THE KSA SONGWRITER A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE KNOXVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION Volume No. 4 Issue No. 8 Date: August, 2010 Knoxville Songwriters Association P.O. Box 603 Knoxville, TN 37901 View the KSA Songwriter online at www.knoxvillesongwritersassociation.org Founded in 1983 by Sara Williams 27 Years of serving Songwriters in the Knoxville area presentation being given by a renowned West Coast singing coach. Reportedly, this gentleman is able to accomplish miracles FROM THE PRESIDENT concerning all matters vocal. Myself, being the not so proud owner th Our next workshop will be held on August 28 at the library of an "almost" one whole octave range singing voice thought, meeting room. Time will be from 1 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. Jerry "What the hey -- nothing to lose here." Anything that could Salley, a well-known Nashville personality, songwriter, and improve the singing on my demos was worth a try. At this point I performer will be handling the workshop. We look forward to am sure that some of you readers, especially the ones that have having Jerry come visit with us and share his knowledge of heard me sing, are asking yourself, "If he knows he can't sing, why songwriting and the business of songwriting. Jerry has been doesn't he hire someone else to sing his demos?" In answer to around Nashville since the 80’s and knows his way around the that, I say, just because a person can't do something well doesn't town and is very adept at creating music and songs as well as mean he doesn't enjoy trying. Just look at how many aspiring having his own band. singer-songwriters there are walking the streets of America. My guess is, everybody wants to be something or someone else and The election of officers will take place on August 31 instead of they firmly ( at least for a while ) hold on to the belief that if given August 24 as previously announced. Nomination forms should be the opportunity they can. I am no less guilty than anyone else in in to Richard at [email protected] or Gene Blair at that aspect. We all start out with "Great Expectations" that [email protected] by August 17 so the ballots can be sometimes turn into "The Winter of our Discontent." Whatever, the prepared. Newly elected officers will assume duties at the first final act reveals we at least dreamed the dream. th meeting in September, which is on the 7 . All offices are for a one-year term and dues must be kept up to date in order to hold an Now back to the webcast. What I thought was going to transform office. For a list of the offices see the back page of the newsletter. me into a three octave singing wonder, (In my dreams) actually Please consider pitching in to help with running the Association. turned out to be as much about song-writing and selling your The same people cannot be expected to carry the load year after songs with a viable performance as it did about the actual act of year. There is nothing difficult about any of the positions and most singing. This vocal coach, at least to my way of thinking, must of them take little time. have been a song writer in the past. He began by comparing the emotion of writing a song with the emotion you convey when Check out the updated and reformatted KSA Website at performing that same song. One of the most important points he www.knoxvillesongwritersassociation.org . Gale Horst has done made was, "Tell the story." As singer song-writers we sometimes an excellent job of making the Website more usable. If you want forget that the story is not over with the final line on the song sheet. your link put on the Website along with a picture of yourself you It still remains to be told to an audience. The statement made by should contact Gale at [email protected] with this vocal coach was, "Know why you wrote this song and when the information on what and how you want your link to be shown. you sing it, tell the story. Don't be afraid of embarrassing yourself. Show the kind of emotion that caused you to write this song in the Regards, first place. Don't be afraid of going overboard. His prime example, Gene B. Neal Young, noted for his fantastic heartfelt lyrics and his, to say the least, unique voice and vocal style. In short, no one ever FROM THE EDITOR accused Neal Young of having a classically trained voice. Emotion and sincerity will help even a borderline singer sell a song to an audience. The newsletter is only as good as we want it to be so keep those articles and information coming. If you can’t seem to get a song One of the statements he made really caused me to stop and cut and played at least you can get your articles published in the think. I even paused the telecast for a moment to think about what KSA Songwriter. Our thanks go out to members C. D. Johnson , I had just heard. He said, "Know your song!" Isn't that the most David Haley Lauver , and Linda Perry for their contribution of ridiculous statement a song-writer ever heard? Know your song. articles to this month’s issue. Heck, I just wrote the "dang thang." Of-course I know it. As I sat there, trying to sing the lyrics of the song I was presently attempting to record, much to my surprise I found myself stumbling all over the lyrics. As Gomer would say . "Surprise, Surprise." YOUTUBE REVELATION It was a humbling experience to say the least! By C. D. Johnson As his seminar went on there was one Mount Everest point that rose high above all the others. And that was, BE PREPARED! Being prepared is knowing what you are singing, and why you While in the act of surfing the net I ran upon a YouTube want to sing it. It's not only the written word. It's the wild 1 abandoned emotion you allow yourself to experience as you sing it. This legendary vocal coach was saying, take what God gave “You’ve got to love the process of writing,” Sillers said. “The act of you and do the best you can. Not every one can sing every note to creating each new song is a leap of faith.” She said writers perfection but everyone can be true to the song and if you let your discover the “candle in your soul” that makes you a creative spirit. guard down your emotion and sincerity can captivate an audience. “You have to be all heart,” she said, “but you also must learn the I may not ever be able to please everyone that hears me sing but craft if you want to succeed.” after listening to this webcast, it doesn't bother me half as bad as it used to. Writers should approach songwriting as if they are learning a second language, Sillers advised. “The only way you become fluent in a second language is by studying and practicing it. You don’t just ‘love it’ and succeed without work.” Sillers said new writers who are oblivious to trends often are the ones who write landmark songs. “Their songs sound fresh and they change the music business by degrees.” Here are Tia’s tongue-in-cheek “commandments” summing up her advice. The following was submitted by David Haley Lauver : 1. Be able to “write the whole song” by yourself and be open to collaborating. Collaboration makes you write and goads you into finishing songs. In developing co- CHOOSE FROM 120+ CLASSES AT SEPTEMBER writing relationships, seek strengths where you’re “SONGPOSIUM” weaker and be open in sharing your strengths. If you only collaborate, you can lose touch with inspiration and The Nashville Songwriters Association International plans to turn the ability to think in terms of the whole song. If your co- Music Row into a “songwriting university campus” next month, writer cancels, take the time you’ve already set aside offering more than 120 “Songposium” classes taught by top and write a song by yourself. songwriters, producers, and other music industry leaders. 2. Read. She’s gotten her greatest inspiration and An “a la carte” menu of classes for the September 21-24 event observations from books. Sillers recommends author enables writers to put together their own schedules based on their Stephen King’s “On Writing.” To the question, “So, do needs and interests. A variety of classes are offered in each of you do it for the money, honey?” King responds that he these topical areas: inspiration/creativity; the craft of writing; the writes for the “buzz,” and says “if you do it for the joy, music business; studio/technology; vocal/performance; and guitar. you can do it forever.” 3. Stay organized and hand-write final lyrics. It doesn’t feel Participants can sign up for one 90-minute course (at $50 for as real when songs are only on the computer. Sillers members/$60 for non-members) or take as many as 16 classes copies into books every song she’s written. She throughout the week and enjoy reduced rates with one-day to four- includes an index, indicates when a song was written, day “Max Pack” discounts. For more information, including class and lists co-writers. She keeps eight pages in each descriptions and bios of presenters, see book blank to write song ideas.