It’s with great sadness that I update this post with news of Mark’s passing in November of 2023. But we still have his voice right here… so listen in and be freshly aware of the preciousness of each day we have to make a little music and another friend. Miss you, Mark. I first met… Read More » about The Multi-Creative Soul – Interview with Mark Elliott -updated 2024
Songwriting
How to Succeed at Life, Love & Songwriting – Interview with Dallas Frazier
Dallas and me after our interview, photo by Sharon Frazier NOTE: The audio player should appear below, if not, please click on the title of this post and go online to hear. Available also on iTunes , Google Play, TuneIn Radio, Android apps Long-lasting success in a music career is uncommon, elusive, and something many of us in the… Read More » about How to Succeed at Life, Love & Songwriting – Interview with Dallas Frazier
A Lyrical Journey to Phenomenal Singing… Part 1 by Salem Jones
My guest blogger Salem Jones From Judy- A few years ago I was active in a singer’s forum online and met the incomparable Canadian artist Salem Jones. Fueled by our like-mindedness and mutual curiosity, we have become close friends, regularly having tea via webcam as we chat about all things life. She is a fiery… Read More » about A Lyrical Journey to Phenomenal Singing… Part 1 by Salem Jones
7 Songwriter Round Mistakes No One But Your Mama Will Love
A very special songwriter round in my life… Kevin Sharp, Jerry Foster, Jim McBride and me at what would be one of Kevin’s last. NOTE: The audio player should appear below, if not, please click on the title of this post and go online to hear. Available also on iTunes, Google Play and Android podcast… Read More » about 7 Songwriter Round Mistakes No One But Your Mama Will Love
The Power of Getting To The Point – Your Central Message As Songwriter, Singer, Speaker
NOTE: The audio player should appear below, if not, please click on the title of this post and go online to hear. Available also on iTunes, Google Play and Android podcast apps. Writing the Message Great songs, like any great art, have a point. The listener should be able to ‘get’ this central ‘take away’,… Read More » about The Power of Getting To The Point – Your Central Message As Songwriter, Singer, Speaker
Repeating Lyrics: How to Turn Boring Into Mesmerizing
Can your choruses make a house cat yawn? Read on… NEW: I’m experimenting with creating this audio version of the post. Let me know if you find it helpful: So we all understand the value of a repeating ‘hook’ line in songwriting. But how do you repeat the same words multiple times without boring yourself… Read More » about Repeating Lyrics: How to Turn Boring Into Mesmerizing
How and When Should You Copyright A Song?
Your songwriting is a form of intellectual property, and as such, it falls to you to protect it from theft. There are different levels of protection you can use. There is the paper and electronic trail… dated lyric sheets, worktape recordings, emails to cowriters, etc. NOTE: The ‘poor man’s copyright’ (sending your song through certified… Read More » about How and When Should You Copyright A Song?
Songwriter Vocal Strain: Hazards of Singing While Writing Songs
Unless the song is an instrumental, the act of songwriting requires a lot of singing during the creative process. Many times your passion for the piece will take you the extremes of your vocal range. If you are a songwriter or co-writer who creates melody lines, you may have experienced vocal fatigue while writing. It’s… Read More » about Songwriter Vocal Strain: Hazards of Singing While Writing Songs
Protecting Your Songs: Practical Tips from Nashville
The voice of the songwriter creates intellectual property… an artistic and financial asset. The asset (song) need to be protected before publicly performing it, licensing it, releasing it, sending it out in the world. Here is the way we in Nashville like to do it: Get all cowriters’ and co-publishers’ info Too many times… Read More » about Protecting Your Songs: Practical Tips from Nashville
The Writing Voice: Punctuation Communicates!
Ron Oates Hi all… In keeping with my theme for this blog “All Things Vocal”, I want to address the writing voice today. It matters. Music makers also need to be able to communicate in non-musical ways, and be assessed as somewhat intelligent to be taken seriously. I am stunned at the bad presentation of… Read More » about The Writing Voice: Punctuation Communicates!