COUNTRY NOTES
The NSAI update for
the Los Angeles area Workshop
October-November, 1996
STEVE SESKIN SONG SEMINAR
On Saturday, November 9, hit songwriter Steve Seskin will lead us in an all-day seminar. Steve has written such hits as “No Doubt About It”, “Life’s a Dance”, “I Think About You”, “No Man’s Land”, and “If You’ve Got Love”. He’s co-written over 400 songs with such writers as Gary Burr, Jon Bonjovi, Allen Shamblin, and Pam Tillis.
We’ve all heard a thousand times that we need to be living in Nashville to achieve any great success in songwriting. Seskin has proven that wrong. He’s been living in San Francisco for the past twenty-four years, and has never lived in Nashville. He goes to Music City four or five times a year and stays for a couple of weeks each time. When he’s there, he spends twelve to fifteen hours a day writing with various collaborators.
Steve stresses the importance of co-writing, not just for the creative energy, but also for political reasons. “When you are writing with a staff writer from Warner Bros. Music, you are in business with Warner Bros. Music.”
The Steve Seskin Songwriting Seminar will be held on Saturday, November 9 at Musician’s Institute. Steve will share his insight into the craft and business of songwriting from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and will give us valuable song evaluations from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The all-day seminar is open to fifty people, and the song critiques are limited to the first twenty people who sign up with Amy at NAS (213)463-7178. Even if your song is not being evaluated, you don’t want to miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the critique session.
Admission to this exciting event is: a) Full Seminar With Critique of Your Song - $35.00 in advance, $45.00 at door; b) Full Seminar Without Critique of Your Song - $25.00 in advance, $35.00 at door.
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
- Sunday, October 13, 5-8pm at Musician's Institute, Lessons in Collaboration
In songwriting, it’s often true that, “two heads are better than one.” Some great examples are Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Gershwins, Lieber and Stoller, Holland/Dozier/Holland, and Hall and Oats. If you look at the Billboard charts, at least 70% of the hits are written in a collaborative effort. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the pros and cons, different types of collaborations, and what works and what doesn’t work in a co-writing session. Then we’ll do some collaborating on our own and see what beautiful music we can make together.
- Sunday, October 20, 5-8pm at Musician’s Institute, Group Song Critiques
Getting feedback on your material and giving feedback to others is one of the best ways to improve your writing. Bring a song on cassette or play it live, and bring 20 copies of your lyric sheet. The group can also critique lyrics only or music only.
- Saturday, November 9, 10:00am-5:30pm at Musician's Institute - Steve Seskin Songwriting Seminar
Hit songwriter Steve Seskin will lead us in an all day seminar on the craft and business of songwriting. See accompanying article for details.
- Sunday, November 24, 5-8pm at Musician’s Institute - Group Song Critiques
Workshop Location
Unless otherwise noted, workshops are held from 5-8 p.m. at
Musician's Institute, 1655 McCadden Place, just off Hollywood
Blvd. in Hollywood. Admission is free for NSAI
members and NAS members, $10 for non-members. For more information,
call Bev Nelson at (714)733-2717, or Craig Lackey at (310)439-4069.
MEMBER NEWS
- CC Ballou won CCMA Foothills Region Songwriter Of The Year.
- Cathy Carlson won Song Of The Year in the CCMA Foothills Region for “Do Roses Come In Blue?” co-written with Arth Lakin. Cathy also placed in the top four for Female Vocalist and Female Entertainer.
- Seth Jackson has been making his presence felt in Nashville, traveling there for one week in July and another in September. His September trip was very productive, as he received contract offers for his songs “Ain’t No School For That” (co-written with Marty Axelrod), “Dumb and Dumber” (co-written with Cathy Carlson), and “She Wants a Family”. In addition, he has been co-writing with staff writers at Famous Music, Southern Cow Music, and Harry Max Music.
- Craig Lackey received a contract offer on his song “In a Broken Heartbeat” (co-written with Tim James) from Magnatone Music Publishing.
- Arth Lakin won CCMA Foothills Region Male Vocalist Of The Year. He also placed in the top 4 for Male Entertainer Of The Year.
Los Angeles Area NSAI
Members - DO YOU HAVE:
- News about your songwriting career?
- An announcement?
- An event?
- A story of interest to songwriters?
Let us know, so we can tell the world what you're up to! Submit
to Country Notes by sending e-mail to speaker@cinenet.net.
Submissions must be received by 12:00 noon on the 15th of each
month for the following month's issue.
Items will be printed subject to space and editorial limitations.
NSAI LOS ANGELES WORKSHOP
VOLUNTEERS
EDITOR:
Seth Jackson
WORKSHOP COORDINATORS:
Craig Lackey
Bev Nelson
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR:
Vickie Vining
EVENT COORDINATOR:
Cathy Carlson
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