DSA Monthly Meeting for September 2024

 DSA Monthly Meeting - Thursday, September 12th

Location: Your home via ZOOM
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members
Zoom ID # 247-652-3092   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2476523092

Featuring James Neel!

This month's meeting will feature James Neel, a classically trained composer, sound designer, multi-instrumentalist and audio-post engineer.  James has spent more than four decades crafting original music and sound effects that have appeared in TV, radio, film, documentaries and websites for top advertising agencies, entertainment producers, and Fortune 500 companies.  His prestigious client list includes work for a diverse collection of familiar brands, including Lucasfilm Ltd, NutriSystem, Playboy, Oral Roberts, IBM, Dallas Cowboys, Bell Helicopter, Coca-Cola, EDS, Nokia, General Motors, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Frito-Lay, Tony Roma's, Zales, American Cancer Society, Neiman Marcus, Midas Mufflers, Murine, Alcatel, Brinker International, Bud Light, Evan Williams, Dallas Video Festival, Dr Pepper, JC Penny, Mobil Oil, Church's Chicken, Dairy Queen, McKinsey & Company, Eye Masters, Six Flags Over Texas, Kaiser Permanente, La Madelene, Shell Oil, Texas Instruments, Splash Media, Pier One Imports,, Texaco Star Mart, American Heart Association, Half Price Books, Fina, Verizon, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Chevy Truck's, and many more.

James is going to speak on songwriting vs soundtrack composition for film and TV and some of the history and samples of sounds tracks he has created.

Also, DSA members can get their songs critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2024 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year.  Please Note: You must go to the Dallas Songwriters website (see link below) to enter your song, or you can play them live.  When you go to the website look for "Forms" on the upper right-hand corner of the page then point to "Song Critiques" and the form will show up.  You can type in the lyrics or cut & paste.  For the song audio go to "Choose File" and load your audio file(s), limit of 3 songs per meeting.  You can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song.

DSA Monthly Meeting for July 2024

 DSA Monthly Meeting - Thursday, July 11th

Location: Your home via ZOOM
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members
Zoom ID # 247-652-3092   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2476523092

Featuring Julie Jean White!


The DSA welcomes back Julie Jean White as our speaker for this month's meeting!  Julie Jean is a former member of the DSA who made a move to Nashville several years ago and is making her mark on the Nashville music scene as a country singer/songwriter.  Her songs have received accolades from Billboard Magazine, American Songwriter Magazine, and from the legendary Carly Simon, who was tearfully moved after hearing White's award-winning song "Living Backwards".  Julie Jean has been a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Fest, the Wildflower Festival, the B.W. Stevenson contest (2 times), and the Texaco Country Showdown.  Her catalog of work reflects her eclectic taste in music, touting Willie Nelson, Natalie Merchant, Stevie Nicks and Carole King among her major music influencers.  After moving to Nashville and collaborating with some of its favorite writers, she is now gearing up to release her next album, "Feed This Jones", produced by hit songwriter/producer Brian White.  Julie Jean will share some of her stories about Nashville and what it's like to be part of the burgeoning music industry there!

And don't forget, DSA members can get their songs critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2024 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year.  Please Note: You must go to the Dallas Songwriters website (see link below) to enter your song, or you can play them live.  When you go to the website look for "Forms" on the upper right-hand corner of the page then point to "Song Critiques" and the form will show up.  You can type in the lyrics or cut & paste.  For the song audio go to "Choose File" and load your audio file(s), limit of 3 songs per meeting.  You can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song.

DSA Monthly Meeting Guest Speakers - May and June 2024

 DSA Monthly Meeting - Thursday, May 9th

Location: Your home via ZOOM
6:30 pm: Networking
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members
Zoom ID # 247-652-3092   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2476523092

Featuring Jamey Shannon!

This month we are very pleased to have Jamey Shannon return as out guest speaker!  Jamey, who is a DSA Board Member, is a guitarist/singer/songwriter, music teacher and just recently retired as an educator and choral director from a small college in Mississippi.  He is going to explain DADGAD tuning for guitar and how it can help in coming up with new melodies and chord ideas for writing new songs.  It will be very informative so don't miss it!

Also, DSA members can get your songs critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2024 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year.  Please Note: You must go to the Dallas Songwriters website (see link below) to enter your song, or you can play them live.  When you go to the website look for "Forms" on the upper right-hand corner of the page then point to "Song Critiques" and the form will show up.  You can type in the lyrics or cut & paste.  For the song audio go to "Choose File" and load your audio file(s), limit of 3 songs per meeting.  You can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song.




DSA Monthly Meeting - Thursday, June 13th

Location: Your home via ZOOM
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members
Zoom ID # 247-652-3092   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2476523092

Featuring Richard Theisen!

Wow, have we got a great speaker this month, Grammy Award-winning composer, vocalist and keyboardist Richard Theisen!  Born and raised in Dallas, Richard is a tremendously gifted artist who was presented with a Grammy in 1985 for his contribution to the "Beverly Hills Cop" soundtrack LP.  He has also been inducted into the annual Hall of Fame roster in Buddy Magazine as a "Texas Tornado".  In 2019 he released his first New Age and jazz-influenced album "Mayan Stars" to rave reviews.  His second album "Elysium" was released in 2023 and won the "Best Album of the Year" award from New Age Music Planet.  Known for his alluring and evocative music that transports listeners to an otherworldly realm of emotion and imagination, Richard will be talking about his musical journey and also his new album "Estonia". His music is available on all the major streaming services worldwide.

Also, DSA members can get their songs critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2024 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year.  Please Note: You must go to the Dallas Songwriters website (see link below) to enter your song, or you can play them live.  When you go to the website look for "Forms" on the upper right-hand corner of the page then point to "Song Critiques" and the form will show up.  You can type in the lyrics or cut & paste.  For the song audio go to "Choose File" and load your audio file(s), limit of 3 songs per meeting.  You can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song.