suggestions on what steps to
take.
Kim Copeland
Bio: Kim Copeland is one of only a few established female producers
in Nashville and one of the most sought after for her outstanding vocal
production as well as full musical production. She is a top Producer,
Songwriter and Performer with over twenty five years experience in the
music industry.
Kim works with artists and songwriters to discover and showcase their
uniqueness on song demos, pitch packages and full album projects.
Current projects include: Debut album for new Canadian artist, Drake Jensen, New album for
Nashville Star artist, Rachel Williams, Lofton Creek artist, Kelly Parkes. Past credits include: Debut
plus follow up album for Rachel Williams, Two albums for Top 10 Texas artist, Keith Norris, as well
as albums for Allison Smith, Susan Rose, Annelise Walley, McKenna Faith, David Michael, and
Picnic in the Meadow – (a concept cd to promote awareness and solutions for orphaned
children in Africa).
Total Classes: 3
Are You a Karaoke Singer or an Artist?—Performance (Class #13-06)
How to Become a Successful artist.
There is a big difference between being a good singer and a successful artist. Between
making money performing and being just another karaoke singer. Between a dream
and a career.
Kim Copeland will listen to a short performance by each registrant and give specific
vocal and performance tips that will help you attract an audience and build a career as
a successful performer in the music industry.
How to Fix a 3 Minute Song in 5 Minutes or Less—Craft (Class #23-06)
Are your songs good enough to be on the radio? Or are they ―almost‖ there, but not
quite cutting through the crowded commercial market? Kim Copeland will share easy,
but very powerful writing techniques that will take your songs from ―good‖ to
―commercial‖.
Each registrant should bring one song on CD for a song roulette session.
How to Feed the Musicians Without Getting Your Hand Bit—Studio/Tech (Class #33-06)
Ever record demos that don‘t end up sounding anything like you heard in your head?
Kim will give you a very unique insight into how to communicate your ideas to musicians,
engineers, producers and vocalists to get the results you want and build relationships with
industry pros that can benefit your career.
You‘ll learn when to stand your ground and when to trust the professionals, and HOW to
express your ideas in ways that will make you and your recordings better for it.
Bob Dellaposta
Bio:
Bob has over 50 years experience as a professional in the music
industry. He is currently the President and Owner of My 3 Kids Music
Publishing (BMI) founded in 1994 with worldwide success and Muy
Bambinos Music (ASCAP). Bob is a professional songwriter member
and Adopt a Shop Pro for NSAI and workshop moderator with the
organization for the past 15 years and current president of The
Nashville Publisher's Network and is on staff at SongU.com . He has
secured over 2300 placements all over the world including a Gold Record in Denmark (Ann
Taylor) Platinum Record in Greece (Hi-5). #1 Jazz Album on I-Tunes Canada (Sophie Milman)
cuts by Clinton Gregory, Western Flyer, Emerson Drive (12 Gauge), Becky Hobbs and Bobby
Vinton to name a few. His songs have been placed in television and movies including Last Call
with Carson Daly, Touchstone's FELICITY, New Line Cinemas HIGHROLLER-THE STU UNGAR STORY,
ABC's ALL MY CHILDREN, A&E SONS OF HOLLYWOOD and The BBC's Singing with the Enemy. He
currently teaches Intro and Advanced Music Publishing, Intro & Advanced Songwriting at
Nashville State Community College.
Total Classes: 3
Publishing from Asparagus to Zucchini (How I Raised Vegetables For Fun And Profit!)
Business (Class #22-03)
Cut out the middle man and start your own publishing company. Even if you don't have
a green thumb, I will provide you with everything you'll need to grow a garden and
teach you how to take your songs to market. If you have a computer you can learn the
secrets that have helped me secure over 2000 placements since 1994. You will be
provided with the same licenses, contracts and agreements that I use as part of the class
via e-mail attachments (these forms are word docs and can be edited and modified to
fit your personal situation and are well worth over $100). We will also go over why you do
or don‘t own your tracks and what you can legally do or not do with them…
Thinking Outside the Nashville Box or How I Learned To See Past Music Row—Business
(Class #32-03)
I will teach you the secrets of how to make $$$ outside of Nashville. You will learn
alternative methods that have worked for me as well as ways to make money not
mentioned in any book. This is a must take class if you want to become part of the new
entrepreneur movement sweeping across the world. This class will pay for itself many
times over! We will be discussing music libraries and internet options available to you for
licensing opportunities. A current list of companies with internet url‘s will be provided.
My Songs Are Just As Good As the Crap on the Radio (How to Live In Commercial Denial and
Blame Everyone But Yourself)—Business (Class #42-03)
There are reasons why your songs are not getting signed by publishers or being recorded
by artists. This class will arm you with a better understanding of why some songs are
successful and why some songs are not. Every aspect of what makes and what doesn't
make a song commercial will be discussed including demo quality, tempo,
arrangement, lyrics, subject matter, melodic and lyrical hooks. Bring your latest demo to
class and as time permits I will evaluate your song on commerciality and give suggestions
on how to improve its chances in today‗s marketplace.
Penny Dionne
Bio:
Penny Dionne, is the owner of Little Vixen Music Publishing , President
of Nashville Creatives Pathway, and a high-profile Pro Songplugger
best known for representation of mega hit songwriters, and a two year
stint as the Creative Director for Corlew Music Group
(Windswept/BUG) with catalog & writers whose successes are too
numerous to mention. Creatives Pathway was started to meet the
needs of ―Creatives‖ who don‘t fit neatly into the old business models
of Music Row. Clients include Songwriters, Indy Publishers who access
services to assess the commercial viability of their song catalogs, Up &
Coming Artists, Event Planners setting up showcases or fundraisers.
Dionne has been profiled in the publisher edition of Music Row magazine‘s ―Row File,‖ wrote a
book called ―Songplugger: The Cuts and the Bruises,‖ which garnered a feature story in Country
Weekly Magazine May 2009 due to its in-depth interviews of 27 industry movers and shakers.
Creator of ―The Successful Songwriter Motivation & Meditation‖ audio program. Dionne is a
frequent guest at songwriter conferences across the US.
Professional memberships include CMA, ACM, CCMA, SOLID, NSAI, WCS, NARAS, ASCAP, BMI, &
SOCAN. Dionne is an industry veteran who has also served two years as VP & PR Rep of the
Nashville Woman‘s Music Business Association (WMBA). Dionne says that she doesn‘t worry about
the always changing music industry because she has worked just about every aspect of it, and
knows how to create a new pathway – ―I‘m a ―trail blazer!‖ For more info on Penny, the book,
or Little Vixen Music, please visit website www.pennydionne.com
Total Classes: 3
Songplugger Gone Mad! Wanna Pitch? Bring It?—Business (Class #13-05)
If you have ever said this to yourself; “Yeah I Hear ya but if the artist heard my song, it
would be huge for him! Too many opinions! One pro loves it & one pro hates it - I wish I
could bypass the gatekeepers and just get my song to the record label or artist or
whoever can say “YES!”
Though it is not mandatory, songwriters are welcome to bring their best pitch to the
table! If your song really is the ―DEAL‖ then I‘ll play it for either the artist or someone key
on the team. If it‘s not the 'Deal', you'll get some constructive honest feedback as to why
it‘s not. We‘ll talk a little about the difference between how a songwriter hears a song in
comparison to a producer, A&R or the artist. You are welcome to attend to just listen &
learn, or you can ‗Song-Up‘ with a typed lyric sheet, and the only gatekeeper today will
be the strength & commerciality of your song!
Here Comes the Pitch! Catch This!—Business (Class #23-05)
The possibility of a cut can only happen when somebody hears yours song! Learn how to
pitch your songs from a songplugging pro who learned about pitching songs at the
school of Hard Knox. Dionne started out as a songwriter first – just like you. Some
of the things you will learn in this class - you won't read in traditional music business books.
Beginner to advanced – lets discuss all of the ―need to know‖ stuff, and answer the
questions: Who‘s looking? Is there anyone on the Row who will listen to my song? How do
I increase my song‘s chances of being heard? Is it time to make the move to Nashville or
can I do it from the outside. How does my song stack up? This class is about bumping it
up a notch and straight talk about it. There will be time specifically for Q & A. You won‘t
want to miss this one!
Songplugger Santa has Presents—Business (Class #33-05)
You may have the greatest song in the world, but if you don't know anyone, or you get
nervous when you open your mouth, tongue-tied, sweaty, and have verbal diarahhea how will you get anyone to listen to your song? You need to have presence and be
memorable in a good way. To get the contacts, networking is more than just being on
Facebook, Twitter & putting your songs up on ReverbNation. Doing it the right way
has created significant opportunities for me including getting interviews from the biggest
Producers, A&R, Publishers, and key Music Row Pros for my book; Songpluggers: The Cuts
And The Bruises. It's a skill & I promise that it's fun when you know how to do it within your
own comfort level. Often, it‘s through meeting somebody where your opportunities arise
in areas of pitching, co-writing, and even a key meeting. There are learnable ways of
approaching someone in the industry. Music business in Nashville starts & ends with
relationships - What does that really mean? I'll tell you my secrets on how to do it digging into the Santa Songplugger bag. Ho!Ho!Ho! You'll know where to go, what
works,what doesn't, have magical courage & confidence. Consider them presents from
Songplugger Santa. This workshop will change your life if you are open to trying a couple
little things. If you only knew how important this one really was....you would be RUNNING
to it!!
Robyn Taylor-Drake
Bio: Robyn Taylor-Drake‘s first musical interests were piano and
voice, expanding to guitar and songwriting. She began her
classical studies at age five (piano, theory, harmony, and voice);
by age 18, she had met requirements for teaching certificates with
both The Western Board and The Royal Conservatory of Music. She
married, moved to the South (Nashville 1971) and was introduced
to the Appalachian Dulcimer by bluegrass musician, Tut Taylor
(former father-in-law). Fascinated by its elegant simplicity, Robyn generated and revived interest
in the archaic mountain dulcimer at bluegrass festivals and craft fairs. In 1983, she recorded an
album titled ‗Tennessee Dulcimer Works & Friends’, with musical partner Cam Williams and
executive producer, Charles DeBray. Friends include Pat Flynn, Bela Fleck, Buddy Spicher, Mark
Howard, Mark Shatz, Mac Gayden, Kathy Chiavola, as well as the late John Hartford and Roy
Husky, Jr. Music was put on hold in order to raise her (four) children and to explore other
interests and opportunities such as interior design and holistic medicine (Reiki, Homeopathy,
Hypnosis and NLP). These disciplines continue to influence her life.
In 1994 she founded and organized ‗The Peace Celebration‘, (a musically based seminar) with a
group of singers, songwriters, and musicians dedicated to teaching young people how ‗focusing
on our sameness allows better appreciation of our differences‘. The Peace Celebration was
presented to students in several schools in Nashville and surrounding area. At the same time she
was offered a position with a small Nashville publishing company and suddenly found herself
immersed back in the world of songwriting and music.
In August 1995 she launched Trio Productions, Inc. to clarify (for songwriters) what the market
looks for and to place the best of a writer‘s creations in the hands of decision makers. Robyn
went on to develop a coaching program in 1998, with the intended purpose being to educate
writers one on one in the craft of songwriting and business aspects of this complicated industry.
Songwriters learn what works (and why), what doesn‘t work (and why); and how to recognize
what to change to improve a song. When the student ‗gets it right’ she pitches the song.
Benefits to writers include: insider information, understanding of forming trends, a place to ask
questions they‘re reluctant to ask, and someone truly vested in their success, with potential
representation of their material. Supporting writers in this way helps them prepare for publishing
deals or songplugging relationships.
Robyn has the knowledge and experience to help
songwriters rise to the next level of excellence.
Total Classes: 2
How You Say it Makes All the Difference —Craft (Class #34-01 and #42-01)
If you live outside Nashville, it can seem like there‘s a mountain to climb to have a chance of
making something happen with your music BUT the reality is that MAGIC HAPPENS in Nashville
and anything can happen at, more or less, any time. We‘re all just one pair of ears away from a
hit! This course will give you some ideas on how to make the most of your time (both here and at
home) and how to build contacts in Nashville (and beyond) and start making things happen for
you and your songs.
Gary Earl
Bio:
You may not know his name, but you‘ve probably heard his music.
Producer/writer, multi-instrumentalist, and mixer whose work has been
Grammy nominated. Gary Earl has had something playing weekly in
movie theaters, on radio or TV for over 16 years now. His credits include
Disney, Pokemon, Batman, country radio singles, The Bachelor, Ellen
DeGeneres, HBO, Madison Avenue commercials and much more. He
has worked song plugging, major label A&R, Publishing, Los Angeles
Film/TV music coordinating, and is a member of the Producers and Engineers Wing of the
Grammys, and an Audio Consultant to Apple. He teaches workshops and does song
evaluations and mentoring for members of NSAI, SAG, SongU and Universities and organizations
throughout the US and several countries world-wide. Gary currently produces Artists CDs &
singles, and Pre-Cleared Film/TV masters for songwriters and artists globally; he is known
worldwide especially for his expertise in pop track building, stellar vocal productions and
broadcast-quality mixing/mastering. You can get more info from www.GaryEarlProductions.com
or emailing [email protected].
Total Classes: 3
What Film/TV Supers are Really Looking For—Business (Class #12-04)
Pitch opportunity. You don‘t know me, but you‘ve probably heard my music - 16 years of
playing weekly on films, radio, TV shows, commercials. You‘re invited to bring a song to
class; if your song strikes the right chord, it‘ll get pitched in Los Angeles to the appropriate
in-production film/TV show. Gary will talk about what ―works‖ in your song and what
doesn‘t, and why, from an insider‘s point of view. He‘s a producer/writer/multiinstrumentalist/mixer who‘s worked song plugging and music supervision in LA, so he
knows both sides of the industry well. He knows what supers are really looking for, and
what makes a writer/artist attractive to a music supervisor. Whether you bring a song or
not, you‘ll leave with useful insider knowledge. Those who do bring a song will receive a
valuable professional critique, and if the song has what it takes, a real-world pitch in LA.
Hot Trends and Techniques A&R are Listening For—Business (Class #22-04)
Give yourself a big advantage; avoid getting your music rejected for the wrong reasons.
Simple but important tweaks you need to get your song listened to. Bring a song, time
permitting we‘ll listen for these points in your songs. Insider tips straight from the Billboard
Hollywood Reporter music conference as well as real life experience of Instructor whose
credits include Disney, Batman, Pokemon, radio hits, Madison Avenue Ads, etc. Most
music today is being listened to on phones, iPads, internet streaming, video games, etc.
This new media has made big changes in the way hit songs are being written and
produced for artists, film, TV, commercials, video games, and social media.
Pitch to a Producer—Business (Class #32-04)
Real world pitch session. Present your song the way you would in a normal face to face
meeting. The only difference here is that I‘ll give you valuable insight and feedback into
your songwriting, demo quality, and presentation. And if the song has what it takes, it will
go back to the studio with me to be played for the artist. Gary Earl is looking for songs for
two acts: a young European girl (think pop like ―Pink‖), and a young country girl (18) in
the contemporary style of Carrie Underwood. Both artists are looking for songs of
substance, empowering or thoughtful in a positive way, and we‘re primarily looking for
up tempos.
Robin Earl
Bio:
Robin Earl has been a voice coach and vocal producer for 20 years.
Her exceptional work as a vocal producer has been on numerous
feature films and television, regional country radio hits, and major NY
ad agency commercials. Her vocal clients include major label
country artists, Grammy nominees, performances on the Tonight
Show, Disney, HBO, X Factor, The Voice, The Grand Ole Opry, Colgate
Country Showdown, national commercials and numerous television
movies. An accomplished singer/songwriter, Robin's vocals, songwriting and vocal arrangements
have been featured on HBO, Disney, major films, commercials, and countless CDs. She teaches
voice at her Nashville studio, and globally via Skype.
Robin has helped hundreds of singers develop greater vocal range, gain more confidence
when performing, heal throat tension and pain, and prepare for recording, auditions and
showcases. She will help with any concerns and goals you have for your singing so that you can
rock out your best voice. She has the ability to help bring vocals to their highest level,
strengthening your vocal instrument and customizing your sound. She has developed an
'emergency vocal care' tool kit for singers.
Robin and husband Gary Earl have been producing the highest quality vocals for many years
since they met in Reno, Nevada where they performed together at Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Las
Vegas. After several years of performing, their careers moved them to Los Angeles to write
music for film and TV. They now reside in beautiful Nashville Tennessee with their son, where they
continue to create the best quality productions for people looking to fulfill their dreams and
achieve their goals.
Total Classes: 3
An Artist‘s Tool Kit: Vocals, Image, and More—Career (Class #13-04 and #33-04)
Vocal information you need to know and a 'real world' pitch session -We'll address common vocal issues, artist development, image, song selection (yours or
outside songs), production direction, studio singing tips, performance singing tips--putting it all together.
Real world pitch session: Present your demo and self the way you would in a meeting or
elevator pitch. The difference here is that I'll give you valuable insight and feedback into
your demo, your presentation, and your live singing. Time permitting, we'll do several.
Robin produces artists with husband Gary Earl and is known as the "global voice coach"
via Skype.
Using Your Body to Sing Your Best—Vocal (Class #23-04)
We'll go over physical aspects of singing: breathing and support, warm-up and
conditioning ideas, focusing tone, placement, how placement and support is really what
keeps you singing on pitch, giving up throat tension for good, mouth shape,
pronunciation, and vibrato secrets, tips for better vowels/consonants/ diphthongs.
Individual attention as time permits: you can sing live, bring a link to performance or
iPhone video.
Robin has been voice coaching in the Nashville area and globally for 20 years. She has
developed an 'emergency vocal care' tool kit for singers. ('help, I have a gig tonight and
I'm losing my voice!)
Fett
Bio:
Fett is an independent producer and engineer with more than 40
albums to his credit, owner of Azalea Studios in Nashville, former
Technology Editor for Performing Songwriter magazine, and
contributing technology author for the Country Music Association's
CMA Close Up magazine and Drum! magazine. He has worked in the
music industry for more than 30 years, as a touring musician, session
player, manager, booking agent, songwriter and music photographer.
His clients include Davy Jones of the Monkees, Grammy-winning
songwriter Don Henry, and international guitar virtuoso Tommy
Emmanuel. Fett is co-author of the Songwriter's Survival Kit audio
education series, a SongU.com faculty member and TAXI affiliate, and a featured speaker at
numerous national music industry events each year. He holds a degree in International Studies
from The American University in Washington, DC.
Total Classes: 3
Recording Roadmap: Secrets for Recording Pro-Quality Tracks—Studio/Technology
(Class #31-06)
Today there are tons of great music production tools available to the home studio
owner. But all the tools in the world won‘t make your recordings sound any better than
what comes in at the front end. Recording pros know that it all starts with the room, the
performance, and the microphone. Through hands-on illustration and real-world
examples, veteran producer/engineer Fett walks you through the essentials of capturing
a really great sound up front, so that you‘ll have killer tracks to work with from the start.
Topics include performer preparation, instrument and amp positioning, proper mic
selection and placement, setting proper levels, and other pro tips. When you leave this
class, you‘ll be equipped with rock-solid techniques for capturing tracks the way the pros
do.
Is This Thing On? How to Record Vocals Like A Studio Ace—Studio/Technology
(Class #32-06)
At the end of the day, the most important element in a recording is the vocal, yet many
songwriters and artists don't know how to effectively capture and produce vocals in the
studio. In this class, veteran producer/engineer Fett shows you the secrets that
professional engineers and producers use to get killer lead and background vocal
sounds in their recordings. Topics include proper mic positioning, differences between
male and female vocals, layering and doubling, correct placement of vocals in the mix,
and proper use of vocal-specific EQ, compression and effects.
Fix It In The Mix? Pro Tips for Mixing Your Recordings—Studio/Technology (Class #44-06)
Quality recording has become more accessible and affordable than ever for home
studio owners. But recording is only the first step in the audio production process. The
real art begins at the mixing stage. In this class, veteran producer/engineer Fett teaches
you a process that industry pros use to get great-sounding mixes. Topics include the six
primary mixing tools, strategic placement of instruments and vocals in a mix, differences
between amateur and pro mixes, and pro secrets to getting ear-catching sounds in
today‘s market. When you leave this class, you‘ll have the techniques you need to
immediately take your mixes to a higher, more competitive level.
Lorna Flowers
Bio:
Lorna Flowers moved to Nashville from the UK in 2004 after an 8 year
―commute‖, so she clearly understands the needs of writers based outside
of Nashville as well as what it takes to make it in Nashville. She has had
over 70 cuts worldwide, including four #1 songs overseas and has had 3
staff writing deals in Nashville. Recent cuts include songs by pop icon
Tiffany, Bridgette Tatum, Karli Whetstone, Kathy Chiavola, July Michael and
more. Lorna owns a production company (Lorna Flowers Productions),
recording everything from demos to artist albums and also Lorna‘s
Nashville Songwriter Services, setting up Nashville trips for songwriters (cowrites, publisher meetings, accommodation with a songwriter, Q&A coffee
or lunch with hit writers and much more), all individually tailored to the client‘s needs and
budget, in order to make the most productive use of their time in Nashville.
Total Classes: 2
Networking Nashville — Business (Class #43-05)
If you live outside Nashville, it can seem like there‘s a mountain to climb to have a
chance of making something happen with your music BUT the reality is that MAGIC
HAPPENS in Nashville and anything can happen at, more or less, any time. We‘re all just
one pair of ears away from a hit! This course will give you some ideas on how to make
the most of your time (both here and at home) and how to build contacts in Nashville
(and beyond) and start making things happen for you and your songs. I know what it‘s
like to sit in a hotel room and wait for people to call back…this course aims to help cut
down your hours by the phone (or pool !) and get you out there doing what you come to
Nashville to do!
I‘ve Got a Song…Now What?—Business (Class #44-05)
We all love our babies and hope they‘ll grow up and go out into the world and bring
home enough money to keep us happy and comfortable…you know I‘m talking about
songs, right? Once you have your song, do you know there‘s a bigger picture ? I know
we all love our newer songs but what do we have to do to get them from the page to
the radio…and is radio the ultimate target? This course will follow the journey of songs
and help you to develop a bigger picture view of how you can take your song and get it
to where you‘d like it to go – and lots of different places it COULD go, given that the
competition is also out there doing the same things. We‘ll look at various aspects such as
critiques (when, why, who,), re-writing (what, when why), co-writing (who, when),
demoing (how, what, who), pitching (what, where, how, who), deals (what, why, why
not) and celebrating!
Phil Goldberg
Bio:
Phil Goldberg has a broadly-based knowledge of music. He has
spoken at seminars on urban, country, and pop music. For 8
years, Phil Goldberg was a teacher, panelist, and evaluator at the
Atlanta-based Babbie Mason Music Conference, a Christian
music educational conference. He is a frequent lecturer in the
NSAI Pro Teaching series, where he often talks about finding fresh
angles to lyric writing. (NSAI members: for samples of Phil‘s
teaching, please check the webcast archives of the NSAI workshops on the NSAI website.
Check the archive for April 27, 2006 for Phil‘s creative-writing lecture titled ―I Object,‖ February
22, 2007 for ―Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself,‖ June 14, 2007 for ―Taking the Road Not
Taken,‖ January 15, 2009 for ―I‘m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,‖ June 24, 2010
for ―You Should‘ve Seen It In Color: Using Imagery Effectively,‖ and December 16, 2010 for ―The
Wind Beneath Our Wings: Metaphors and Similes‖) He has lectured at NSAI‘s Song Camps on
resources and how to use them. He has created detailed creative-writing lessons that are used
internationally in the NSAI regional workshop program, including the lessons for 2011 and 2012.
Phil Goldberg is the former NSAI Member Services Director and currently a consultant to NSAI.
He coordinates the NSAI Song Camp program and has managed the NSAI Bookstore and Song
Evaluation Service. Over the years, he has counseled songwriters on both the business and craft
of songwriting. Before moving to Nashville, he ran a weekly workshop for the National Academy
of Songwriters in Los Angeles. He has written for The Songwriter’s Market, American Songwriter,
and the NSAI Newswire. Phil has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California at Davis
and a Bachelor‘s from the Theatre Department at Northwestern University.
Total Classes: 3
How to Write a Stronger Lyric: Making Your Hooks Even Hookier—Craft (Class #14-04)
Carly Rae Jepsen's ―Call Me Maybe‖ is the summer song of 2012. It's a piece of ear
candy that won't let go. That's no accident – the opening upbeats pull you into the
action, and into a shifting swirl of rhymes and rhythms. Your lyrics don't have to be as
sticky and sweet, but they do need to be attention grabbers. If you have a melody,
lyrics are like velcro – you can stick 'em on, pull 'em off. But some stick better than others.
―I'm on a plane bound west‖ sure doesn't work as well as ―WEST, on a plane bound
WEST.‖ In Dierks Bentley's ―Home,‖ it's not just about repetition. Repeated key words in
the verses – west, scars, free, brave, red – lay a foundation for a song about American
values, all this in a lyric that never mentions the USA. The chorus soars without using
repetition...because the verses do the heavy lifting! Hooks can be strong; hooks can be
made stronger. So you wrote a weak hook and you wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it?
Learn how!
Phil will cover such hook-related topics as:
What is a hook? ♪ Types of hooks ♪ Using a variety of hooks ♪ Explicit and implicit hooks
♪ Hiding your chorus hook in the verse ♪ Overkill – when too much of a good thing can
be very, very bad.
Find out ways to sharpen your hooks till they're razor sharp. (Each of Phil‘s classes is a
stand-alone class and can be taken separately.)
How to Write a Stronger Lyric: Developing the Story in Your Story Song—Craft (Class #24-04)
Every song tells a story. But you don't have to tell every story in the same way. Take Kip
Moore's ―Somethin' 'Bout A Truck.‖ Each verse is a separate snapshot; all the snapshots
link precisely together into a single plot line. It's a different effect from Jason Aldean's
―Tattoos On This Town‖ – a series of snapshots, but these photos build a theme, NOT a
plot. Some songs come with a beginning, middle, and end, like Thompson Square's ―Are
You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.‖ But these songs are becoming rarer. Today's trend is for
lyrics that play like YouTube clips: Adele's ―Someone Like You.‖ Or that reveal situations
more subtly: Jason Aldean's ―Fly Over States.‖ The challenge of these songs is to build
momentum quickly. What do you put in the second verse? What episodes do you
include (or exclude)? How do you build to a climax?
Phil will cover such story-related topics as:
The difference between a ―list‖ song and a ―story‖ song – and the structural challenges in
writing each type ♪ Constructing a good plot – and avoiding formulaic plotting ♪
Developing a theme so that it matches the action ♪ Building suspense and creating a
sense of action – even when very little happens! ♪ Adding variety through dialogue,
parallel structures, envelope techniques, and stories-within-stories.
This class will help you turn your songs into 4-minute movies.
stand-alone class and can be taken separately.)
(Each of Phil‘s classes is a
How to Write a Stronger Lyric: Building Distinctive Characters —Craft (Class #34-04)
The soundtrack for the latest Twilight movie features Bruno Mars's ―It Will Rain.‖ ―It Will
Rain‖ is not about vampires. ―The Hunger Games‖ soundtrack has Taylor Swift's ―Eyes
Open.‖ It's not really a song about hunting. But both songs do capture the mood and
emotion of the movies' characters. That can be more important than specifying hair
color and what Katniss ate for breakfast. Our challenge is to populate our songs with a
variety of people and attitudes. Not necessarily our own attitudes. Otherwise, our songs
may start to feel the same. Different characters have different hearts and minds,
different speech patterns and vocabulary. (The Band Perry thinks about dying young.
The band Fun shouts out ―Toni-i-i-ight we ARE young!‖) Neither Scotty McCreery nor
Hunter Hayes is very old, but that doesn't mean they live in the same lyrical
neighborhood.
Phil will cover such character-related topics as:
Developing a character – and then putting that same character in multiple situations in
multiple songs ♪ Rewriting a character to revitalize a song ♪ Exercises to sharpen your
observations ♪ Being specific vs. being general. Showing vs. telling. (Any of these can
be OK, depending on the song!) ♪ What characters to include in your song – and what
characters NOT to include ♪ Single-character songs and multiple-character songs
Find out ways to make your characters stand out from the crowd. (Each of Phil‘s classes
is a stand-alone class and can be taken separately.)
Cliff Goldmacher
Bio:
Owner of recording studios in Nashville and Sonoma, California, Cliff
Goldmacher is a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and session
musician. Cliff worked as a staff songwriter and, as a studio owner, has
recorded thousands of demos for most major and independent
publishers in Nashville. He‘s recorded and collaborated with artists
including Emmylou Harris, Chris Barron (lead singer for the Spin Doctors),
Lisa Loeb and Grateful Dead drummer, Mickey Hart. Cliff‘s own songs
have been recorded by artists across multiple genres and in 2010, Cliff‘s
song ―Till You Come To Me‖ was the #1 Mediabase and #2 Billboard
most played jazz song of that year.
Total Classes: 3
A Day in the Life of a Demo—Business (Class #44-09)
Ever wonder how a song goes from the writing room to the Billboard charts? We‘ll follow
the progression of a song from rough recording in the writing room, to a polished demo
to, ultimately, a Billboard-charting cut (with a few surprises along the way).
The workshop covers:
1. Pre-production
2. Studio/engineer selection
3. Hiring/working with producers, session musicians & vocalists
4. Explanation of guitar/piano & vocal recordings
5. Before, during and after demo examples
6. Tips for song pitching/submission
Organization for Songwriters—Career (Class #34-06)
Being creative isn‘t all it takes to be successful in the music business. This workshop is
designed to help songwriters create a workflow from when they first write a song all the
way through pitching their finished demo so that good organizational habits become
second nature. In this way, no opportunities will be missed or time wasted due to
disorganization.
The workshop covers:
1. What to do before, during and after your writing session
2. How to use technology to keep track of/back up your lyrics, finished songs, rough
recordings and demos
3. Song pitching via email links and mp3 metadata
4. How to properly follow up on existing pitch opportunities.
Recording Your Demo: What to Do at Home/What to Leave to the Pros—Studio/Tech
(Class #22-06)
There‘s no place like home…or is there? As the quality of recording equipment rises and
the prices continue to drop, songwriters are constantly tempted by the option of setting
up a home studio to record their demos. In Cliff‘s class, he‘ll discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of home recording versus using a professional studio, session musicians
and vocalists. Also, Cliff will explain how to integrate your home studio work into the
professional studio process so you can save both time and money while creating
broadcast quality demos that begin as home studio demos.
Topics Include:
 Home studio set-up
 Demo Decision Tree (When to record at home/when to bring it to a pro studio.)
 Hiring/working with producers, session musicians and vocalists
 Critical listening to your mix at home
Don Henry
Bio: Grammy Award winner Don Henry's songs have been
recorded by legends like: Ray Charles, Patti Page and
Conway Twitty, country crooners like: Gene Watson, John
Conlee and B.J. Thomas, and young hit makers of today
like: Blake Shelton, Jimmy Wayne and Miranda Lambert.
Plus, he‘s shared the stage with performers as diverse as
Joey Ramone to Keith Urban.
The wit and wisdom of Don's songs are widely renowned whether it's campfire favorites, the
hilarious "B.F.D." and biker lullaby "Harley", to the wonderfully poignant tribute to Martin Luther
King "Beautiful Fool", and of course his Grammy Award winning country classic "Where've You
Been". In addition to a Grammy, Kathy Mattea's version of "Where've You Been" won Don (and
co-writer Jon Vezner) song of the year honors from ACM (Academy of Country Music), CMA
(Country Music Association) and NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International). "Where've
You Been" was the first song in country music history to be awarded all four honors in the same
year!
“Henry comes across as a first cousin to Randy Newman, writing hot-wired songs about bornagain whores, interfaith marriages, and the homeless taking over the White House. This is funny
and thought provoking stuff, all of it good”
Entertainment Weekly
Total Classes: 2
Unique Song Critique—Craft (Class #42-09 and #43-09)
Let's start with what's great about your song and move down to what's merely good
about it. Hey, as long as you're writing you're learning, so it's all good! (And don't worry
about time limit. If we don't get to your song in class we'll do it via email.)
David Isaacs
Bio: Dave Isaacs is a songwriter, performer, and master teacher whose
students have included hit songwriters, rising young artists, and
everyday people who love music. He maintains a busy teaching studio
on Music Row, and has made it a professional and personal mission to
help creative people realize their musical potential.
Total Classes: 3
The Music in Your Head—Craft (Class #11-06)
You know what you hear. Learn to identify and communicate it more effectively. Many
songwriters have a clear mental picture of what they believe a finished song should sound
like, but lack either the musical skills or vocabulary to communicate their ideas to cowriters, producers, and musicians. Learn a set of concrete exercises and skills that will help
you hone in on and communicate what you hear. Also, learn to recognize when you
need the assistance of a pro to make it all clear in the work tape or chart.
Effortless Guitar—Guitar (Class #12-06)
Make friends with your instrument. Many players develop habits that limit their ability to
improve, but these habits are often easy to break by making small changes in your
approach to the instrument. Learn the most common traps that guitarists fall into, and
simple techniques that can free your hands and body and instantly change the way you
play.
Crafting Instrumental Hooks—Guitar (Class #21-06)
The art of the riff. Some of the most memorable guitar hooks or ―riffs‖ in popular music
are surprisingly easy to play. Just like a good chorus, a memorable riff draws the listener in
from the first note. Learn how to craft great musical parts from your existing chords and
melody, regardless of your ability on the instrument.
Chuck Jones
Bio: A native Memphis son, Chuck Jones‘ compositions embody the spirit
and soul of that town. Since moving to Nashville some years ago, he has
had his songs recorded by artists as diverse as Patti Labelle, Kenny
Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Shelby Lynne, Chris Ledoux, The Fabulous
Thunderbirds, Charlie Daniels, Deana Carter, Reba McEntire and Peter
Cetera. In 1994, John Berry‘s version of ―Your Love Amazes Me‖ hit the
#1 spot and also won Song of the Year from the Country Radio Music
Awards and the Music CityNews Country Songwriter Awards. Chuck has
also had #1‘s with Diamond Rio‘s ―Love a Little Stronger‖ and Billy Dean‘s
―It‘s What I Do‖. He has had numerous hits on other artists as well. He started his own publishing
company, Jonesin‘ For A Hit LLC, in January of 2000, administered by his wife Becky‘s company,
BPJ Administration, and the catalogue has garnered cuts on a variety of artists ranging from
Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins to Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, and Randy Houser, a new
artist on Universal South. Chuck recently inked a new co-publishing deal with hot new startup
company, Wide Open Music Group.
Total Classes: 2
Anatomy of a Hit—Craft (Class #24-10)
We‘ll dissect recent hit songs, and then study the musical, lyrical, and thematic elements
that helped put that song on the charts. We‘ll also examine cultural and political trends
that can influence a song‘s popularity and investigate behind the scenes label decisions,
promotional and otherwise, that can influence single selection and subsequent chart
performance and position.
Who Needs a Class? Let‘s Write a Song—Craft (Class #34-10)
Write a hit song with Chuck in the time it takes to teach a class! Chuck writes a song with
input and participation of entire class!
Chuck gets 50% of the resulting copyright, with the remaining 50% to be divided equally
among class participants.
Steve Leslie
Bio:
Steve received his BM in Guitar/Jazz Studies from Morehead State
University in Morehead, Kentucky. After moving to Nashville in 1992, he
was signed to a staff-songwriting position at EMI Music Publishing where
he had songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George
Strait, Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, and Neal McCoy, to name a
few.
Steve received a Grammy certificate for the title cut to Ricky Skaggs'
2004 Grammy- winning Best Bluegrass Album of the Year: "Brand New
Strings". Since 2007 he has maintained a career as an independent songwriter and music
publisher with recorded works by Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, and Darius Rucker, all written
by Steve. He teaches songwriting method online at www.steveleslie.com, www.songwork.com,
in songwriting workshops around the country, and mentors students privately. In 2011 Steve
joined the faculty of Belmont University, Nashville, TN as Adjunct Professor of Songwriting.
He is currently in the production stages of a newly written musical, "Umbrella"- a romantic
comedy with fourteen original songs.
Total Classes: 3
Genius Steals!—Craft (Class #14-09)
They say, 'Talent Borrows'; well, I've stolen from the best, and now you can steal from me!
I'll show you some incredible songwriting 'moves' from legendary writers like Jimmy Webb,
Burt Bacharach, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Steven Sondheim, and a host of great
Nashville writers too! Steal from the best and take your songs from good to Great! Don't
worry; they stole from somebody too!
Writing the Big Chorus—Craft (Class #43-07)
How to set up and deliver a "knock-it-out-of-the-park" chorus- the hallmark of many Hit
Songs! Which chord progressions do this most effectively? How can you make your
melodic and lyric choices really "pay off"? These questions and more will be answered
along with a little human psychology thrown in!
Musical ―Styles‖ and how to Write ‗Em—Craft (Class #44-07)
―Looking for an islandy-thing to round out the album." "Need up-tempo cajun." "Looking
for something in 6/8 to complete current project." Seen this before? By the time most of
us get a chance to pitch a song for a current project, eight of the eleven tunes are
already in the can with songs written by the artist, with the artist, the producer, the
producer's girlfriend, the artist's brother- you know what I mean. Learning how to write
songs in many "different" styles will only increase your chances of getting on a record. I'll
show you what these are, and how to write 'em! "Need mid-tempo cowboy-cha-cha in
minor key (preferably with the words 'lake', 'truck', and 'beer'.)‖ No problem.
Pat and Pete Luboff
Bio:
Pat & Pete Luboff have recordings by Snoop Dogg (―Trust
Me,‖ the first single from the platinum-selling album ―Top
Dogg‖) Patti LaBelle (gold album and the title song for
―Body Language: the Musical‖), Bobby Womack (No. 2 on
Billboard‘s Black Music chart), ―Hometown, USA‖ from the
John Travolta movie ―Experts,‖ on Michael Peterson‘s new
CD, recently charting Miko Marks, and more. They‘ve been
teaching songwriting workshops together since 1979. The Luboffs are the authors of the Writer‘s
Digest new book ―101 Songwriting Wrongs and How to Right Them‖ and ―12 Steps to Building
Better Songs,‖ which they self-publish. For more information, visit http://www.writesongs.com
Total Classes: 3
Title Insurance: The Incredible Importance of the Song Title—Craft (Class #12-09)
Why is a song title your first and most important choice in writing a song? What makes a
strong title? Where do you find great song titles? How does the title placement define
song structure? How do you know your song is about your title? In this workshop, the
Luboffs will answer these and many more questions about the cornerstone of your song the title.
This Magic Moment: Grounding Yourself in the Reality of the Song—Craft (Class #22-09)
Songs are three-minute movies that have a reality of their own. Learn the importance of
the use of time and place in your songs. Using techniques drawn from screen writing and
acting, the Luboffs will show you how ―putting your foot on the ground‖ of the moment
of your song can help you to focus on expressing the emotion of your message.
The First 30 Seconds: How to Keep Publishers Listening to Your Songs—Craft (Class #32-09)
You have 30 seconds to impress the professional listener! This workshop shows you how to
turn them on before they turn your song off. Using examples of hit songs, (and yours if
you bring them), the Luboffs will show how every note, every word, every second counts
in the beginning of your song.
Randi Michaels
Bio: RANDI MICHAELS has been a professional singer and songwriter in NYC
and Nashville for 30 years and has extensive experience in studio recording,
production and performance. Signed to Bug Music and Milsap-Galbraith
Music, she has had many songs recorded in the US, Canada and Europe
by various artists including David Kersh, The String Cheese Incident, Heather
Myles, Andy Childs and Marilyn Martin. She has performed on some of the
most prestigious stages in the world including Carnegie Hall and Madison
Square Garden and has performed, toured and/or recorded with Gloria
Estefan, The Mavericks, Buster Poindexter, Englebert Humberdink and Roger Daltry.
In 1991, Randi created and produced New York City's first writer-in-the-round show called "The
Songwriter's Circle" at The Bitter End, which is still extremely successful today. Randi has been a
mentor for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) in Nashville, Los Angeles and
Denver and has taught several group classes at their annual Songposium Series. She has also
been an instructor at the Breckenridge Education and Music Seminars as well as The Swallow Hill
Seminar in Bailey, Colorado. From 2006-2008, Randi was the Show Producer and Booking
Manager for NSAI's Tin Pan South, the largest songwriting festival in the world. In 2009 she
became the Booker and Talent Supervisor for the new PBS television series ―Legends & Lyrics‖.
She has written two musicals, the first of which was featured in the Eugene O'Neill Theater Festival
in August 2008 and 2009 and was produced by New York City's AMAS Theater in November 2009.
In 2010, she was one of eight finalists for the prestigious Fred Ebb Award for her newest musical
which will be performed in Nashville this summer and New York City this fall. Some of her vocal
clients have included Jessica Biel, Tyler Bryant, Gary Nicholson, Kevin Welch, Garry Tallent and
Jessi Alexander. Randi currently coaches and co-writes with new and established songwriters
and artists in Nashville, New York and LA. For more information please visit randimichaels.com.
Total Classes: 3
Increase Your Range and Sing Without Pain—Vocal (Class #43-01)
Singing without straining your voice is easy with the right information. Don't wait until
there's a problem to fix it. Learn easy preventive maintenance exercises and techniques
that will strengthen your voice and prepare you for any performance situation.
Techniques will include stretching your range, proper placement, breathing, interval
training and more. For all levels.
Career Coaching for Artists and Songwriters—Career (Class #44-01)
Perhaps you feel your music career is at a crossroads and you‘re not sure what to do
next. Perhaps you‘re getting offers and you‘re not sure if they‘re right for you. Perhaps this
is just a hobby and you‘d like to explore going further with it. In fact, you may just need to
look at things in a new way or approach it from a different angle. With over 30 years in
the music business as a professional performer, songwriter, playwright, teacher, mentor,
booker and producer, Randi has seen it all. She will answer your questions and help
guide you through the maze toward the path that‘s right for you. All levels welcome.
Songwriting and Musical Theatre—Craft (Class #33-01)
More and more songwriters in country, pop and rock are writing for musical theater. Why
is that? Because musical theater is an exciting, freeing and extremely creative format
that allows you to express yourself in ways unlike any other genre. Come find out why
Trey Anastasio (Phish), Mike Reid ("I Can't Make You Love Me"), Marcus Hummon ("Bless
the Broken Road"), Sheryl Crow and many others have branched out into the wonderful
world of musical theater.
Nancy Moran
Bio:
Nancy Moran is an award-winning songwriter and a working
performing artist who performs at notable folk clubs, performing
arts centers, house concert s and festivals across the U.S. With
four solo albums to her credit, The Richmond (VA) TimesDispatch called her ―a [modern-day] Joni Mitchell‖ as well as
―a major creative force to be reckoned with.‖ WXGI Radio
named her ―Songwriter of the Year‖ in 2001 and in 2010 she was selected as the first female
judge for the SongDoor International Songwriting competition. Her CDs have garnered her
national and international radio airplay and landed her on the Gavin Americana charts
alongside Delbert McClinton and Joan Baez. From 2005-2012 she also toured with The Four
Bitchin‘ Babes, an all-female group nationally renowned for their 4-part harmonies and highly
entertaining performances. Nancy has been singing and performing professionally for over 20
years. When she‘s not playing live, she can often be found behind a microphone in the studio
singing on songwriter demos or other artists‘ records. Nancy is also the former Assistant Editor of
American Songwriter magazine, a frequent keynote speaker at music conferences, a faculty
member of SongU.com, and the co-owner of Azalea Music Group, where she teaches music
business workshops and maintains a consulting and career coaching practice for aspiring artists
and writers. She has a reputation in her workshops for delivering a wealth of information in a short
amount of time. She is available for private consultations. You can read more about Nancy‘s
career and find her music at www.nancymoran.com.
Total Classes: 3
Got Gigs? Booking Yourself at House Concerts, Coffeehouses, Writer‘s Nights & more! —
CAREER (Class #14-07)
Whether you‘re a songwriter or a performing artist, one of the ways you need to expand
your career and expose your music is to perform in front of live audiences! Veteran
singer/songwriter and national touring artist Nancy Moran has been performing for over
20 years in all types of venues—from house concerts to festivals to theatres. In this class,
she‘ll teach you how to find gigs appropriate to your style of music, who to contact, how
to contact them, what to say, what to send, and generally how to handle your own
bookings. We‘ll discuss press kits, epk‘s, being the opening act, free vs. paid gigs and
much, much more. This is a nuts and bolts class. You‘ll know exactly what to do and
where to start when you leave this class. Bring your best booking questions!
Behind The Music: Skills & Tools to Help Advance Your Career—Career (Class #24-07)
In today‘s music industry, there‘s a LOT more to running a performing artist‘s career than
just playing gigs and selling CDs. You have to be the record label, distributor, booking
agent, manager, administrator, webmaster, marketing expert, publicist, promoter, etc.
So, if you want to succeed and have a long lasting career, you‘re going to need to
develop skills other than just singing and playing an instrument. And you‘re going to need
tools that make handling all of these extra tasks easier. In this class, veteran
singer/songwriter Nancy Moran will share with you the business skills needed to set you
apart from the average musician and how you can expand your reach with just a
handful of indispensable resources—many of which are FREE! Some of the things you‘ll
learn in this class: The #1 way to make an impression and build great industry
relationships; The FREE tool that will allow you to enter your gig dates once and
broadcast them across a variety of social networks and calendar sites instantly; How and
where to organize your songs, contacts, gigs, etc.; How you may inadvertently be
sabotaging your career and what you can do to save it; and How to increase CD and
merchandise sales at gigs. If you‘re ready to take your music career to the next level, this
is the class for you.
Extreme Makeover: Performance Skills for Songwriters and Artists—Performance
(Class #34-07)
Get up on your feet and add a unique experience to your Songposium week: a
performance makeover! Whether you‘re a songwriter or a performing artist, playing at
writer‘s nights or concert halls, you need to know performance fundamentals like proper
mic technique, adding dynamics, how to communicate emotions, and dealing with
nervousness. In this class, we‘ll cover these topics as well as several advanced skills,
showing you how the smallest change can make the biggest difference in your
performance. But the best part is that you get to experience these changes and
improvements for yourself! Nancy -- who has been performing for over 20 years, most
recently with the nationally touring group The Four Bitchin‘ Babes -- will be delivering LIVE
performance makeovers to those who want one (on a limited basis). No previous
performing experience is necessary. Beginners to professionals are welcome and ALL can
benefit. Even if you watch the makeovers from your seat, you‘ll take away valuable
information you can use at your very next performance.
Pat Pattison
Bio:
Pat Pattison is a Professor at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches
Lyric Writing and Poetry.
In addition to his four books, Songwriting Without Boundaries, Writing
Better Lyrics, The Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure, and The
Essential Guide to Rhyming, Pat has developed three online lyric writing
courses, and one on poetry, available through Berklee'sOnline School. He
has filmed a series of lectures and masterclasses, available through
Songwork.com and has written over 50 articles for various magazines and
blogs.
Pat continues to present songwriting clinics across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and
the UK. Several of his students have won Grammys, including John Mayer and Gillian Welch.
"I count myself lucky and proud to have studied with Mr. Pattison. I would not be the writer I am
today without his teaching and his unique and comprehensive understanding of language,
rhyme, rhythm, and structure."- Multiple Grammy winner Gillian Welch
"I took a class with a great teacher named Pat Pattison... I learned a lot in that class...and I still
read that book, Writing Better Lyrics. I think it's great." - Multiple Grammy winner John Mayer
Total Classes: 3
Phrasing: The Body Language of Your Song—Craft (Class #41-02)
This seminar will give you important keys to phrasing your lyrics for the most impact and
support of meaning. Working with rhythms and placements, you'll learn how to make sure
that the line, like body language, helps to really deliver the emotion you intend. This is a
"can't miss" seminar -- it's bound to take your writing to the next level.
Tools and Strategies—Craft (Class #42-02)
Sharpen your lyric writing skills and discover the techniques that have helped Pat's
students win Grammys and write number one songs. In this seminar, you'll learn how to
craft more vivid lyrics by mastering the elements of structure and the process of building
great lyrical ideas into great songs. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned writer, this
course will help you structure your lyrics more effectively.
Master Class—Craft (Class #43-02)
Pat's Master Classes are legendary. In these events, watch him take already strong songs
and put them through a workout until they emerge trim and toned. In the session, Pat will
look at a few selected songs, taking time to work out any kinks, focusing on prosody
between the intent of the song and structure, rhyme, rhythm, point of view, phrasing and
many other tools that have proven so useful to Grammy winners John Mayer and Gillian
Welch and seminar participants across the globe. No one demands more of a song than
Pat, and he can show you how to take it all the places it could go to cross the "finished"
line, while millions cheer.
Jeff Pearson
Bio: Jeff Pearson hosted the BLUEBIRD CAFE SONGWRITERS NIGHT for
17 years. Jeff has witnessed the best, and also "not the best"......
Jeff has had over 60 songs cut by artists like Hank Williams Jr., Ricky
Van Shelton,The Oak Ridge Boys, Barbara Mandrell, Randy Van
Warmer and Gospel Greats like Daviv Phelps of the Gaither Vocal
Band,Jeff and Sheri Easter, Gold City, Misty Freeman, Ivan Parker and
many others. Plus songs in Gaither Homecoming Videos, and the title
cut in the #1 "Word" Christmas musical....."Christmas Is Jesus."
Total Classes: 3
Songwriter Nights— PERFORMANCE (Class #11-03)
 How to Shine Like a Star
 What to Do
 What Not to Do


What to Expect
How to Prepare
How to Write Christian Songs That Minister—Craft (Class #31-03)
Learn how to focus your Christian idea, title, lyric, and music. Learn how to select your
song idea so that your song will have an impact on the listener. Learn the difference
between "Praise and Worship"...".Southern Gospel."...and "Contemporary" Learn "How"
and "Where" to find what you want to write about.
The Unwritten Rules of Co-Writing—Business (Class #12-03)
How to make the co-writng process an exercise for success. How to approach a
potential co-writer, how to prepare, what to expect, what to do, what not to do, what if
we disagree on a line, how to start the process, how to make it fun and productive, how
to write the BEST song we can possibly write, and how to prove that TWO HEADS ARE
TRULY BETTER THAN ONE! Also.....how do I get a Hit Songwriter to write with me?
David Rivers
Bio:
Dave Rivers is a veteran of both the business and creative sides of
the music industry. He served for six years at the Nashville Songwriters
Association International where he handled a variety of roles
including National Workshops Director where he developed
educational programs for the world‘s largest songwriters trade
organization. Prior to that, he worked for six years as the Creative
Manager for Criterion Music Publishing and Creative Director at
Crossfire Entertainment in Nashville representing a wide range of
songwriters including Dave Berg, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Mark McGuinn, Jay Joyce and
Matthew Ryan. On the creative side, Rivers is a songwriter and former bass player for the
Americana band, SaddleTramp. He has written songs cut by Ken Mellons, Ray Scott, and 2006
European CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Lucie Diamond, as well as dozens of independent
artists. Recently, Rivers has had songs placed in HBO‘s hit vampire drama,True Blood, ABC‘s
Good Morning America and CMT‘s Southern Nights and while living in Los Angeles, wrote music
for MTV and corporate commercials. He is currently a writer at Green Hills Music and teaches
commercial songwriting at Columbia State College in Nashville.
Total Classes: 3
Strategies for Getting a Publishing Deal and Alternatives in 2012—Business (Class #22-08)
Are you pursuing a publishing deal? What does a publishing deal even look like in 2012?
In this ever changing music business environment, getting noticed and getting your foot
in the door is more challenging than ever. This class will explore strategies for opening
doors, getting a publisher‘s attention and getting a publishing deal. We will also examine
the alternatives to getting your songs heard and recorded. Discussion will include single
song agreements, co-pub agreements and independent songpluggers. As part of this
class, you will also begin work on developing an individualized written plan to get you to
your goal.
Writing Songs That Connect With the Listener—Songs That Reach Out and Touch the Listeners‘
Heart—Craft (Class #12-08)
Lecture and discussion of how songs connect with listeners both musically and lyrically
and why some special songs make a stronger emotional connection than others. We‘ll
look at research on how people process music and melodies and how you as a writer
can tap into what radio listeners subconsciously want to hear. Discussion will also include
approaches to writing emotionally charged subject matter effectively and how to get
the most out of your lyrics and music.
Secrets to Writing Better Lyrics Now—Craft (Class #32-08)
Writing fresh, original lyrics is so critical to achieving songwriting success. In this
information packed class, songwriters will learn techniques and exercises to stretch their
mind and broaden their lyrical palette. This is a pen-to-paper class where you will
actually do some writing so that the next time you sit down to write a song, you will have
already given your songwriting muscles a good workout. You will leave this class with the
tools to immediately write fresher and better lyrics.
David Ross
Bio:
David Ross (@DavidMRoss) founded Nashville‘s MusicRow magazine
which he sold in 2008 after a successful 30-year reign as
Publisher/CEO. A self-professed ―early adopter,‖ he profitably
transformed the publication from print to digital by pioneering many
of the email/social media techniques revealed in his new
book, Secrets of The List. One of Music City‘s most-read industry
analysts, Ross continues to cover the intersection between music
and technology.
Total Classes: 2
Secrets of the List—Business (Class #24-09 and #34-09)
Secrets of the List, based upon the book of the same name, pulls back the curtain on
some of the most powerful ideas in marketing today and details a strategy of how to
begin profiting by harnessing their power. ―This is not just about being on Facebook or
sending out an occasional Tweet,‖ says author David M. Ross.
Unleash the power of social media to leverage your brand more effectively. Learn the
rules of the digital jungle, why the carrot is mightier than the stick and how to create a
coordinated email/social media strategy. Your friends, followers and likes play an
important role, but it they don‘t lead to ―The List‖ and a two-way conversation, your plan
is missing a key ingredient.
Robin Ruddy and Larry Sheridan
Bio:
Robin was born in the tropics of Miami Florida,
but now considers herself an official Nashvillian.
―I think there is some unwritten rule around
here, that if you hang out long enough, oh
maybe 20 years or so, that qualifies you as a
native.‖ She says as she is changing the strings
on her pedal steel guitar.
She won a Grammy Award in the category of
Best Traditional Folk Album in 2005, for playing banjo and singing on a
David Ball cut that got included in a project called ―Beautiful Dreamer; Songs of Stephen
Foster.‖
Since arriving in Nashville in 1986 Robin has worked her way into the heart and soul of the
amazingly creative Nashville community by being a multi-instrumentalist and a singer songwriter.
She is the rare singer/songwriter who also plays banjo, dobro, mandolin, pedal steel, and guitar,
which puts her in her own special niche.
She has worked with notable artists like Rod Stewart, Ray Stevens, Lynn Anderson, Vince Gill,
Deborah Allen, Matt King, David Ball, Terry Clark and so many others.
Robin and her husband Larry Sheridan currently own and operate, a recording studio in Nashville
called the Parlor Studio, Parlor Productions, and Best Built Songs, where they take pride in
creating new music and developing new talent.
Total Classes: 2
Publishers are From Mars/Songwriters are From Venus—Business (Class #14-06)
Have you ever played your songs for a publisher and concluded they just don‘t
understand your creative genius? Have you ever heard thanks for submitting we can‘t
use this right now? Have you ever wondered why your songs are so much better than the
songs on the radio?
This class will teach you:
 How to pitch your songs professionally
 How to write for the radio market
 What they are really looking for
 What it is like to be on the other side of the desk
Q&A at the end of the class will include who is currently looking for what right now!
You Can‘t Get There From Here…Or Can You—Business (Class #24-06)
Do you have visions of ―making it‖ in the music business?
Do you want to make money with your music?
Do you want to go on tour?
Do you want to get cuts as a songwriter?
Do you want to be a demo singer?
Do you want to be a session player?
Do you need to find money for your projects?
Do you have a business plan?
Every artist is a business and we all need a plan. Come learn how to create a custom
business plan for your personal goals. By the time you leave this session you will have an
outline of a business plan in place.
Debra Russell
Bio:
Debra Russell, founder of Artist‘s EDGE, http://Artists-Edge.com,
Certified Business Coach and Master NLP and Hypnosis Practitioner,
uses her business knowledge plus her ability to facilitate change and
growth to help professionals in the Music Business shape their success.
As a speaker and trainer, Debra, has designed and delivered several
innovative programs internationally for entertainment industry
organizations and trade conferences including SXSW, NSAI
SongPosium and Advanced Song Camp, TAXI Road Rally, Western
Arts Alliance Booking Conference, ArtsNorthWest Booking Conference
and many others.
Total Classes: 3
Internet Marketing and Social Media –Waste of Time or Key to Success in the New Music
Business?—Business (Class #32-07)
The internet has paved the way for the Artist Entrepreneur to create your own career
without waiting for the record deal, the publishing deal or anybody to ―discover‖ you.
But learning what you need for your business can be quickly overwhelming – do you
need a website? What should be on it? What about Facebook and Twitter? YouTube
and Google+?
Internet and Social Media Marketing, for the people using it correctly, their success is no
accident. So, how do you apply it to your business? What‘s the best way for you to use
the power of the Internet to build the career YOU want?
Multiple Streams of Music Income –Business (Class #31-07)
Everyone agrees that the Music Business has changed – and many experts, including the
big music execs, are running around yelling the sky is falling, the sky is falling! Most
musicians are unsuccessfully competing for limited resources and opportunities and
getting lost in the fray.
The business model, Multiple Streams of Music Income, allows you to leverage your
creative material, harness the power of niche marketing and channel today‘s
technology to multiply your audience and create lifetime fans. Whether you‘re a
performing artist, songwriter or producer, this is more than a marketing technique. It‘s a
highly leveraged and extremely powerful business model for today‘s Music Business.
How to Turn Your Inner Critic into Your Staunchest Ally—Career (Class #41-07)
Are you plagued by internal doubts and self-criticism? Think you‘re not good enough, or
don‘t deserve the success you long for? Do you find that even when you know what to
do, you find all sorts of reasons not to do it?
We all carry an internal critic in our heads and it never shuts up! Fortunately, there‘s a
better way. You can actually learn to befriend that voice, and turn it from your worst
enemy to your most steadfast and supportive ally. Debra will teach you a range of
different tools and techniques to do this, and lead you through some of them live.
Denny Sarokin
Bio:
Denny Sarokin has written for, recorded and toured with Every
Mother‘s Son, Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band, Crosby,
Stills, Nash, & Young, and Buddy Jewell, and written and
recorded 100‘s of songs for T.V. and soundtracks. He‘s a
producer, studio musician, and a regular on the Nashville
―Writers-In-the-Round‖ circuit. His instructional guitar DVD,
―LICK*TIONARY - The Songwriter‘s Guide To GREAT Guitar!‖ is an
international best seller.
Total Classes: 3
Make Your Guitar Your Co-Writer Part 1—Guitar (Class #14-03)
The guitar should be more than your instrument - IT SHOULD BE YOUR CO-WRITER, an
infinite inspiration for exciting new melodies, moods, rhythms, and arrangements. Denny
breaks down the techniques of classic singer-songwriters and session musicians, showing
you dozens of simple Hot Licks, Cool Tricks and Great Grooves that will Super-Charge
your writing and performing skills!
Part 1 includes: Classic Chord Combinations, Classic Rhythm Grooves, Creating
Arrangements, EZ Lead Guitar, & more!
Make Your Guitar Your Co-Writer Part 2—Guitar (Class #24-03)
The guitar should be more than your instrument - IT SHOULD BE YOUR CO-WRITER, an
infinite inspiration for exciting new melodies, moods, rhythms, and arrangements. Denny
breaks down the techniques of classic singer-songwriters and session musicians, showing
you dozens of simple Hot Licks, Cool Tricks and Great Grooves that will Super-Charge
your writing and performing skills!
Part 2 includes: Fingerstyle, Chord Melody, Classic Chord Combinations, Fingerboard
―Shape Shifting‖, & more!
Songwriting in 3D! How to make a good song outstanding!—Craft (Class #44-03)
Songwriting is about Communication. We communicate with each other on a Visual,
Emotional, and Psychological level. A great song should be a Bookmark in someone
else‘s memory bank - an ―imprint‖ of your ideas, feelings, and experiences onto the
heart and mind of the listener.
This workshop is a collection of fun, common sense talking points that will help you
breathe life and depth into your lyrics, stories, characters, and melodies. Topics
include: Losing v. Losers, Rhymes & Reasons, Common Senses, & Put Your Song In My
Shoes.
Steve Seskin
Bio: Steve Seskin is a successful songwriter who has written
seven number one songs, including Grammy-nominated
―Grown Men Don‘t Cry,‖ recorded by Tim McGraw, and ―Don‘t
Laugh at Me,‖ winner of NSAI Song of the Year and Music Row
Magazine Song of the Year in 1999 as recorded by Mark Wills.
His other #1 hits are ―No Doubt About It‖ and ―For a Change,‖
both recorded by Neal McCoy, ―No Man‘s Land‖ and ―If
You‘ve Got Love,‖ both recorded by John Michael
Montgomery, and ―Daddy‘s Money,‖ recorded by Ricochet. Other chart toppers include ―I Think
About You,‖ recorded by Collin Raye, and ―All I Need To Know,‖ recorded by Kenny Chesney.
The video for Raye‘s ―I Think About You‖ single was named the Academy of Country Music‘s
Video of the Year in 1997, and the song and video were also given an award by the Tennessee
Task Force Against Domestic Violence. Recent recordings of his songs include ―Pictures,‖ by John
Michael Montgomery, ―We Shook Hands,‖ by Tebey, and ―I‘ll Always Be There For You,‖ by Brian
McComas.
While Steve is best known for writing hits, he is also a successful performer and recording artist. He
is currently touring in support of his latest CD, Steve Seskin "Live". This is his 17th recording released
on his own record label.
―Don‘t Laugh at Me‖ was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary and became the impetus for the
Operation Respect/Don‘t Laugh at Me project, a curriculum designed to teach tolerance in
schools. This program has already been implemented in more than 20,000 schools across the
country. Steve now enjoys performing at school assemblies in support of this program. The song is
now available as a children‘s book, Don‘t Laugh At Me, which was featured on PBS‘s Reading
Rainbow in September 2002.
Steve is also an active keynote speaker and songwriting teacher for the West Coast Songwriters
Association, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Swannanoa Gathering, and
the Song School at Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.
Steve spends time in Nashville writing for Larga Vista Music and pitching his songs, while
maintaining an active performing career both back home in Northern California and at festivals
and acoustic venues throughout the United States and Canada. He has been a featured
performer at the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, the Vancouver Folk
Festival, and the Napa Valley Music Festival.
Total Classes: 3
How to Write Hooky, Memorable Melodies—Craft (Class #23-10)
In focusing on melody writing, I teach from a place of writing melodies for lyrics. Prosody
is the marriage of music and lyric. We explore ways to determine if the overall vibe of the
music feels right, and look at specific parts of songs in terms of choosing an appropriate
melody that milks the emotion that the writer would like the listener to feel from the lyric. I
also talk about phrasing and accents. There is an important word in every sentence. We
look at choosing accent places that stress the right syllables and help drive home your
point. Music can actually change the meaning of a lyric when used to its fullest potential.
We also discuss rhythm and range and how to use them effectively in songs.
Writing/Rewriting: There is a Difference—Craft (Class #32-10)
Writing can more easily come from that dreamy/stream of consciousness place.
Rewriting involves considering what you‘ve already written and in many ways is a lot
more tedious. In this seminar we examine all types of rewriting. Are you rewriting because
the content is not serving the moment in the song, or is the problem the tone of how you
put forth your idea? We'll also look at how to know when a song is done and the wisdom
of sticking to the task versus putting a song away for a while and giving it a rest. Many
times I write more than I need just to give myself choices.
The Curse of the Second Verse—Craft (Class #33-10)
The place where most writers seem to get stuck. We will discuss strategies that can make
your second verse even stronger than your first.
Janey Street
Bio:
Singer songwriter Janey Street has recorded albums for Warner
Brothers/Reprise, Capitol Records and Arista Records (under the
guidance of legendary music mogul Clive Davis). Her single ―Under
the Clock‖ was a top 20 AC hit. The video also received frequent
airplay on VH-1. Her single ―Say Hello to Ronnie‖ was also a Billboard
charter, making the pop charts. Recently, Janey self-released her
blues album ―The Street Less Travelled.‖ s
Janey‘s songs have been recorded by such artists as the famous blues
singer Ruth Brown (on the GRAMMY-nominated CD ―A Good Day For The Blues‖), Janis Ian (a
song Street wrote with Ian and produced the track on Janis‘s CD), Eric Anderson, Dutch artist
Judith, Japanese artist Maria, James Newton Howard and others. Two of Street‘s songs will be
featured in the upcoming motion picture ―Food Fight‖, an animated movie starring Charlie
Sheen, Hilary Duff, and Eva Longoria. These songs will also appear on the film‘s CD soundtrack.
Janey‘s music has also been featured in TV shows such as ―The Young & The Restless‖, ―One Life
to Live‖, ―Rock & Roll Evening News‖, ―Street Shadows‖ and the films ―Promised Land‖
(performed by James Newton Howard) and ―White Winter Heat‖.
A native New Yorker now planted in Nashville, Street intensely keeps co-writing, recording and
performing live.
Total Classes: 2
How to Write Songs for Film/TV—Craft (Class #21-03 and #41-03)
Topics to be covered include:

The role of music in film and TV and how music is used in a scene to help move
the story along and give it more emotional impact

Cues, source cues, end title songs, beginning title songs, and feature songs, etc.

The roles of music supervisors, producers and directors and the collaborative
process in filmmaking

The marriage between music and film how the two art forms work together

The ―dos and the don‘ts‖ of writing on spec and pitching songs to music
supervisors

Deals, sync licenses, release forms, royalties, post production, deadlines,
metadata, (which is a must in pitching for film and TV), and temp tracks.
All in all, this workshop will give you the knowledge and insight to have more success
in placing songs in Film and TV projects. There will also be a pitch and critique session.
If you have a something great, it will be passed on to Janey’s film and TV song
plugger.
Gary Talley
Bio:
Gary Talley began his music career in Memphis in 1967 as lead
guitarist for the Grammy-nominated group "The Box Tops", best
known for "The Letter" "Cry like A Baby" and "Soul Deep". The Box
Tops broke up in 1970 and Gary did studio guitar work in
Memphis, London, L.A. and Atlanta and toured as lead guitarist
with Billy Preston and many others, moving to Nashville in 1981
and recording with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Tammy
Wynette. Gary's songs have been recorded by many artists,
including The Box Tops, country legend Keith Whitley, and blues great James Cotton. He has
played guitar on thousands of recording sessions and has taught guitar to many of Nashville‘s hit
songwriters and artists. The Box Tops regrouped in Memphis in 1997 and Gary recorded and
toured with the group until lead singer Alex Chilton‘s death in 2010. Gary authored the bestselling instructional DVD "Guitar Playing for Songwriters" in 1999, and has conducted ―Guitar
Playing for Songwriters‖ workshops all over North America, Europe and Australia. He writes a
regular ―Guitar 101‖ column in American Songwriter magazine, while maintaining a busy
teaching and playing schedule.
Total Classes: 3
Writing Songs ―The Beatles Way‖—Craft (Class #31-05)
Learn how Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison wrote chord progressions.
You could also call this ―How to Break the Rules and Make it Work.‖ Remember, The
Beatles had NO formal music training, but were huge fans of many types of music ,
including jazz and show tunes. I can explain in simple terms how they did things in pop
music that hadn‘t been done before, and how you can write much more interesting
chord progressions.
Guitar for Songwriters 101—Guitar (Class #41-05)
Named after Gary‘s popular Guitar 101 column in American Songwriter magazine. Learn
things that 75% of songwriters don‘t know. Topics covered : capos, tuning, The Nashville
Number System, rhythm patterns, chords, chord progressions, chord voicings,
fingerpicking, how to avoid the 3 most common guitar playing mistakes.
Guitar for Songwriters 201—Guitar (Class #42-05)
If you already know the basic 7 chords in the keys of G, C, D, E and A and a few rhythm
patterns, this class will take you to the next level. Learn your ―color‖ chords and
―connector‖ chords, ―next door neighbor‖ chords, more about rhythm, how to break the
rules in a musical way.
Tim Thompson
Bio:
Tim Thompson is a Nashville based session player and songwriter.
He is the 2008 International Fingerstyle Champion and has
performed with Crystal Gayle and Hwy 101. His music has been
featured in film, TV, and software including: Casper‘s Haunted
Christmas and the Flip Video Camera software. He currently lives
in Nashville and tours fulltime with his duo ―Tim & Myles Thompson‖
that features Tim on guitar and his seventeen-year-old son, Myles,
on violin and mandolin.
Total Classes: 2
Making Your Songs Groove—Guitar (Class #34-03)
Playing rhythm guitar is an overlooked, subtle art. In this class, we‘ll listen to some song
examples and identify what‘s going on in the groove. You will learn the basics of rhythm
as it is applied to popular music and how to think like a drummer. We‘ll explore
strumming and finger picking techniques, how to pick apart one measure and
experiment with different accents, how to sing a groove, how changing a groove affects
the way you sing a song, how Drop D tuning can create a bigger sound…and more.
Bullet points for discussion:
 An overview about rhythms
 How to identify the groove of a song
 How to change the groove of a song
 Maybe your ballad should have an up tempo groove. Or your fast song is really a ballad
 How to think like a drummer
 Strumming techniques
 Finger picking
 If you‘re not a player, then sing the groove
 If you can‘t sing the groove, you won‘t be able to play it
 How Drop D tuning can enhance your groove
 Be a one man band
 We‘ll pick apart a measure and try different accents
 How changing a groove will affect how you sing a song
 Apply it all to your own songs. Maybe try a student‘s song.
 Q&A
The Nashville Number System for Songwriters—Craft (Class #43-03)
This class will cover the Nashville Number System: Why it is used, the origin of the system,
how its application is different from the standard uses of a major scale, and how it can
help you with songwriting and arranging your songs. Whether you are preparing for a
demo session or a live performance, or just documenting your tunes, it is a very simple
but powerful tool in communicating your musical ideas to players and other songwriters.
We will look at prewritten charts as well as writing a chart or two from scratch.
What we‘ll talk about and do:
 Why use the Nashville Number System?
 The origin of the Nashville Number System.
 How its application is different from the standard uses of a major scale.
 Look at some number chart examples
 Write some number charts.
 How it can help you with songwriting.
 How it can help you with arranging.
Susan Tucker
Bio: Susan Tucker moved to Nashville to become a songwriter but life took
her on a different path. She has worked as an artist manager, guiding the
careers of top ten Texas artist Keith Norris and most recently with Nashville
Star finalist, Rachel Williams. She has also established and maintained her
own music publishing company, as well as co-owner of a music
production company.
As a sidebar to the music industry work, she has authored two highly acclaimed books on
songwriting. The first book, The Soul of a Writer, features insights from top writers about the
creative side of writing. From how to deal with writer‘s block to finding the things that make you
work at your creative best.
In her second book, The Secrets of Songwriting, Susan searched for those talents and disciplines
in writers that take them to the ultimate success in the music industry – Number ONE songs. She
spent time with 13 hugely successful writers and they talked about how they went from being
good to being great.
Total Classes: 3
Take it From the Top—Craft (Class #41-09)
Take a look at what it takes to reach the top of the songwriting world, from the
perspective of those who have already done it.
Susan Tucker takes a look at the distinct differences between ―Good‖ songwriters and
―Great‖ songwriters, all gleaned from the insights and experiences of the Hit Songwriters
she interviewed for her books, The Soul of a Writer and The Secrets of Songwriting. She
will help you see how easy it is to incorporate these habits into your own writing style.
Reality Check—Career (Class #23-09)
Are you on the right path for success? Are you making wise decisions when you come to
a crossroad?
In today‘s market your choices as a songwriter and as an artist, have never been more
varied and the options more plentiful.
Susan Tucker will help you make sense of where you are right now, today and help you
visualize the steps for tomorrow.
It‘s All About You—Business (Class #31-09)
Do the right people pay attention to you? This course is about writing a great Press
Release & Bio and designing an effective One Sheet. The backbone of launching and
maintaining a career are those 3 elements and you should not shortchange yourself by
not spending enough time on them. A great Bio gets them interested, a Press Release
shines a spotlight and a One Sheet makes it easy for interviewers, labels and radio. This
information is beneficial to Singers and Songwriters.
Gracie Vandiver
Bio:
As the owner of Mother Knows Best Media (mkbmedia.com), Gracie
offers personalized coaching in social media technologies. She has
been creating buzz for independent artists since 2003. In addition to
helping her clients achieve their goals, Gracie has found time for a
few achievements of her own. She is a two-time Entertainment
Industries Council PRISM Award winner, receiving one award as
producer of the compilation CD "Trail of Light," and the other in the
interactive media category as producer of the Sober Café Podcast.
She was honored with a Posi Award (think positive/new thought
music) in the personal transformation category for her song, "When I
Get Outta Bed." In 2010, "Through God's Eyes," (co-written by Gracie, David Rivers, and Kathy
Ashworth) was released as the first radio single by Christian recording artist Leah Faith, receiving
airplay on major radio stations. Gracie co-authored the popular music business book, "Your First
Cut, a Step-by-Step Guide to Getting There" with her husband, hit songwriter Jerry Vandiver.
Together, they have taught over 50 "Your First Cut" workshops across the United States. Gracie
has also facilitated Artist's Way courses for SongU.com. In 2006, she founded Sunlight of the Spirit
Music. Using the power of music to support recovery from alcoholism and addiction,
SunlightOfTheSpirit.com is an Internet music store specializing in offering 12-step and recovery
music CDs. When she's not busy dodging her muse, she's writing songs or fearlessly drafting her
first novel.
Total Classes: 3
Facebook and Twitter and Blogs, Oh My!—Career (Class #11-08 and #31-02)
Learn the best social media practices to engage fans, friends, and family with what
you're most passionate about - your music! This course is designed for songwriters that
have been using Facebook and want to improve their marketing skills using social media
technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Find out why it's important to use
more than one electronic platform to get your message out; why creating a customized
Facebook landing page can make a difference; fun ways to engage fans; when and
what to tweet as well as the importance and value of retweets; and how to blog
effectively for building your Internet presence. We'll cover helpful tips to achieve your
music marketing goals along with a plethora of resources, enabling you to put your
personal spin on using social media as a promotional tool. (Familiarity with Facebook is
suggested but you do not need to already have experience using Twitter or have a
blog.)
Your First Cut—Business (Class #21-08 and #32-02)
The class is a fun, informative workshop of 20 building blocks to help you climb closer to
your goal of getting your song recorded by a major label artist and hearing it on the
radio. You will leave with a deeper understanding of the music industry machinery and
very specific steps you can take to navigate your way to the top. Of course, the authors
can‘t guarantee that if you follow the steps outlined in ―Your First Cut‖ that you will
definitely get a cut. But, they can guarantee that if you don‘t follow these steps, you
probably won‘t get a cut! Since the book‘s release, the authors have presented over 70
workshops throughout the United States sponsored by ASCAP, SGA, NSAI, TAXI, and other
songwriting organizations, and colleges such as Berklee College of Music, MusicTech,
Belmont University, and Vanderbilt‘s Blair School of Music. Visit www.YourFirstCut.com.
Deanna Walker
Bio:
Deanna Walker is the founder and director of the Blair Songwriting
Program at Vanderbilt University where she teaches college level
advanced songwriting critique workshops as well as the intro to
songwriting and music theory classes. She brings in major hit
songwriters each week for her adult songwriting seminar (Blair Hit
Songwriter Series, 322-7651), which helps make it one of the most
popular ongoing classes in town. She's taught songwriting workshops
for adults and children across the US and in England and Canada.
From anonymous Vanderbilt course evaluations: ―Best class I‘ve ever
taken.‖ ―It was really fun and I learned an inestimable amount about
the craft of songwriting.‖ ―Deanna finds the perfect balance between teaching from her
knowledge and allowing us to grow along our own paths. She is a true mentor.‖ (Deanna has
recent cuts by Kenny Rogers, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Rissi Palmer. Recent unreleased cuts by
Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire.)
Total Classes: 3
Who are You and Why are You So Damn Interesting?—Craft (Class #12-05)
I ask every publisher who comes to my class at Vanderbilt THIS question: ―What makes
you sign a new writer?‖ The answer is always some version of this: ―I see something fresh
and unique. The writer has a way of saying something I haven‘t heard before.‖ What‘s
unique about you and how do you find and express it?
And how do you mine your rich and interesting history for images, colors and ideas that
are unique to you?
In this class, we‘ll use your experience to journey through ALL aspects of lyric writing.
You‘ll learn a process you can use for the rest of your writing life to dig deeply into
description (―furniture‖), emotion, symbolism and story, whether imagined or real. Come
with fresh pencils and lots of paper, because we are going to WRITE!!!
The Sum is Greater Than the Parts: Melodies and Words in Dynamic Combination
(LECTURE)—Craft (Class #22-05)
“…your analysis is something I've never done and now, will forever do. The whole jazz
melody thing and Desperado...awesome. It awoke things I'd never even thought of. It
was exciting.”
(Jim Edmondson, SongPosium, 2011.)
This lecture explores the principles of prosody, or how you put words and music together
to make them more powerful in combination than they could ever be alone. You'll learn
proven principles that you can apply when you‘re writing music for an existing lyric, lyrics
for existing music, writing both in combination, writing from a groove OR rewriting for
those extra professional touches. We'll see how some of the greatest writers have used
these principles to create not just huge hits but classic, beloved works of art that live
forever! You don‘t have to take this class in order to take the Critique Workshops, but it‘s
a great idea!
The Sum is Greater Than the Parts: Melodies and Lyrics in Dynamic Combination
(CRITIQUE)—Craft (Class #32-05)
“…Deanna, what can I say, yours is one of best NSAI critiques I’ve ever been involved in.”
(Dave Martin, NSAI workshop, IA, 2011.)
You‘ll receive a comprehensive critique of your songs with detailed recommendations
for applying the principles of prosody to your songs. We‘ll take apart your lyric and
melody to see how we can strengthen each for the most powerful delivery of both. We‘ll
talk about what it means to deliver the ―magic‖ on every level! Bring lyrics and music
(lyrics alone are fine as well). You can perform live or bring recordings. Limit 10.
Brian White
Bio:
Brian White has established himself as one of the ―Go To‖ songwriters in
Nashville with a career that has spanned over 25 years. In the Christian
Market he has written for such artist as Avalon, 4 Him, Point of Grace, 33
Miles , Mandisa , Brian Littrell, Selah, The Crabb Family, All Star United,
Greg Long, Larnelle Harris, Jaci Velasquez, Cliff Richard, Karyn Williams ,
16 Cities, Me In Motion, and many others. His writing has earned him
thirteen number 1 songs as well as 2 Dove Awards, one for Inspirational
Song of the Year in 1994 for "Holding Out Hope to You", recorded by
Michael English and the other for Southern Gospel Song of the Year in
2004 for ―The Promise" recorded by the Martins.
Over the past 9 years he has expanded his writing into the country market and has found
success there as well with songs being recorded by country super stars Trace Adkins, Gary Allan,
Neal McCoy, Earl Scruggs, Kix Brooks, Charley Pride, Matt Kennon, Terri Clark , Blackhawk, Chad
Brownlee, High Valley and the multi-week 1 Smash, "Watching You" for Rodney Atkins which was
named SESAC Country Song of the Year at the 2007 Awards Dinner. The song continues to be a
fan favorite and a radio smash as it earned the title of "Most Played Country Song of 2007" as
well as just being nominated for SONG OF THE YEAR honors at the 2008 Academy of Country
Music Awards, held in Las Vegas. Add to that yet another Dove Award Nomination for 2008
Country Song of the Year for "James White", a song recorded by country legend Earl Scruggs,
and you have a man whose songs cross the lines that so many tend to draw.
Brian currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife Inpop recording artist Karyn Williams and
writes and produces for Songs From Cincy.
Total Classes: 3
What in the World are THEY Looking For?—Business (Class #31-08)
Who are ―THEY‖ and why aren‘t your songs getting to them…A look at the process of
getting your songs into the right hands and what it takes to give them their best shot
once ―THEY‖ get to hear them..Honest words from some of the people that will hear your
songs and what it takes to get them pass the ―Gate Keeper‖ and to the next level. Is it
your song,your demo or your relationships that are falling short..A panel of an Artist, a
Producer, a Publisher and a Song Plugger...This is a once in a Songposium opportunity.
Guest Panel includes Artist -Karyn Williams Inpop Records, A Producer, A Publisher and
Plugger - Shane Barrett - Independent Song Plugger.
Welcome to Vegas. So you want my job. Well, are you ready to bet it all on your songs?—
Business (Class #41-08)
You get ONE chance to make a first impression so make it great. This class will offer a
glimpse into what it takes to make it in this town: time, talent, energy, patience and
that‘s just getting to the bus station. A look at some of the common mistakes that new
writers make in the process. Welcome to the 5 year plan. Some of the basic dos and
don‘ts of the writing process as well as building the relationships that will keep you in this
town long enough to make it a career. Rome wasn‘t built in a day, but it did stand the
test of time. Will you? Bring one song and have it critiqued by those who have been
doing it.
So a preacher walks into a bar and the bartender says, ―Did you hear the one about Justin
Bieber?‖—Business (Class #42-08)
This class will be your chance to hear from the Pros who have crossed genres and had
success by writing for the Christian market, the country market and the Pop market. Is it
possible to get cuts in more than one market or do I need to focus on one. This will be a
class that gives you some insights as to what each one of these markets are looking for
and what makes the genre special both musically and lyrically..Bring your questions and
get some answers from a panel of writers who have had success in multiple genres and
get some tips on what it takes to get there. Pete Sallis (Ronnie Dunn, George Canyon Canada
Writer Andrew Fromm (Back Street Boys, Selena Gomez, Francesca Battistelli)