Hey songwriters, The monthly songwriting assignments, originally a good idea from Howard Davidson (bachblue@aol.com), have evolved into a motivational tool intended to give members who are stuck in a songwriting drought something to write about. The optional assignments can coax members out of comfort zones, provide deadlines for procrastinators, encourage songwriters to think about and articulate what […]
Hey songwriters, The chorus is more than just a recurring part of a song. Members of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle showed why at the group’s Aug. 1 meeting, where the monthly focus was on “the chorus.” Playing original songs and describing their goals for the chorus, members explained that a well-written chorus can provide perspective when […]
Hey songwriters, Thanks are owed to Brian Junker (junkerb@gmail.com) for hosting the June Circle meeting, and to David Hipchen (dhipchen@yahoo.com) for hosting the open stages while I was taking a much-needed vacation. Both did a great job. I didn’t do so great — I got the July assignment wrong in last week’s meeting announcement. Nevertheless, […]
Hey songwriters, I’m still psyched about the May 2 Circle meeting — a perfect storm of capacity attendance, nearly total assignment participation and the return of a long lost group member who writes great songs. It wasn’t difficult for songwriters to put their distinctive spins on familiar covers. In doing so, many said they came […]
Hey Songwriters, Saying the lyrics instead of singing them while playing an instrument isn’t easy. Still, several good spoken-word songs were performed at the April meeting of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle. Mike Hickman (studio@fallguys.net), producer of the group’s annual compilation album, offered studio tips and met with newcomers to the project. In the featured slot, Howard […]
Hey songwriters, Granted, “asymmetrical song structure” sounds like something scribbled on a mathematician’s chalk board. Group members called it everything but that when they showcased old songs and new written with unconventionally stacked stanzas at the March meeting of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle. In addition to hearing good material from new members and welcoming an old […]
Hey songwriters, All of the seats were occupied at the Feb. 7 Songwriters Circle meeting, lots of good songs were shared, quality critiques and discussions were exchanged and we finished in time for Calliope Songwriters Open Stage to start at 9 p.m. with an outstanding featured set by Jon Eric (trickyhipster@gmail.com). Good work, people. Rohlf […]
Hey songwriters, The Jan. 3 meeting went well — bla bla bla — but the showcasing and discussion of the monthly songwriting assignment was outstanding. Mention “songwriting mechanics” to some amateur songwriters and you get a blank stare. Sounds too complicated, too professional, too hard to think about what I’m doing, too … not fun. […]
Hey songwriters. Sometimes it’s hard to write a happy song, but a few members tried to put a smile at the end of the chorus at the final Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle meeting of 2016. A good crowd showed up Tuesday and discussed, analyzed and critiqued old songs that had been dusted off because they fit […]
Hey songwriters, OK, so the fairy tale songwriting assignment bombed. Just a few takers and a lot of people didn’t bring a song … or even an instrument. But it gave the meeting’s 24 Songwriters Circle members, including three newcomers, an opportunity to do something we usually can’t because of time constraints. Discussion ranged from […]
