In partnership, Art House Dallas and Art House North present Songwriters Feedback. This semi-monthly songwriters gathering is for all levels of songwriters wanting to polish their craft.
FEEDBACK [feed-bak] – noun: a reaction or response to a particular process or activity.
Anyone who has explored the creative process understands the value of feedback. Exposing our “works in progress” to the critique of our peers certainly takes courage, but feedback can also take our creative endeavors from average to excellent. Art House Dallas wants to provide an encouraging environment within a small group setting to explore your strengths and potential areas of growth as an artist. Groups will be limited to 5 songwriters and Art House will provide facilitators who have exhibited a track record of success in their art form.
All Songwriters must have video and audio capability to join this workshop. Song lyrics from all attendees are required beforehand. Songwriters will be selected to join groups based on the total number of registrants and experience.
SONGWRITERS FEEDBACK
Date: Tuesday, April 11
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Location: Online via Zoom / RSVP Required
A fee has been added to this event in order to encourage attendance. If you can not manage this fee, please fill out this form to apply for a scholarship.
Featured Artist: Paul Demer
Paul Demer is a singer-songwriter, record producer, outreach musician, and worship leader.
Paul connects with diverse audiences in living rooms, bars, churches, nursing homes, and hospitals in his hometown of Dallas, TX and across the country. Passionate about the craft of songwriting, he has released several albums of original music, and was recently selected as a finalist in Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk songwriting competition. In addition to producing his own records, Paul has produced over 50 tracks for fellow singer-songwriters. He has played over 1,500 concerts in local nursing homes and hospitals, in partnership with the Dallas-Fort Worth non-profit Texas Winds Musical Outreach, and he currently serves as a Music Minister at St. Matthew's Episcopal Cathedral. When not making music, Paul and his wife, Trisha, enjoy reading, spending time outside, and good conversation.
ABOUT FEEDBACK :: SONGWRITING
After Art House Dallas hosted Song Project in February 2011, one of the biggest takeaways from the event was the desire of the songwriters to have time and space to play their songs and hear from their peers. Furthermore, we also saw that most of the songwriters wanted more time to be challenged in their routine writing practices and be pushed towards a higher standard of songs that are true, good and beautiful for the common Good. Our hope is that Feedback will achieve both.
Feedback for songwriters is a place where expression, discussion, and new ideas are encouraged. Art House Dallas is all about connecting folks, and we also want these groups to pave the way for making contacts in music, which any songwriter knows is one of many keys to success. So, join us for a night of learning and inspiration through the sharing of ideas with fellow songwriters.
Whether you’re listening or playing, please enter the night with the humility of a learner. No one comes out with a finished, profoundly impactful piece of art every time, and to gain the most from the evening, be quick to receive feedback as a statement on the piece of art, not on you as an individual or your artistic skill/sensibility.
GUIDELINES FOR FEEDBACK: (SONGWRITER | PERFORMER)
When you express an opinion about the song, whether it fits your taste or not, it's more important to explain precisely what is good about it and which are the weaker areas that could be improved.
Please remember that any kind of negative criticism is always going to be a bit painful, so be tactful and accurate. Most people tend to over-react to negative criticism, despite the need to improve, so you should compensate for that a little bit.
Come Prepared: Come with a complete enough song that the listeners are able to give constructive critique – (i.e. – try to have it in a form that you would play for an audience)
Keep an open mind: Know that everything is a work in progress and there are always different approaches to creating and executing a song.
Let the song Speak: Often as artists, our insecurities will get the best of us and we want to over explain the song or give a disclaimer on this
Twice as many positive comments as negative. Be as specific as you can about what is good about the writing and song.
Do not present a problem without suggesting a solution. In other words, do not just say what you think is wrong with the song.
Do not make any jokes, they are much too easily misinterpreted.
POSSIBLE AREAS OF DISCUSSION
Lyrics / Story: the topic, theme, the structure and language
Tune: chords, melody, mood, originality, and complexity
Arrangement: instrumentation, vocals, effects, key
Commerciality: What is the goal of this song? Where is the audience for this type of song?