Texas Songwriters Journal

Nancy Thomas Writes Impromptu Dancing

2006-03-15T05:45:00.000-08:00

Nancy Thomas, a member of the Texas Music Coalition of San Antonio has written a great new piece ... IMPROMPTU DANCING. This piece immediately grabs you with it's magnetic beat and fetching vocal. You just want to let the piece dance on and on for hours. Actually, that's what Duckie and I did last week while driving through the rolling Hill Country of Texas.

We originally met Nancy and John Thomas on the Texas Songwriters Cruise last October. Nancy strikes you as a person able to rapid-learn new techniques in whatever she is trying. Impromptu Dancing really showcases her music composition abilities. Fueling the music synthesis, she has a degree in performance theatre.

- Glenn Nelson McBride

2006 Music Production Resolution

2006-01-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

The music grackle has made his 2006 New Year’s Resolution ... a commitment to going completely "computer digital" with his music production. This means everything will be housed inside a single Mac except for amplifier, speakers and keyboard.

It’s already happening in Los Angeles in a big way ... for both contemporary and conventional sounds in Film / TV production. In Vermont, Robert Fritz, author of The Path of Least Resistance recently released a wonderfully clear and powerful cd (The Little Pinecone) using synthesized orchestra instruments (from East-West) and the software Digital Performer.

Also, the grackle intends to try composing some music soon using only the computer keyboard while on a jetliner flying very fast and very high. Very portable ... It’s a New Day for songwriters and composers!

Planetarium Show for February February 2006, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th

2006-01-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

It's Subaru and StoneHenge wrapped into a package produced and directed by Judi James at Brazosport, Texas Planetarium! February's tuesday night shows will be special.
Subaru is the new incredible Japanese telescope in Hawaii that is making waves. StoneHenge is the incredibly old observatory in merry olde England.
Both of these instruments are huge, ripe with spirit and star power.
I won't reveal anymore of the story. It's just amazing. Judi and Diana Klebenow's combined artistic / scientific brainpower overflowed in the planning meeting last night. As they synthesized plans, sparkles literally flew across the high dome. (Was it asteroids from the projectors or something even more galactic from the creative thought vibrations?) It's invigorating to witness the human mind working on grand, inspiring, educational, entertaining productions. Awesome! This seemingly well-anchored planetarium is on the move at the Center for the Arts and Sciences.

For the show, Diana will play ancient, celtic and beautiful flute pieces for StoneHenge and I will create synchronize contemporary and technological pieces for Subaru.

SHOW DATES: February 2006, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Subaru Telescope (In Japanese: すばる望遠鏡) is the 8.3 meter flagship telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. It is named for the open star cluster known in English as the Pleiades. It is located on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_(telescope)

FROM WIKIPEDIA: • Near the town of Avebury in Wiltshire, England. Stonehenge is perhaps the finest of the British megalithic monuments. It stands in the center of Salisbury Plain, surrounded by a complex of cemeteries and ritual sites. Stonehenge is believed to date to about 2780 BC, near the end of the Neolithic period. The function of the monument is thought to have been spiritual, but the arrangement of the megaliths also suggest possible astronomical uses, such as a calendar.
www.digonsite.com/glossary/sz.html

Debbie Rice Hits the Wednesday Review

2006-01-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

It's been reported from good sources that Debbie Rice made a giant hit today at our Brazosport Wednesday Review Club.

Debbie made a songwriter's presentation on how she writes songs and music. And then she moved right into her fascinating keyboard performance. We're expecting many great things from Debbie Rice.

Glenn Nelson McBride
- Texas Songwriters

The Pantomime Violin at Christmas

2006-01-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

Diana Klebenow and Bill Rollwage have become our two shining stars for community service. Diana and Bill have laid down the miles between nursing homes every December for several years. This is music performance - extra-ordinaire!!

For December, 2005, Diana handled 11 performances around the Brazosport, Texas area - with her magic flute. This year, her heart melted when one gentleman in the audience began backing her with a pantomine violin.

Encore! Encore!

- Glenn Nelson McBride
Texas Songwriters

Sara Pavlisak, Writing Project

2006-01-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Sara Pavlisak has reportly finished her manuscript of her first book - music album project for children.

- Glenn Nelson McBride

Pandora.com Article

2006-01-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

In February, I'm releasing articles that review Pandora.com for those of us in the music industry. If you have any ideas of how to use this music service in your music endeavors, please let me know.

Glenn Nelson McBride
email at: mcb (at) sbcglobal.net

Birthday Party Coming

2005-09-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Texas Songwriters are invited to Glenn McBride's birthday party on Saturday night, Sept. 10th!!
This isn't the first time this has happened. Please bring your music, poetry - and your instruments.

Please call for directions to the party. It's at the Brazosport Planetarium. Astronomers will be there with telescopes and lots of stuff.

American Experience

2005-09-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

I've sent my piece "America! How They Loved America" to a performance group in Washington, DC.

Arts United of Washington, DC is planning a production of historical moments in America ... natural disasters, human things.

Workshop Coming in Comfort, Texas

2005-09-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

A songwriting workshop has been announced at Old Number 9 in Comfort, Texas for January, 2005. Sounds like it might be a good one!

Texas Songwriters Journal

2005-08-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

Texas Songwriters Journal

Sara Pavliscak is moving toward her next publication - a book of children's songs with CD album. The book will include lead sheets with notation.

Tiny Bird Songs Book-In-Progress

2005-08-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Our newest book project is moving along really well. We've lined up endorsements from individuals and organizations. Duckie has designed a cover and Glenn is in the middle of publisher proposals.
We're still vascillating on the title. Will it be "Tiny Bird Songs - Naked with feathers"?
Anyway! It will be a super way to publish our art and writing - promoting love of birds, poetry and nature.

Glenn and Cherie
YellowBirdStudio.Com

Texas Songwriters Cruise

2005-08-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

A songwriter's cruise will be leaving Galveston in October. It will have some of the best in workshopping and in visiting Mexico! If you're interested, give me a call.
Glenn Nelson McBride - 979 297 8708.

Unsung Hero of Brazosport, Texas

2005-08-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Sharon McKey was appropriately written up as Unsung Hero by our local paper, the Brazosport Facts.Sharon McKey was appropriately written up this month as Unsung Hero by our local paper, the Brazosport Facts.

Sharon is director of the Texas Songwriters group in Brazoria County, Texas. She has accomplished much in the community during the last 20 years ... shelling groups, music, community fine arts center, after-school intermediate schoolers.

St Timothy Stations of the Cross

2005-03-31T06:13:00.000-08:00

Duckie and I had the priviledge of helping St. Timothys in Lake Jackson this year with "Stations of the Cross." This pre-Easter children's service was probably the first for many of the children ... and also for Duckie and I.

Fr. Liz Parker led the event. She had asked Duckie to help the children actually build the stations, using collage paper, sparklies and found things. They spent weeks building the sets. I played several of my spirit pieces, including "Mary Magdalene" (words by Pavvy) and "What Will My Future Say?"

This church group has a faithful regular following. Many adults showed up, even those with no offspring in the event. And the children were perfectly behaved! How refreshing. The overall group is special ... very music and performance-oriented.

On Time and Primed!

2005-03-31T06:02:00.000-08:00

Steve Baker and Sherrie Raeihle have advice for guest performers. Be ready to play if you show up early. You just might have to play as soon as you walk through the door.
That’s what the pair faced in Houston when the first radio guest didn’t show on time.

Of course, that was no hill for a couple of folk steppers like Steve and Sherrie. The Blast from Brazosport came through for us an hour early.

See Steve and Sherrie at Anderson Fair, April 1st!

Sherrie Raeihle and Steve Baker in Houston Today

2005-03-26T12:33:00.000-08:00

Sherrie and Steve's, Bill and Franci's CADE America Band are in Houston right now tearing 'em up on KPFT, 90.1 FM. Listen between 1 and 3pm. Listen to the broadcast on the internet at KPFT.org. It's steamin' and streamin' in both Real Audio and Mp3.
On April 1st, they'll be playing at Andersen Fair. No Fooling!

- Glenn Nelson McBride
Grackle Music Studio
xsongwriters xradiobroadcasts xhouston

SONGWRITER MEETING REPORT - February 19, 2005

2005-03-03T15:44:00.000-08:00

Texas Songwriters, Meeting at Jan & Sara Pavlicak's
February 19, 2005

PRESENT
Sledge, Sara, Carl, Crystal, Paulette, Mike and Glenn

Sara's Presentation
Sara gave a demonstration of Band-In-A-Box, Windows version. Within only a few minutes, she built a chord structure with rhythm designations. And played it back!

MEETING PLACES
We discussed future meeting places. These may include homes and special places in addition to the Center for the Arts. Carl spearheaded an idea that we should be paying dues at the Center to cover our costs. I think most of us were in agreement. Sledge will work on our future status as a public community group and our meeting places.

SARA'S PROJECT FOR MULTI-MEDIA
Sara announced that she has a photographer wanting her to supply of music and photos for collage-documentaries.

SHARON'S PROJECT FOR AMERICANS IN IRAQ
Sharon asked the group for help in supporting American songwriters in Iraq. (Contact her for details.)

YEAR ROUND ACTIVITIES
The grackle pushed for a year-round agenda. Although some of the folks disappear in the summer, many of us are available in the haute months.

SONGWRITER REPORTS -
CARL'S LYRICAL PIECE
Carl played and sang a great piece about "the child."

CRYSTAL SUNSHINE'S PIECE
Crystal performed "Lover, You Should have Come Over."

SARA'S PIECE
Sara performed "Our Father." She developed it in Band-In-A-Box and has printed out lead sheets.

GLENN'S PIECE
Glenn played his work in progress: "Las Hadas House" on Sara's Roland.

NEXT MEETING
Mike volunteered his house for our March Meeting. Hopefully we will get to hear some of his new work. He has purchased a mixer-board-recorder.

Submitted by the grackle

SONGWRITER - Joe Burns of Lake Jackson, Texas

2005-02-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

Joe Burns of Lake Jackson, Texas released his first songwriter album, "Road Runner" in 2003. Joe totally produced the album himself. Prior to living in Lake Jackson, he was on the road - on-stage with bands like Molly Hatchet and Kansas. The Road Runner album includes blues and rock tunes. It showcases his guitar playing.

In 2004, Joe released his second album, Things Ain't What They Seem." It is available at CD Baby.

Listen to great new burns of Burns at his main website: JoeBurnsMusic.com. This is a fine example of a songwriter's website.

- Glenn Nelson McBride

SONGWRITER MEETING - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2005

2005-02-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

SARA PAVLISCAK presents a review of Band-In-A-Box.
Start Time: 3pm.
Place: 202 River Oaks Drive, Lake Jackson
Sara Pavliscak is giving us a presentation on Band in a Box on Sunday, Feb 20th. Since we need to see what she is talking about, we are meeting at her house in Lake Jackson at 3:00 p.m.

REPORT - From the Traveling Robertson Duo

2005-02-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Jack and Joan Robertson are our traveling stars of the road. They're in Florida spreading some starlight in the Stephen Foster State Park. The world is becoming a better place due to the Robertsons and their unrelenting efforts.

Our "studio" is currently a little yellow barn, open on three sides, in Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida. When we are there we play around with a variety of music. When park guests come by, we may play some Stephen Foster tunes, talk about music, instruments, or whatever is on their minds, demonstrate how bagpipes work, and give 5 minute dulcimer lessons. They like to try the musical saw too. On Sunday a local dulcimer/harp/bowed-psaltery (sp?) maker came to show his wares, so we were able to jam a little with him for fun. Other folk artisans work from time to time in other little yellow buildings there -- a blacksmith, quilters, potter, and stained-glass worker currently. We also played at a park coffee house event and plan to greet about 3,000 school children coming to the Battle of Olustee with bagpipes and fiddle next week.

Singer-Songwriter Tips

2005-02-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

Our Singer-Songwriters are a special group. We non-singers always feel a little jealous ripple when they perform!! In our Texas group, we've listened to Sara Pavliscak, Chuck Elliot, Crystal Sunshine, Gene McFatter, Carl Synder, Ginni Leathers, Chuck Jones, Desmond Broomfield, Renee King and others. They can tear at our heart from a matched pair of treasures: their voice and their instrument.

Christine Lavin offers some tips for singer-songwriters.

Christine has won ... "one NAIRD award, two New York Music Awards, five ASCAP composer awards, the Kate Wolf Memorial Award, and her songs have been performed by such diverse artists as Tony Award winning actress (star of "Thoroughly Modern Millie") Sutton Foster, the Dartmouth Decibelles, the Washington D.C. Gay Men’s Chorus, and in 2001 Backstage Magazine named her "Outstanding New York Singer/Songwriter Of The Year."

MICHAEL IS COMING AGAIN

2005-02-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL LUMMUS WILL BE DOING PRODUCTIONS IN BRAZORIA COUNTY in mid-February according to his recent message to the Texas Songwriters:

"I hope this finds you well. Things are great up here. We’re gearing up for a trip to Lake Jackson in two weeks. I’ll be bringing a band in from Nashville to the Brazosport area February 16th-20th. We will be playing at FBC Brazoria on Wednesday the 16th at 6:30pm; Brazosport Christian School on Thursday the 17th at 1:30pm; FBC Lake Jackson Disciple Now on Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th, both at 6:00pm; and FBC Lake Jackson morning services on Sunday the 20th and 10:30am. Let me know if you are interested in coming out to any of the dates. We will also be producing a live recording on Friday and Saturday that will be available for $10. It should be a great time and I look forward to seeing you all."

Songwriter's Instruments Directory

2005-02-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Many of our songwriters use guitar and voice. New songwriters are always wanting to learn how to play guitar. On slick way is to buy the Optik FretLiner. It connects up with MIDI on your computer and "lights the way" to quick learning.
Another writer-friendly instrument was first suggested by Carl Snyder to Ede Weems in 2004, the poet-songwriter. This is the AutoHarp. AutoHarp.Org is a full source of information for you. Ede got one early in January. We'll be hearing reports about this!!

Sara Pavliscak Arranges Original Pieces in 2005

2005-01-22T15:43:00.000-08:00

Sara Pavliscak reports that she added a new piano melody line to one of her originals last night. If it's anywhere near the level of Knocking at my Door, it will hit the top of incredible Christian Music! Knocking at my Door includes some latin-like rhythm segments and achieves great contrast and freshness.

Hopefully, we'll get to hear it soon after she returns from Singapore. Along this theme, we're hoping to have a presentation by a local music arranger soon.

SONGWRITER MEETING - SUNDAY JANUARY 2, 2005

2005-01-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

Michael Lummus from the Nashville music business gave us a presentation. Michael began playing when thirteen or fourteen at Brazosport Christian School. He entered music business studies last year. He is now interning with an recording artist company. He does hands-on stuff there ... marketing research and web management - lots of databasing ... They have 20,000 contacts, agents, promoters, customers and people in their file. Michael Smith and Associates is his company.

He likes to do live engineering production on the weekends. He's certified in Pro Tools software operation and uses it a lot. He got his certification this September. His label, "right-minded records" ... is distributed by a Warner Brothers company. Last year his company fulfilled a performance with the first baptist church at the local shopping mall.

The following are Michael's presentation according to my very rough notes. These are paraphrases of what he said - and not exactly accurate.

Michael said there's a lot of musician/singer talent out there in the world. "It requires a lot of hard work to make it in the long run. About 20 percent of assigned artists make it longterm. "Go Fish" actually left a major label and went back to working regional because they could make more money that way. ... They know their market ... many of the most successful artists are regional artists."

FIND YOUR LISTENER
He had a marketing tip: "Find the typical person that will listen to your music. Find that person and market to that person exclusively. E.g., "Salvador," 8-person christian funk rock espanic audience. They first look at market size, who are they .. 6 million, where do they live? .. get maps from the government ... where is the growth going now?? Texas, Mexico, California, Florida ... also in Washington State, Chicago, New York and the Carolina's. From this, they make up a marketing plan. Prior to doing a concert, they connect with radio stations and other media in the area - They have a special publicist to do the contacting with tv, radio, magazines, newspapers, etc. They look for "free advertising.""

A SONGWRITING ANGLE FOR GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS
"First, find a publisher. The publisher shops around selling the music - they have the contacts and can get the songs to the people - they give advances and royalties ... they will keep the advance part off the top of the royalties when the money comes in.

MORE TIPS
- "NEVER pay any money up front - if it's legitimate, they will be paying you.
- On sending in demos, write the publisher in advance and they will respond if they're interested.
- Find an artist that sounds similar to what you're doing ... then everyone will know the right listeners for your music.
- A good producer will move things along, making sure that things are done the right way. (Find the publisher first, if you're a songwriter. If you're an artist, find a producer.)
- If you begin by managing your own business, then you'll know what's going on if you hand it over to a professional manager - group.

HOW MANY DO THEY WRITE?
Most of the songwriters in Nashville do it part time ... 12-15 songs per year is a good figure. The "Bluebird Cafe" is strictly for songwriters. Songwriters get as much respect as anyone in Nashville.

M's company has one person assigned to do all their radio marketing. ... plugging the songs to the different station directors. Local and college stations are a different market.

EUROPE
European stations will give play to submitters. CD Baby is huge in Europe. Many times, sales are better there. However, there isn't so much money in the European market.

PERFORMANCE RIGHTS AGENCIES
Before you find a publisher, join ASCAP or BMI. You get some credibility from this. SESAC is too small with only a tiny market share.

THE ADVANTAGE OF A TINY INDUSTRY
"It is a tiny industry and you can move around in different careers within the industry ... artist, songwriter, publisher, producer, etc.

MAKE CONNECTIONS!
"Go to any kind of seminar, conference that you can ... meet people." This is how he met his current boss. He also met Thomas Harris, songwriter, at a convention.

MUSIC MARKET AREAS
"Hong Kong is the second largest consumer of country music.
"Austin is on a second level ... especially for Texas Music. It's a good place for a regional band.

BOOK ON THE BUSINESS
"Everything You Wanted to Know about the Music Business" is a good book to get started with. Learn everything you can about the business."

"Berklee Press has a book on "Producing in the Home Studio with Pro Tools."

"The main thing is to enjoy your music," said Michael. "You can do a lot locally, especially in Brazoria County."

THE WWW WEB

"A nice website is very important to an artist - for promotion.

"Folk Rock" is taking off these days. .... "modern John Dylan."

WHAT'S NEXT?
"The industry is looking for something fresh ... something out of the typical niches ...

We invited Michael to come back again - anytime.
xsongwriter xmeeting xnotes

In the Beginning

2005-01-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

BACKGROUND - The Texas Songwriters!

Our Texas Songwriters at the Center for Arts and Science in Brazosport, Texas have been in the business of creating and presenting magnificent music since 1998. It all began with a "Music Forum" sponsored by the Cultural Development Committee and hosted by Renee King of Lake Jackson, Texas. Sharon McKey of Lake Jackson has been the hard-charging director since day-one.