| |
|
Share
your ideas for events you'd like to see offered
in the Eastern Region. Contact the East Coast
Regional Manager Mark Saxon at ny@songwritersguild.com or
call him at (212) 768-7902.
The
SGA is also eager to hear your ideas for events
or services for the West Coast. Share your ideas
with us at webmaster@songwritersguild.com. |
|
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!
|