Just when you think you know everything about the music business, everything changes. This workshop covers the nuts and bolts of how to make money with your music without giving away all your rights.  Join successful songwriter Amanda Williams.  Rescheduled to Fall 2012, date TBA.

Please join us Monday April 9th, 7:30pm for the FREE monthly Forum:  Self-Marketing 101, with NARIP President and Music Industry guru Tess Taylor.  Learn how we as songwriters, artists, and producers should navigate the complexities of the music business in promoting our work.  This will be an informative and inspiring night.  Come to take notes and to ask questions from THE source.

Saturdays are busy at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles.  Last Saturday before popular LA band Oak & Gorski spent the first of two days locking out A Studio of The Sound Boutique Studios on campus at The Songwriting School, hit writer Guy Roche ("If I Could Turn Back Time") brought in 'Glee' composer and actor Brad Ellis to record on the 19th century Steinway B grand piano.

The principle that drives successful co-writing relationships comes to us from the world of improvisational comedy.  “Yes, And…” In Improv, “Yes, And…” means that you accept a suggestion positively (Yes!), and you contribute something of your own to the exchange (And).  No matter how crazy the suggestion.  Because we can’t know where this all will lead, we accept and add to each idea in the faith that it will all lead to something we might truly love.  This kind of positivity makes great things possible.  May it make for great songs and great collaborative relationships in your lives.

The Durango Songwriters Expo March 1st-3rd gathers hit writers, aspiring writers, publishers, A&R, film/tv music supervisors, and more in the wine country of Santa Barbara for an intimate, powerful gathering about the craft and business of songwriting.  This year we are honored to be able to offer a FULL SCHOLARSHIP and three Partial Scholarships to deserving members of The Songwriting School community.  Please see the attached graphic for more info about the event.  Download the full application to attend the event (see the attachments tab below), mention that you are a student of The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, and you can attend for $75 off the $299 event fee.

On Monday, 2/6/12 at 7:30pm The Songwriting School of Los Angeles welcomes Producer/Songwriter Joe Solo (Macy Gray, Fergie) to The Forum, a monthly FREE event, to discuss the role that production and presentation play in the perception of a song, and how good production can enhance the marketability of your materiel. He will emphasize the human aspects of music production, illustrated with before & after examples. Audience members are encouraged to bring their material for an on-the-spot critiques.

 

Just write.

 

 

 

 View and download The Songwriter's Chain in PDF form here.

Need a class, assignments, and talented group of peers to hold you accountable?  Check out all the amazing courses currently offered HERE.

THE SONGWRITING SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES

www.thesongwritingschool.com   •  818-848-SONG 

From Hooks to Production, Voice to Guitar, Motown to the Brill Building, the Spring 2012 Course Offerings at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles have something for writers, singers, and musicians of all experience levels.  Instructors include Grammy Winning and Nominated Songwriters, former Motown and Brill Building Hit Writers, ASCAP & BMI Song of the Year Award Winners, film/tv composers and placed songwriters, in-demand touring and session players, and more.  And finally in the Spring of 2012, ONLINE CLASSES!  Anywhere in the world, take such popular courses as THE ROOTS (our foundational course for song study), Motown Secrets to Songwriting (with Motown Hit Writer Clay Drayton), and Song Creation with Logic Pro 9 (with composer and author Jay Asher), and more.

The December FREE Forum on Wednesday, 12/14 at 7:30pm features student performances, tuition and studio discount drawings, networking opportunities, and a special surprise guest appearance.  Join us for all this and a holiday celebration to take stock of all 2011 brought and aim our talents and passions toward great things in 2012.  

Join us for the November Forum, the FREE monthly event at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles on Monday 11/14, 7:30pm.  This month's guests MoTown Hit Writer Clay Drayton and vocal Coach Michael Goodrich.

On Wednesday, 11/16 at 7:30pm Disc Makers' Sydney Alston will be joined by music industry insider Matt Akana to bring you an informative workshop on the finer points of releasing a single.

The Songwriting School of Los Angeles is proud and honored to welcome top LA Vocal Coach and Voice Instructor Michael Goodrich for on-campus and online private work four days per week!  For more than 25 years, Michael Goodrich has been helping singers in all genres of music reach their fullest potential.   With satisfied clients ranging from celebrities like Mike Myers, Dakota Fanning, and David Hasselhoff to emerging artists like our own Julie Mintz, Michael Goodrich has earned the highest level of respect in the voice community, both in Los Angeles and beyond.  Through a special arrangement, students of The Songwriting School can work with this in-demand coach and teacher at significantly reduced rates. 

Record your songs professionally, affordably: Saturday, April 28, 10am-6pm.    In a bygone era in the music industry, when a songwriter wanted to pitch a song to a publisher or an artist, she needed a “demonstration version” of the song.  Often a simple guitar and vocal or piano and vocal recording, this demonstration, or “demo” as it came to be called, would allow all involved to make educated decisions about if and how to spend money and time making a commercial recording of the song.

The Forum, the FREE monthly event at The Songwriting School, reprises an old favorite with a new twist.  Join us Wednesday, October 5th, 7:30pm for COLLABORATOR SPEED-DATING.  Songwriters find singers, artists find bandmates or producers, songwriters find co-writers, musicians find community.

Special guest presentation by Maria Christensen, whose credits include co-writing the hit "Waiting for Tonight" for Jennifer Lopez.

The May event filled up with more than 40 collaborators.  Please RSVP to reserve your spot:  818-848-7664 or fill out THIS FORM.  (Click on the headline above if this doesn't appear as a hyperlink to you...)

The night's program will begin with a presentation on collaboration by a surprise guest.  In the past five months we have featured a Grammy Winner, two Grammy nominees, a #1 hit writer, and a writer recorded by everyone from Celine to Luther Vandross.  Count on another great night of learning, connecting, and community.

Can't attend but want to:  once again the event will be broadcast live.  Like our Facebook page and find the link there prior to the 7:30pm Pacific telecast on 10/5.    Expect a great gathering, a chance to network with other writers, and an evening of learning from a master.

Again, to attend, RSVP with the number in your party to 818-848-7664.  Or fill out THIS FORM.  

See you at The Forum!

At the ASCAP Expo 2010, noted Billboard author and Berklee instructor Eric Beall delivered a presentation entitled The Nuts and Bolts of the Music Business.  What follows are notes from that session in which he spells out five critical steps to success as a songwriter in the Music Industry.

 

 

International pop recordings, indie film scores, singer/songwriter records, songwriter demos, remote drum tracks, jazz recordings, hip hop vocals, mixing, Americana band full-length, pop-country EP, rock band singles, voice and production classes and lessons...so many great sounds and songs were recorded in The Sound Boutique Studios this spring and summer 2011.  Write-ups and wrap-ups coming soon!  To tour the facilities or discuss recording your project here, call 818-848-7664.

The first FREE Forum Event of the Fall 2011 semester will be Wednesday, 9/14 at 7:30pm.  Songmaking Now & Then, From Woody to Whitney.  With special guests two-time Grammy nominated songwriter and producer Frankie Fuchs and former MoTown staff writer and current film composer and Logic Pro expert Jay Asher.  Presentations and discussion on the modern and timely tools of songmaking and the properties of timeless songs.

To reserve your spot, simply RSVP and leave your contact information at 818-848-7664 OR you can RSVP by e-mail.  Please leave your phone number as well if you will be joining us in person. 

The event will be streamed on The Songwriting School Livestream Channel at 7:30pm Pacific Time.

Tim Fagan co-wrote "Lucky" with Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, the Grammy-winning song for Best Duo with Pop Collaboration with Vocals.  Tim joins us at the August Forum at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, Wednesday, August 24th, 7:30pm.

One of the powerful resources of community is the shared learning that comes from the work we do.  One person's success can make another's possible.  One person's example can light the way for another in dark times.  We feel this powerful resource at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles growing, daily.

At the December 2010 Forum event, the monthly free event at The Songwriting School, a number of our students performed original songs and shared a significant lesson they had learned on the front lines of writing songs.  Below is a brief clip from that event.

To attend the next Forum, please call 818-848-7664 / 818-848-SONG.

Below is a sample Collaborator's Agreement. In it, in addition to the typical "split sheet" designations, there is language which the co-writers use to address in advance uses, costs, and other concerns related to the collaboration. This sample is provided for educational purposes only. Please fashion the language appropriate to your collaborative relationships and, if appropriate, consult an attorney. We advocate thoughtful, open, respectful communication in all aspects and phases of the collaboration to promote healthy, enduring writing relationships.

Want to learn more about Co-Writing and write with other songwriters in a variety of genres? The Songwriting School of Los Angeles is proud to offer Co-Writing Songs: The Art & Business of Collaboration. Click on the link for dates, info, and registration for the course.  Thanks to Patricia Bahia for her significant contributions to these materials.

 

Songwriter Split Agreement 

This Agreement is entered into with respect to the following musical composition(s):

_______________________________________________________________________

The undersigned songwriters have collaborated in the creation of the aforementioned composition(s) with the following understanding:

1. Songwriting credit, publishing, and ownership of master recording is divided as follows, and all sums received from exploitation thereof as well as all approved expenses incurred, will be divided as follows::

Composition Title Writer’s Name Percentage Share
 
_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2. Reasonable and agreed-upon expenses to prepare or present the song(s)
(for example, demo recording costs, copyright fees, song contest fees, submission fees to publishers, etc.). shall be reimbursed in full out of any sums received from exploitation of the song(s). Only after expenses have been fully repaid shall the remainder of the sums received be shared according to the percentages listed above. We agree to maintain receipts for any reasonable expense in order to receive reimbursement.

3. We agree that we shall disclose and list each party hereto as the composer of his/her applicable percentage share, on any and all documents relating to the composition, including without limitation, copyright registration forms and information we may provide to music publishers and performing rights societies.

4. We agree that if one or more samples of other musical compositions are incorporated into the composition, then (circle one)

all of the above shares shall be reduced proportionately

the shares of ________________________only shall be reduced proportionately

The following list of samples represent all of those samples which are embodied in the above composition:
Sample Title Sample Writer’s Sample Sample
Name Publisher Label

5. Any of the undersigned writers have equal rights to issue licenses for any use of the song(s), and agree to pay the other(s) appropriate shares of any money received as specified in Paragraph 1 and 2 above

6. Any of the undersigned writers, with approval of all undersigned writers, may authorize changes to the lyric or melody of the song(s) and may reduce the shares of alI of us in equal proportion to compensate any new songwriter(s) adding such creative changes.

7. All of the undersigned writers are each granted full power of attorney to assign any rights or grant any licenses respecting the song(s) in the event that the others are unavailable to give their approval for any period in excess of 30 days.
 
8. In the event of any dispute between us regarding the composition(s) or this Agreement, we will submit the matter to binding arbitration in the New York Area or Los Angeles area, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association or any local arbitration association upon which we otherwise agree.


Agreed and Accepted:



________________________________________________________________
Print Name Sign Name Date

SSN:
Mailing Address:
City State Zip:


Telephone:
Email:



________________________________________________________________
Print Name Sign Name Date

SSN:
Mailing Address:
City State Zip:


Telephone:
Email:

For educational and example purposes only. This is not a legal document, nor does this document constitute legal advice.

THE SONGWRITING SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES

www.thesongwritingschool.com