East Coast Regional Project Manager Mark Saxon is a fellow songwriter who enjoys hearing from members. For further information on any of these events - or just to talk music - give Mark a call or drop him an e-mail. He can be reached at:

Mark Saxon
East Coast Project Manager
Songwriters Guild of America
1560 Broadway, Suite 408
New York NY 10036
ny@songwritersguild.com
(212) 768-7902

November 13-16, 2008
The Write Key Songwriting Weekend
During the first weekend of the
2008 Frank Brown Int'l Songwriters Festival
Island House Hotel—Orange Beach, Alabama
Go here to learn more!

Tuesday, January 20 (Entry Deadline is January 13)
Pitch Screen
Free to SGA members
A Mail-in Event

The first 25 song entries received by the NY office by January 13 will get a chance to have their song heard by an industry executive. A pitch screen means that an industry executive will listen to your song and determine whether or not they feel that the song is “pitch-ready”. "Pitch-ready" songwriters will be granted access to our online pitch page to pitch your material directly to artists, labels, etc. If you pass three screenings, you will have permanent access to our pitch page! You must be a current Songwriters Guild member to participate.

Send ONE song only, on CD, to the NY Office (Songwriters Guild of America 1560 Broadway, Suite 408, NY, NY, 10036). Besides the CD, include a typed lyric sheet, and indicate on the envelope that the song is for the January pitch screen. Make sure to include all of your contact information, including your e-mail address on both your lyric sheet and your CD in order to be notified of the results. CD’s will not be returned.

Thursdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26
Martin Briley Workshop: Songwriting For Musicians
$120-160 total cost for 8-hour course
All member levels and non-members invited

Born in London, England, Martin began playing and writing music when he was ten. By the time he was seventeen and still at Art school, with his band Mandrake he signed his first record deal with Parlophone/EMI, and subsequently had the honor of recording at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. He was later signed to George Martins AIR group of companies and then went on to become an important part of the London studio scene as an arranger, vocalist and one of the most sought after session guitarists around.

After a brief stint with the British art rock band Greenslade, Martin moved to New York where he immediately found work as a touring and session musician for such artists as Meatloaf, Ellen Foley and Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson. He then signed as a solo artist to Mercury Records winning critical acclaim for his three self-penned albums, though he is probably best known for his top 40 and MTV hit single "Salt in My Tears".

Since then Martin has become one of the most prominent writers in America. He has collaborated with everyone from Marvin Hamlisch to Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, and has written songs for many multi-platinum artists such as Skye Sweetnam, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Dream, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Pat Benatar, Jessica Andrews, 5-Star, Jeff Healey, Rebecca St. James, Nana Mouskouri, Willy Nile, Gregg Allman and Barry Manilow, to name a few.

He also writes, produces and sings on jingles, TV underscores and has received orchestral commissions. As an instrumentalist he has recorded and/or performed with Julian Lennon, Bonnie Tyler, Neil Sedaka, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lulu, Mick Jones of Clash, Donna Summer, Dan Huff, Cliff Richards, Charlie Pride, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Mathis, Michel Legrand, the Hollies, Anton Fig, Chris Squire, Meatloaf, Tom Jones, Albert Hammond, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Andy Williams, G.E.Smith, Jim Steinman, Charles Aznavour and Jimmy Webb.

As a vocalist he can be heard everywhere, from recordings by Celine Dion and Mark Anthony to Glade Air Freshener and the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack.

He has also had the distinction of being named the ASCAP Foundation’s Songwriter in Residence at Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2004, and has since then lectured at Berklee and the New School University in Manhattan. He is currently writing, producing and programming tracks for many new young artists.

For all four Thursdays in February (6-8pm, an 8-hour course in total), Martin will be teaching a very well structured course, Songwriting For Musicians, a widely acclaimed course that has garnered critical acclaim from his students. It is a course for aspiring artists/songwriters who have at least a rudimentary knowledge of guitar and/or piano and who wish to learn how to write songs. Students are involved in creating new songs based on elements of existing popular songs. These newly-created works are the means by which students explore all aspects of song construction including structure, chords, chord alternatives, melodic rhythm and tension, modulations, arrangement, lyric-writing and creative economy. Additional subjects discussed are demo recording, the music publishing world, and the benefits and politics of collaboration.

This workshop will be held at the Songwriters Guild NY offices (1560 Broadway, New York NY Suite 408) Martin’s last workshop for the Guild filled up quickly, so to avoid disappointment, we recommend reserving a spot as soon as possible.

Total price for the 8-hour course will be $120.00 for Guild Diamond members, $130.00 for Guild Platinum members, $140.00 for Guild Gold members and $160.00 for non-members. All NSAI members may also register at the $140.00 price.

To reserve your spot, a $50.00 deposit is required. Please send a check, payable to The Songwriters Guild Foundation, to Songwriters Guild of America Foundation 1560 Broadway Suite 408 New York NY 10036. Attn: Mark Saxon-Martin Briley Workshop. Space is limited, and reserved on a check received first come first served basis.

Each Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m.
ProShop

Songwriter Ann Ruckert presents her ProShop at the New York SGA office. At every session, twenty of the area's most talented up-and-coming songwriters play one track, each, for distinguished industry professionals from all walks of the music industry. Over 60 Pro Shop participants have signed recording and/or publishing deals within the last three years.

Attendees must earn space in this class based on songwriting skills. To be authorized,e-mail ruckmusic@aol.com.

Last Monday of every month, 7 p.m. (open to the public)
Songwriters Circle

Ann Ruckert, in conjunction with the Songwriters Guild of America, the Johnny Mercer Fund Songwriter Circle and 13 Stories Records, Inc., presents a fabulous FREE songwriters circle, attended by industry professionals, on the last Monday of every month. Event begins at 7 p.m. at the Red Lion, in the heart of Greenwich Village (151 Bleecker Street, NYC. For further information, e-mail ruckmusic@aol.com.

Each Monday Night Online
“OPEN DOOR” Chat with Matt Angel
SGA Writers' Lounge
Do you have questions about songwriting, publishing, copyright or just want to connect with other songwriters? Join Matt Angel and other SGA members every Monday night (excluding holidays) from 9 to 11 PM EST in the SGA Writers Lounge Chat Room. To participate, go to www.songwritersguild.com, click on the “Writers Lounge” tab at the top of the screen. Log in with your username and password. Click on “Writers Lounge Chat Room” on the side of your screen to join the chat!

If you do not have a username and password, or have misplaced your information, please contact Membership Services Manager Kitty Wright at membership@songwritersguild.com.

Attention SGA Members: Do You Have Some Exciting News To Share About Your Songwriting Career?

Songwriters Guild of America members, do you have some interesting news to share about your songwriting career? Is one of your songs on a new album or in a film? Have you just finished up a CD project? Did you recently win a Grammy or other major award? Did you sign a new publishing deal? If so, we would like to know! Please send your information to Mark Saxon at ny@songwritersguild.com for consideration in our monthly newsletter. In the subject line, please write MEMBER UPDATE—NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION. We look forward to hearing from you!

©2008, Further Communications