COUNTRY NOTES

• Feature Article - Getting There From Here
• September-October-November-December '98 Workshop Schedule
• Workshop Location
• Events
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GETTING THERE FROM HERE

From the time of writing that first song to hearing our own songs on the radio is a long, hard one is a long and often difficult journey for most songwriters. If we look back from where we are now, we can find a lot of growth and accomplishment to be proud of. Looking ahead, we may feel excitement, apprehension, or plain bewilderment as we work toward reaching our goal.

We’re fortunate that we have help along the way from others who’ve traveled the path before us.  Because most songwriters love their work, many successful ones relish the chance to help aspiring writers by sharing their knowledge and experience about song craft and the music business. Next to our own talent, our most valuable resource is other songwriters.

Each of us has our unique creative voice and set of circumstances, yet there are common truths we can learn from other writers to help us get further down the road faster than we could on our own. When we hold our song critique workshops, we benefit from the insight and experience of our peers. At our mini-song camp workshops, we learn from both our peers and from lessons developed for us by hit songwriters in Nashville.

Occasionally, we get the opportunity to learn directly from hit songwriters themselves. NSAI Song Camp in Nashville provides an intensive direct learning experience for a limited number of writers. At our Los Angeles Regional Workshop, we feel that one of the most important things we do is to provide direct learning opportunities with our guest speaker workshops and seminars.

In November, we’re happy to present two special hit songwriter workshops.  On Sunday, November 1, J.D. Martin will be our guest speaker. On the following Sunday, November 8, Ralph Murphy will lead us in a three-hour seminar.

J.D. Martin Has fourteen Top 10 country hits to his name including Terri Clark’s recent #1 hit “Now That I Found You”. He’s had songs recorded by artists ranging from Don Williams and The Oak Ridge Boys to Reba McEntire and John Berry.

Ralph Murphy has achieved near-legend status in Nashville through his career as a performer, producer, songwriter, publisher, and most recently, VP of Writer and Artist Relations at ASCAP. He has a wealth of information and wisdom to share.

Don’t miss these rare and valuable learning opportunities.

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• Sunday, September 13, 4-7pm at Musician’s Institute - Group Song Critiques.  Bring one song (on cassette or play it live) and 20 copies of your lyric sheet.  You may also bring lyrics only or music only.
• Sunday, September 27, 1997 4-7pm at Musician’s Institute - Mini-Song Camp.  This workshop will focus on specific areas of lyric and music writing as we work on getting to the next level with our songs and songwriting careers. The lyrical topic will be writing the “dreaded second verse”.  On the music side, we’ll look at techniques for writing a melodic “magic moment”.
• Sunday, October 11, 4-7pm at Musician’s Institute - Group Song Critiques.  Bring one song or lyric and 20 copies of your lyric sheet.
• Sunday, October 25, 4-7pm at Musicians’s Institute - Guitar Pull.  A chance for each of us to share our work with our fellow writers. No critiques, just songs and/or lyrics.  Play your songs live or on cassette or CD, or read your lyrics to the group. We’ll go around the room as many times as the clock permits.
• Sunday, November 1, 4-7pm at Musician’s Institute - Guest Speaker J.D. Martin.  J.D. Martin, the writer of Terri Clark’s #1 song “Now That I Found You” and other hits, will talk to us about his experience in the business and the craft of hit songwriting. We’ll also hear him perform some of his hits.
• Sunday, November 8, 4-7 at Musician’s Institute - Guest Speaker Ralph Murphy.  Ralph Murphy, hit writer, ASCAP Vice President, and NSAI Song Camp instructor will be visiting us from Nashville. In the first part of the workshop, Ralph will share the wisdom of his vast experience in the craft of writing commercial hit songs.  He’ll conclude the session by critiquing eight songs to be selected at random from among the attendees.
• Sunday, November 22, 4-7pm at Musician’s Institute - Group Song Critiques.  Bring one song or lyric and 20 copies of your lyric sheet.
• Sunday, December 5 - Annual Holiday Party - Time and Location To Be Announced.

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Workshop Location

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Los Angeles Area NSAI Members - DO YOU HAVE:

• News about your songwriting career?
• An announcement?
• An event?
• A story of interest to songwriters?

Items will be printed subject to space and editorial limitations. 

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