PASA EVENTS

OTHER PAGES

GENERAL INFORMATION

Membership and most events are free. When events are held in private homes, we require all attendees to provide full name, address, and phone number. Join our mailing list by forwarding this information to PASA Membership at membership@pasamusic.org

CONTACT PASA

For further information, suggestions, etc. about our organization, email us at info@pasamusic.org

To contact Wes the Webmaster, email webmaster@pasamusic.org

PASA Winter SongWorks

PASA's Winter SongWorks event is a day of songwriting workshops and clinics covering several different aspects of the craft, capped off by an evening open stage of original-song performances. It's a great opportunity to network with fellow songwriters, exchange ideas, promote your gigs, find treasures at the "swap table" and, of course, get your muse out of the winter doldrums to write new songs!

Please pre-register by emailing Sharon Abbott at info@pasamusic.org (put "SongWorks Pre-registration" in the subject line). You are welcome to attend without signing up beforehand, but pre-registering is appreciated.

Details:

Sorry, details not found. Please check back later.
You may attend the entire event, or just come for the afternoon or evening. There is no admission fee, but we will collect about $5-8 per each person who wishes to chip in toward the pizza-and-salad dinner (or you may opt to bring or order your own).

Please bring:

Any materials required for the workshop you attend (see list below)
A healthy snack or beverage to share
A folding chair
Your instruments (keyboards will be available for open stage as well as most workshops)
Your songs for workshops and the open stage
Any unfinished songs you'd like to bring to a workshop
Your lunch, if arriving at 11:30 am
Money, if chipping in for pizza and salad dinner or if purchasing a CD of your open stage performance (with mailer - see "Open Stage" info below)
Your CDs to sell, your business cards and flyers for networking
Any items you wish to give away at the Swap Table

As with all PASA events: no smoking, no alcohol, no illegal substances, etc.

SongWorks SCHEDULE:

Time	Upstairs	Downstairs
11:30 am - 12:30 pm	GATHER Greet, chat, eat lunch (bring your own)
12:30 - 1:45 pm WORKSHOP PERIOD 1	"Crafting Memorable Songs" Led by Briz Great songwriting is not haphazard. The "one-size-fits-all" or "throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks" approach doesn't lend itself to crafting memorable songs. Good songwriters choose just the right combination of lyric and melody to convey mood and emotion. Each participant will attempt to do the same in a writing exercise. We'll also discuss individual songwriting styles and how to write for your audience. Together we will make the process a little easier to understand.	"Fingerpickin' Good" Led by Bob Mecklenburger Ask a songwriting guitarist where his idea for a song came from, and chances are he'll say something like "I was fiddling with a fingerpicking rhythm and some chords and I got into this groove..." Fingerpicking doesn't just accompany a song; it enhances and emphasizes the melody and lyrics. In this workshop, you'll learn how fingerpicking leads the listener musically through the harmonic structure of a song, and use some of those styles and techniques to write your own.
1:55 - 3:10 pm WORKSHOP PERIOD 2	"Steal This Hook" Led by David Kleiner Ever heard the hook of a song that sounded very familiar, but you couldn't quite identify it? Very likely, it's because that hook was "lifted" from part of a hook of another successful song. Learn to write songs that evoke that recognition for your listeners! We'll give you some notes, a key, and some words -- or you can bring a phrase of a song you can't get out of your head -- to get you started.	"How to Set Up Your Performer Website" Led by Wes Powers Have you thought about setting up a performer web site for yourself, but have no idea where to begin? Wes Powers, our PASA webmaster, will present an overview of the process. We'll try to demystify the internet and discuss what is involved in setting up a site: domain names, web hosting, and so on. We'll talk about the different options available, and how much each costs. We'll also talk about posting photos, MP3 songs, and videos. There will be lots of time for Q&A, so bring your web questions!
3:20 - 4:35 pm WORKSHOP PERIOD 3	"Re-write, Co-write" Led by Jim Harris Re-writing with a partner gives a songwriter double the imagination pool and an objective sounding board for what is really working in his songs and what isn't. We'll discuss the importance of re-writing and co-writing, famous songs that were improved by this process, and how most professional songwriters co-write. Then we'll pair up to re-write and co-write a song. Bring a song idea, fragment, or even a finished song that could benefit from collaborative re-writing.	"How to Make a Video for MindTV" Led by Joe Fanning with Blair Savercool A hands-on demonstration of creating a 5-minute video specifically designed to be broadcast on MindTV. It's a simple process, it's fun, and it's easy to do even if you don't own a video camera. You will learn what public television requires in order to have your song published, as well as tips on scripting and editing your video. You too can see and hear your song 12 times a month on MindTV -- find out how!
PIZZA ORDER TAKEN BETWEEN PERIODS 3 AND 4
4:45 - 6:00 pm WORKSHOP PERIOD 4	"The Sincerest Form of Flattery" Led by Rob Lincoln Ever try writing in the style of a famous (or not so famous) songwriter? Here's your chance to style your song like an icon: from Bacharach to Cobain, Melloncamp to McCartney, Ani to Joni. You'll choose a name at random, and we will set it up to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. This exercise mirrors a songwriting process that has been used regularly by some of the greats.	"Writing 12-Bar Blues" Led by Kevin Mulderig We'll discuss the origins of 12-bar blues and famous artists of the genre, and we'll explore its characteristic lyrical patterns, chord progressions and variations. A demonstration of some techniques such as note-bending, shuffle rhythms and turnarounds will follow. Then each participant will choose a topic and write a blues song to perform for the group
6:00 - 7:00 pm	DINNER Pizza and salad, or bring your own
7:00 - 7:30 pm	SIGN UP FOR OPEN STAGE Socialize or polish up new songs written during the workshops
7:30 - 9:30 pm	SONGWORKS OPEN STAGE We encourage participants to share a song (or song fragment) created during the day! You may also perform one other original song you have written during the event or previously. Blair Savercool will be recording this informal concert. If you would like to have a CD of your performance mailed to you, please bring $6 to cover Blair's cost of the CD, mailer and postage (or bring your own CD-ROM and SASE to give to Blair).
9:30 - 10:00 pm	CLEAN UP & FAREWELLS Everyone is asked to pitch in and clean up at the end of this event. Janet has graciously offered her hospitality, so please help us to be good guests - don't leave cups, napkins or or other litter in her home!

MUSICAL SWAP TABLE

Bring to swap: used CDs, music-related books, small instruments, accessories or musical gadgets that you are finished with and would like to pass on for someone else to enjoy. Place them on the Swap Table when you arrive, and take items that you find appealing. You do not need to have brought something to take something. It's first come, first serve and completely on the honor system.

DIRECTIONS

For directions, please email Sharon at info@pasamusic.org by 2:00 pm Friday, April 9 (please put "SongWorks Directions" in subject line), or email Janet directly at maxyskid@gmail.com If you need assistance on the day of the event, call Janet at 856-795-3789. If you haven't already told us, let us know if you need special transportation or if you can help provide a ride.