Igudesman And Joo: 'I Will Survive'

Here's a great example of having fun with music. In addition to watching the video, listen to the original story that aired on NPR a couple weeks back.



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Why Recording Matters

One of the realities of the music industry is that you can't rely on anyone else's imagination to fill in any recording quality deficiencies. As some would say, you almost have to spoon feed your song to the listener.

Consider this scenario: you have written a great song and used GarageBand or your cell phone to record a rough work tape. You march into a publisher's office and tell them you've created the best thing since sliced bread. They turn the speakers up, hit "play", then hit "stop" 30 seconds in. They didn't even make it to the chorus. Instead, they take out your CD and pop in a song from another writer that they're excited about. What comes through the speakers may sound better to the ears, due to the fact that the song was recorded well in ProTools or Logic. But deep down you know that your song was better than the one the publisher enjoys listening to.

How do you avoid a scenario like the one above, where a worse song gets attention because it sounds better? Focus on getting a great, clean home recording. If you track even just a piano/guitar and vocal well, you could even use those recordings as the foundation for a full-band track.

If you're interested in taking the next step in setting up your home studio, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Mike Senior's Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio. It has helped me take very practical steps in improving my own setup, and I'm sure you would benefit as well.

Keep writing,
Ben


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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Songbird Camp - Spring 2012

Just a reminder that we are currently accepting applications for our April 20-22 retreat, which we're hosting at Deer Run Retreat.

Popular singer-songwriter Matt Wertz and veteran songwriter Gordon Kennedy (Eric Clapton's "Change the World"), among other industry professionals, will be stopping by throughout the weekend to share their experiences and music. We'll also hear from an incredible recording engineer, an entrepreneur, publishers and an expert on collaboration -- more details on those to come!

If you're interested or you know someone who would be a great candidate for the retreat, be sure to apply soon, as we have fewer than 30 available spots, and we want you to get the early bird special. Gourmet food by a private chef, a comfy bed, inspiring people, time with industry pros, live music around the campfire, American Apparel T-shirts -- what more could a songwriter want?

Click the picture below to go to the Songbird Camp website and download the application to apply. 

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Belmont @ the Bluebird

The wonderfully talented Ginny Owens, Gordon Kennedy, Dennis Matkosky and Rob Blackledge on 2/14.

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

This is Brighton - by Caleb Yule

"To Build a Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra is the song behind the film, and it's a great one. I love the way the film maker shot this to look miniature. Makes me realize how small I am compared to the entire world and universe. Cool thing is, each of us still matters.

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Dave Grohl's Grammy Acceptance Speech

"To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of music is what's important. Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do... It's not about being perfect, it's not about sounding absolutely correct, it's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here [your heart] and what goes on in here [your head]." 

- Dave Grohl, after accepting Grammy award

Read more about his speech here.

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Can You Teach Songwriting?

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Violinist in the Subway

Here is a fascinating story about an accomplished violinist playing music for people in the subway. Isn't it amazing how we can easily just walk right past beauty when we're just too "busy" to stop and listen?

Keep writing (and listening),
Ben

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Quote of the Day - Emerson

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art." 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Guitar Sling Gone Wrong

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Artistic Leadership

Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership

 By John Dickson

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

L-O-V-E

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Quote of the Day - Einstein

"True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist." 

- Albert Einstein

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Speedy Street Art

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Grains of Sand Up Close

Have you ever taken a close look at grains of sand? Assuming they were all just boring little brown pebbles, I must admit that I never really imagined that they would really contain many intricacies. However, these recent images of sand (zoomed in 250x) blew my little assumptions out of the water.

Like grains of sand on the shore, the best song ideas are available to all. However, these unique song ideas are only discovered by those who look hard enough. And so it is that the only ones who find are those who seek. 

Keep writing,

Ben


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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Kelly Clarkson Sings Anthem at Super Bowl

The Super Bowl game itself was great (especially for Colts fans), but my favorite part of the evening may have been before the Patriots even kicked off. This is such a cool rendition of the national anthem, incorporating complex timing and unique choral structures. And then, of course, Kelly Clarkson:




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"Please Silence Your Phones!"

If you didn't hear about this in the past couple weeks, there was a symphony conductor who halted a performance when he heard a cell phone ring in the front row of the audience (read about it here). If you read music, I think you'll appreciate the link below.

Source: http://euge.ca/2012/01/13/interruption/

(For those of you who couldn't figure it out, the red notes are the classic Nokia ringtone.)



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New Solo Discovered on "Here Comes the Sun"

It's not often you get to hear anything new from The Beatles, so this is definitely a treat!
 



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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Thoughts on the Writing Life

Here is a wonderful look into the tension of creating in the midst of busyness:

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

Marc Scibilia

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!