This article by my friend Brad Dunse appeared in Muse's News which is a special section of the website The Muse's Muse Songwriting Resource.

Every so often we abandon songwriting “How Tos” to scratch around in our heads a little, and there’s some lessons from other writers we just can’t pass up. For instance, Berklee College of Music’s Professor Pat Pattison (best-selling author of Writing Better Lyrics) and country music’s phenomenal #1 hit writer Jeffrey Steele might surprise you with their confessions. Do you ever have songwriting doubts? Ever feel like you just said something stupid in a co-writing session? Ever written something and then later realize it stinks like the accident your puppy left on the floor? Professor Pattison's first Nashville co-write began with doubting his ability to come up with good ideas and lyrics; feeling like his whole status as Berklee professor was on the line.

Special Announcement from John Michael Talbot and The Church Channel

Christian Music Legend and Best Selling Author John Michael Talbot is very pleased to announce that his new TV show "All Things Are Possible" will premier on The Church Channel Wednesday April 2, 2014. The weekly program is a new and exciting presentation of the gospel from a Catholic/Christian base for Christians everywhere!

Each episode of "All Things Are Possible" will include Talbot's inspirational music and a message relevant for today. "For many years people have asked me to bring both my music and my motivational speaking to television. This is the best and broadest opportunity to reach the most people."

Before the summer of 2004, I had a vague notion that I'd like to write and publish songs. But I didn't know how. I lacked the formal training and resources to "produce" a song. I had written some poems in my 40s – stuff that was deeply personal and reflective of my "human condition" as a husband, father of seven, graphic design solopreneur and music minister/choir member at a Catholic church. I thought it would be neat to put my experiences and values to music. Well, suddenly I became enabled by technology. I started playing around with GarageBand on my Macintosh computer. I did an internet search for "GarageBand collaboration" and found www.macjams.com – an online community for sharing original music and collaborating on new music via the internet. I started writing songs with Jack Miller, Hendrik Steiner, David Gomez, André van Haren, Luca Frappola, Johnny Katchoolik, Norman Miller, Bill Furner, Robert Andrews, Roxylee Smith, Johannes Curry, Warren Smith, Harold Luper, John Luper and others. I contributed mostly lyrics and vocals but sometimes added some guitar and simple keyboard or percussion. We sent MP3 tracks back n' forth to create a mixes in Apple GarageBand or Apple Logic (music sequencing programs). This engagement at MacJams became my informal education in music theory, recording, mastering, publishing and promotion. I advanced even as far as creating sheet music using Sibelius notation software. I currently am doing ongoing collaboration with André van Haren, an orchestral composer in Sweden. I am also working on an album called Hungry For Heaven with two musicians in Spain – David Gomez Sanz and Alberto Ayuso Domingo.. It's been quite a journey since the summer of 2004 and I'd like to share this with you in a blog series I am calling "Virtual song collaboration." I will detail my methods for solo and collaborative songwriting and production. Feel free to comment and ask questions as we go along.

This free online Berklee songwriting course is open for registration. This course is worth hundreds of dollars. Two of my co-members belonging to the Minnesota Association of Songwriters have completed the online course and highly recommend it. The instructor is Pat Pattison, whose songwriting workshop I attended in Minneapolis-Saint Paul a couple years ago. He was very instructive. If you want to improve your songwriting ability, you will learn something from this course! A new session for this course called "Songwriting" starts on April 28 2014. – Richard Schletty Songwriting https://www.coursera.org/course/songwriting Learn an efficient, effective process for writing songs that express your ideas and emotions, including a range of tools that revolve around the concept of prosody—the matching of lyrics and music to support your underlying message.

Here's a tip from Nick Alexander sent to CatholicMusicMinistries Yahoo group

Hi all!
There seems to be a new video course that's being made by Michael Hyatt.  As I watched the first video, my mind went to CAM.  Indeed, this is exactly what CAM needs to hear.
We at CAM have a message and a passion to get our music out there, and we are often held back due to gatekeepers (music publishers, record companies, the dearth of Catholic radio opportunities), along with our desire to juggle our personal and family lives along with our dream. 

Check out the results of Nick Alexander's Top Lenten Hymns:

1. Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
2. I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say
3. Adoramus Te, Christe
4. There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy
5. The Glory of These Forty Days
6. Forty Days and Forty Nights
7. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
8. Attende Domine (tie)
9. Rock of Ages (tie)
10. Take Up Thy Cross (tie)

Recommended article: Beyond Ashes by Simcha Fisher:
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/beyond-ashes

Adam Miller of the metal band Katholicus sent admin Richard Schletty info about this groundbreaking project:

Via Crucis is a collaborative project with Catholic Metal artists providing a unique musical setting for the Way of the Cross. The album consists of 14 songs of varying styles of metal from eight Catholic artists. Each song corresponds to one of the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross devotion. The listener will journey with Jesus from His condemnation to His death on the cross to His burial in the tomb. Each song is unique in its style and interpretation of the particular station. In between each song, a stanza of the Stabat Mater is performed in imitation of the traditional devotion of the Way of the Cross. The Stabat Mater is a hymn to the Sorrowful Mother (Mary) and is often sung by stanza between each meditation of the particular event or station of the Way of the Cross.

The contributing Catholic Metal artists on the album:

Katholicus: Infectious power rock/metal with passages of soaring guitars
Cradle Catholic: Latin prayer metal band with gothic and death metal overtones
Last Rites: Progressive thrash metal band with classical music underpinnings
Seven Sorrows: High energy blend of punk and metal
Dave Flitton: Composer and guitarist for Catholic rock band,
Critical Mass: Dedicated to bringing the Good News of Christ to the youth and young-at-heart.
Malchus: Progressive Death metal band from Poland
Divine Blood: Young industrial metal band from Canada
Theandric: Progressive heavy metal. For this project, provided a reflective acoustic track.

The concept of the album was based on the writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori on the Way of the Cross. This album is a great companion during Lent or anytime to center oneself to Christ while living in the world. The CD makes a great gift to anyone who loves metal and wants to live life more fully in their faith. This is a great Catholic alternative to secular metal bands.

Preview and purchase here:
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/viacrucies
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/via-crucis-the-way-of-the-cross/id516386694

Elizabeth Schmeidler wrote to admin Richard Schletty: I want to share this song/video I just uploaded ... to share during Lent. God bless you! Elizabeth Schmeidler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwPWE_lJvlc

Hello all, I just released a 6 song EP with two fellow brothers in Christ entitled "givingUP" yesterday. All the songs are inspired by the work of 3 Christian charities and proceeds will be donated equally to those charities. Please consider picking up a copy and/or spreading the word via social media so we can support the efforts of these worthy causes. While you're there, you can even grab our earlier EP, "littleONES," for free: givingUP album God bless, Matt (aka paradox) http://www.paradoxhiphop.com http://www.facebook.com/paradizzle http://paradoxhiphop.bandcamp.com/ http://soundcloud.com/paradoxhiphop https://twitter.com/paradoxhiphop http://www.youtube.com/paradeezy

Mark at St. James Music Press writes:

Since Holy Week and Easter is just a whistle away, we've just put some new music up on the site. But more than that - our good friend and cohort, Robert Lehman, has composed two short anthems for Holy Week that are yours for the downloading. FREE. (Yes, free.)

The Mandatum - A simple and stunning setting of the text traditionally used for the anthems sung at the footwashing service on Maundy Thursday. If you don't have a footwashing service, still consider these for your Maundy Thursday/Holy Week services. You can sing them at communion as well.

Crux Fidelis (anthem for Good Friday)

https://www.sjmp.com/catalog/music/two-short-anthems-holy-week

And, of course, these are FREE! No charge! Yes, it's true.

You do have to log-in to your account.

Peruse the music and a give them a listen (using the "preview" icon on the right). If you like them, go ahead and download the PDF file, print them out, make as many copies as you need, and use them in good health!

So if you haven't given up good music for Lent, head on over to the site and take a look.

www.sjmp.com

Other NEW Offerings

This Joyful Eastertide - J. William Greene
For Organ - based on the hymn tune Vreuchten. Great for a prelude or postlude anytime during the Easter season.

Good Friday Reproaches - Richard Shephard
Traditionally done during the Good Friday service, here is a new setting with new language from Common Worship (UK). Easily accomplished by a good choir, since everything repeats a number of times. Heart rending and especially effective.

And twenty-five new 2014 offerings for Lent, Palm Sunday, and Easter.

Give us a look. You won't be sorry! A subscription that includes EVERYTHING on the site is still just $139 per year. Yes, everything!

Our best wishes for a Holy Ash Wednesday.

Your friends at St. James Music Press

PS. If you are a user of Facebook, please "like" us: https://www.facebook.com/StJamesMusicPress. We can get a lot of information about new and upcoming works, free music, and events on this page. And, quite frankly, we're very likable!

Contact Us
phone: 877.822.0304
mark@sjmp.com