2024 Workshops
Welcoming Ceremony with Arizona Songwriters Association’s Jon Iger
10:00 – 10:15 AM. AUDITORIUM
Songwriting Tools and Resources
10:00 – 10:50 AM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Singing guitarist and songwriter Sandy Hathaway will reference some of the best songwriting books to present professional information for all songwriters. Learn about the elements of a song, some common song structures, and variations in song structure. Explore ways to create a spotlight, highlight a lyric with a stop, or naturally move the lyrics to the next part of the song.
Ride the Sync Wave: Getting Your Music into Film, TV, and Media
10:15 – 11:15 AM. AUDITORIUM
Tracey Marino and Vance Marino will dive into the creative aspects and the business side of the sync licensing world. Discover insider secrets to making sure your music can be found within the sea of other songs. (Hint: It’s also about metadata!) Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a 60-minute private consultation with Tracey and Vance.
Building a Successful Music Career and Brand as an Independent Artist
11:00 – 11:50 AM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
With over 50,000 songs being uploaded to Spotify every single day, it is vital for indie artists in today’s digital music world to build their brand and “tribe.” Learn the secrets of what it takes to create a brand and style that continues to grow and develop true fans, so you can continue to create the music you were born to do. Presenter Lisa Mitts is an accomplished, award-winning songwriter, performer and artist who started her career in 2011, after her fourth and youngest child was 10 years old. She teaches not from theories but from what she has experienced and achieved.
Diving Deep into Digital Streams: Are You Getting All the Payments You Should Be?
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. AUDITORIUM
Lindsey Major, Head of Customer Experience at the Music Licensing Collective (MLC), will share the essential aspects of mechanical licensing processes, providing insights and best practices for independent artists and songwriters to unlock the full revenue potential of their musical compositions. She will break down the different revenue streams and explore the digital music landscape, making it easy to understand all forms of payment you should be receiving and leaving no money on the table.
Basics of Recording with a Digital Audio Workstation
12:00 – 1:30 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Producer and highly skilled studio engineer John Keenan will discuss getting started with recording using a digital audio workstation (DAW). He will show some of the possibilities of today's best recording tools and share a few advanced tips.
Think Less, Feel More
12:45 – 1:45 PM. AUDITORIUM
Shelly Peiken’s favorite words of advice when she’s asked how to write better songs are “Think less, feel more.” We can all know basic structure and formula, but if we are not in touch with ourselves and willing to share and confess our feelings, our songs won’t connect! Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a signed book by Shelly as well as a 60-minute private consultation.
Songwriting Takeaway Tips from Jimmy Webb
1:30 – 2:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
The only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration, Jimmy Webb has written an incredible catalog of hits, including “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman, “Galveston,” and “MacArthur Park.” Dan Gutenkauf, Chapter Coordinator of NSAI Phoenix, has distilled many hours of research on Jimmy Webb’s legendary songwriting genius, craft, and influences into an insightful and useful set of tips, sure to benefit all songwriters in any genre. Learn how to create new and catchy melodies. Acquire the tools to create interesting and unique lyrics and standout lyric rhymes. Discover sources for great song titles and song ideas. Evaluate whether to begin a song with lyrics, melody or chords. Don’t miss this exploration into the skills which made Jimmy Webb a recipient of the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award and a member of multiple songwriting Halls of Fame.
Acoustic Songs in Film & TV: Americana, Folk, Indie Folk, & Singer-Songwriter
1:45 – 3:15 PM. AUDITORIUM
Are you a writer in the Americana, folk, indie folk, alt country, old-time or roots rock genres? Robin Frederick will discuss how to get songs in these genres placed in film and TV, as well as providing feedback on three preselected songs. Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a signed book by Robin, as well as a 60-minute private consultation.
Enter to have your song critiqued by Robin Frederick at her “Get Your Acoustic Songs into Film & TV” program. Send your song to [email protected] by January 19 with the subject line: “Robin Frederick Song File”. The submission should be in the form of an mp3 attachment or a downloadable link with a lyric pasted into the body of the email. Please view this video if you need help sending your song: How to Email Audio Files (youtube.com)
Song Critique Session
2:00 – 4:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Publisher/producer Les Scott and songwriter Randy Brown will offer positive, constructive feedback on your songs. Bring your song, preferably on phone or CD, or perform live. Lyric sheets are mandatory (bring two copies). Songs will be selected at random.
Prosody: The Most Important Concept in Songwriting
3:15 - 4:15 PM. AUDITORIUM
All the elements of your song should work together to support the song's central message and emotion. Professor Pat Pattinson of the Berklee College of Music will help you gather tools and techniques to make your song stronger and more focused, using structure and phrasing to highlight important ideas and deepen emotional impact. These techniques have helped Pat's students, including John Mayer and Gillian Welch, win Grammys and write number one songs. Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a signed book by Pat.
10:00 – 10:15 AM. AUDITORIUM
Songwriting Tools and Resources
10:00 – 10:50 AM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Singing guitarist and songwriter Sandy Hathaway will reference some of the best songwriting books to present professional information for all songwriters. Learn about the elements of a song, some common song structures, and variations in song structure. Explore ways to create a spotlight, highlight a lyric with a stop, or naturally move the lyrics to the next part of the song.
Ride the Sync Wave: Getting Your Music into Film, TV, and Media
10:15 – 11:15 AM. AUDITORIUM
Tracey Marino and Vance Marino will dive into the creative aspects and the business side of the sync licensing world. Discover insider secrets to making sure your music can be found within the sea of other songs. (Hint: It’s also about metadata!) Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a 60-minute private consultation with Tracey and Vance.
Building a Successful Music Career and Brand as an Independent Artist
11:00 – 11:50 AM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
With over 50,000 songs being uploaded to Spotify every single day, it is vital for indie artists in today’s digital music world to build their brand and “tribe.” Learn the secrets of what it takes to create a brand and style that continues to grow and develop true fans, so you can continue to create the music you were born to do. Presenter Lisa Mitts is an accomplished, award-winning songwriter, performer and artist who started her career in 2011, after her fourth and youngest child was 10 years old. She teaches not from theories but from what she has experienced and achieved.
Diving Deep into Digital Streams: Are You Getting All the Payments You Should Be?
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. AUDITORIUM
Lindsey Major, Head of Customer Experience at the Music Licensing Collective (MLC), will share the essential aspects of mechanical licensing processes, providing insights and best practices for independent artists and songwriters to unlock the full revenue potential of their musical compositions. She will break down the different revenue streams and explore the digital music landscape, making it easy to understand all forms of payment you should be receiving and leaving no money on the table.
Basics of Recording with a Digital Audio Workstation
12:00 – 1:30 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Producer and highly skilled studio engineer John Keenan will discuss getting started with recording using a digital audio workstation (DAW). He will show some of the possibilities of today's best recording tools and share a few advanced tips.
Think Less, Feel More
12:45 – 1:45 PM. AUDITORIUM
Shelly Peiken’s favorite words of advice when she’s asked how to write better songs are “Think less, feel more.” We can all know basic structure and formula, but if we are not in touch with ourselves and willing to share and confess our feelings, our songs won’t connect! Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a signed book by Shelly as well as a 60-minute private consultation.
Songwriting Takeaway Tips from Jimmy Webb
1:30 – 2:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
The only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration, Jimmy Webb has written an incredible catalog of hits, including “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman, “Galveston,” and “MacArthur Park.” Dan Gutenkauf, Chapter Coordinator of NSAI Phoenix, has distilled many hours of research on Jimmy Webb’s legendary songwriting genius, craft, and influences into an insightful and useful set of tips, sure to benefit all songwriters in any genre. Learn how to create new and catchy melodies. Acquire the tools to create interesting and unique lyrics and standout lyric rhymes. Discover sources for great song titles and song ideas. Evaluate whether to begin a song with lyrics, melody or chords. Don’t miss this exploration into the skills which made Jimmy Webb a recipient of the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award and a member of multiple songwriting Halls of Fame.
Acoustic Songs in Film & TV: Americana, Folk, Indie Folk, & Singer-Songwriter
1:45 – 3:15 PM. AUDITORIUM
Are you a writer in the Americana, folk, indie folk, alt country, old-time or roots rock genres? Robin Frederick will discuss how to get songs in these genres placed in film and TV, as well as providing feedback on three preselected songs. Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a signed book by Robin, as well as a 60-minute private consultation.
Enter to have your song critiqued by Robin Frederick at her “Get Your Acoustic Songs into Film & TV” program. Send your song to [email protected] by January 19 with the subject line: “Robin Frederick Song File”. The submission should be in the form of an mp3 attachment or a downloadable link with a lyric pasted into the body of the email. Please view this video if you need help sending your song: How to Email Audio Files (youtube.com)
Song Critique Session
2:00 – 4:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Publisher/producer Les Scott and songwriter Randy Brown will offer positive, constructive feedback on your songs. Bring your song, preferably on phone or CD, or perform live. Lyric sheets are mandatory (bring two copies). Songs will be selected at random.
Prosody: The Most Important Concept in Songwriting
3:15 - 4:15 PM. AUDITORIUM
All the elements of your song should work together to support the song's central message and emotion. Professor Pat Pattinson of the Berklee College of Music will help you gather tools and techniques to make your song stronger and more focused, using structure and phrasing to highlight important ideas and deepen emotional impact. These techniques have helped Pat's students, including John Mayer and Gillian Welch, win Grammys and write number one songs. Audience members will be entered into a drawing for a signed book by Pat.