News - November 2007

Hey Everybody,

I'm running behind on everything lately....emails and life in general. We've been dealing with realtors and all........ there are no kind words for that. So let's move on to better things... (And my apologies to the realtors on this list.... :-)

This Saturday November 3rd is our workshop with Pete and Pat Luboff. Two of Nashville's most respected sets of ears. This will be a typical format, lecture/teaching session from 10 until 1pm or so - followed by a lunch break, then a song critiquing session. Bring cd's, cassette or play live. Bring lyric sheets for Pete and Pat. The Luboff's are great at critiquing all types of music not just country. And they work with all skill levels!! Beginners are very welcome! They are professional and articulate, without some of the "edginess or attitude" that some pros have. And I'm not saying who I'm referring to there..... :-)

I've been over this before, but please remember that the Luboff's run one of Nashville's most respected workshops. They're authors of several books (still on the shelves of Borders and Barnes & Noble). And they're just plain nice folks. This is yet another chance for you to step up to the big leagues without having to move to Nashville (and deal with realtors!).

So that's this Saturday November 3rd from 10-5pm (or so) at Skip's Music in Sacramento. The fee is $60 which includes lunch and munchies. Be There! Pay at the door, cash or check.

There are also a few openings left for the Sunday November 4th one-on-one sessions with either Pete or Pat (or both). These private sessions run $60 for 30 minutes or $100 for a 60 minute session. If you want them both for an hour it is $150. This is a great chance to have a very high end coaching session on your writing. This applies to you beginning folks as well as you seasoned writers. Front line Nashville feedback....while still in Sacramento! These sessions will be held in my home studio (address to follow) they are first come first served....let me know soon!

Due to our pending move, there's not much else going on right now. Once we get a solid contract on the house, we'll have a few more gatherings - before we're Tennessee bound. God knows, I'm ready to be there now! I'll plan another Thursday night co-write session too, those were fun and productive. If there has been anything really positive come out of my stint here as coordinator - it's the co-writing focus. It's a hard routine to get used to - but it works! If you haven't got the hang of it yet, please try! It might take a few go arounds to really work - but it will work!

Kurt Ozdaglar will be taking over around the first of the year. I hope that you give Kurt the same support that you've given me. This is very much a team effort, I'm just the guy who sends out the emails. So when you start getting emails from Kurt, then I'm out of the picture. Kurt's a really good guy, a far better musician than I'll ever be, a very solid writer - and a solid producer. NSAI really doesn't do all that much in telling us coordinators what we need to do (and some of what they suggest is juvenile). So as Kurt is adjusting to doing this job, help him out and support him. This chapter needs to continue!

As food for thought on the subject of co-writing. Until about a year and a half ago - I had never tried co-writing. The first couple of times that I tried....it flat didn't work out....period! No discredit to anyone, we just did it incorrectly. In the last 18 months I've co-written with:
Leah Cole,
Mike Percy,
Chris Lentine,
Kurt Ozdaglar,
Dave Baldwin,
Gwen Knittweis,
Debbie Wolfe.,
Jay Stowe,
Paul Hensley,
Barry Webster,
Bob Rog,
Lisa Larkin,
Eric Burton,
Gabrielle Giusti,
Marcie Dillon,
Mike Flanders,
Rex Van Valkenberg,
Steven Porter,
Katie Hensley,
Marc Alan Barnette and probably one or two that I'm forgetting. Not every session produced a completed song, but it all adds to the lesson of co-writing. You'll find out more about yourself by co-writing - than you will by simply writing....Do It!!

And my thanks to all of my honored co-writers.....

That's all for now...We'll see you Saturday and/or Sunday.

With Thanks,

Larry & Beckett Singleton - NSAI Sacramento
8333 Shilling Court
Granite Bay, CA 95746

(916) 797-3767

Larry Singleton:  4singletons@msn.com

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