Songwriters' Association of Washington

SAW Songwriter's Toolbox

Join us Saturday, May 25th, for the monthly, continuing series known as the SAW Toolbox.

Is your “genre” defining your songwriting or are you? This month we’ll conduct some writing exercises that help you, the songwriter, dig deep into your own voice and help define and tap into your own unique style… regardless of genre.

The second half of the session we’ll conduct a critique session so bring a song, make sure you bring at least 20 lyric sheets and your instrument of choice. There’s a piano available in the Lab for those who are so inclined.

Hope to see you there.

Everyone is invited!

The SAW Songwriter’s Toolbox is a monthly songwriting workshop series, held on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Lab at Convergence. Convergence's address is 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria VA, at the intersection with Crestwood Drive.

SAW Community Day - 2013

Everyone is invited to our upcoming Community Day presented annually by The Songwriters’ Association of Washington at The Surge Community Church, 1988 Kirby Road (at Kirby & Westmoreland) in McLean, VA.

This year’s event, a significant gathering of songwriters, will be held on Saturday June 29, so mark your calendar. We will proudly distribute on newest compilation CD of the big winners of this past year’s 29th Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. After this day, the CD will be distributed globally to music industry leaders and air personalities. Be the first to have a copy of this impressive recording! Listeners and performers at all age and skill levels and all genres are welcome. Families are welcome too. Members can renew their membership, and curious nonmembers can learn about and easily join the club.

Musicians who are not songwriters are welcome to come too, and they may end up writing their first song by the end of the day. We’re hoping for good weather again this year since some of our activities will be outdoors. Expect song circles, jam sessions, educational activities, and special “mini-concerts” presented by winners of our Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.

Professional musicians come to share a few songs, to network, to make valuable connections, and to distribute their business cards and CD’s. Music leaders from SAW and our fellow music nonprofit organizations will be eager to meet you. Members of the Board of Directors, who do not enter the contest, will take advantage of this opportunity to strut their stuff. There will be plenty of food and drink as well. Keep an eye on the website www.saw.org as details take shape.

NSAI workshop and concert featuring
Nashville BMI singer/songwriter
Rob Crosby!

On Saturday, June 1st you can attend a workshop that Rob will be conducting in Fairfax Station, VA. During the day-long songwriting workshop, Rob will share the knowledge he has gained in writing number one and award-winning songs for Martina McBride, Lee Greenwood, Andy Griggs, and over 50 songs recorded by Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Brooks and Dunn, Blackhawk, Darryl Worley, Carl Perkins and Paul Simon, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, The Wilkinsons, Restless Heart and many more. Rob will teach the structure of songs and the craft of songwriting, and the way Nashville works.

Location: Home of Dave Basinger, Fairfax Station, VA
Time: 9:30 AM –- 10:00 A.M. Meet and Greet with Rob Crosby
10:00 -- 4:00 PM Workshop
Cost: $35.00 for members of NSAI, SAW, WSA or BSA
$45.00 for non-members

For further information or to register,
contact Eileen Bernstein at hikemusic@comcast.net

SAW’s Favorite Places

Open mics, showcases, and regularly scheduled concerts affiliated with SAW are below.

As we know, not all “open mics” are the same; each one has its unique format to learn. Some are “advance signup”; others, “show up, sign up.” Some stipulate original songs only; others allow/encourage covers. Some are “members only”; most welcome nonmembers. What they all have in common is that they are run by current SAW members who, in addition to their own agenda, enjoy putting others onstage.

Washington, DC
Ebenezer’s
The Electric Maid
The Getaway
The Irish Channel

Maryland
Adventist Rehab Hospital—Rockville
American Legion—Rockville
Beans in the Belfry—Brunswick
Brewer’s Alley—Frederick
El Nopalito—Silver Spring
Frederick Coffee—Frederick
Kozi Cafe—Silver Spring
New Deal Café—Greenbelt

Virginia
The Epicure Cafe—Fairfax
Ireland’s Four Courts—Arlington
JV’s—Falls Church
The L.A. Bar and Grill—Arlington
Plan B Community Cafe—Broadway
The Surge Community Church—McLean
UUCR—Reston

Concerts
The Surge Community Church— McLean, VA
The Athenaeum— Old Town Alexandria, VA

Song Circles
Jim Clark of Fairfax, VA and Jim Johnson of
Springfield, VA, open their homes to members and nonmembers on occasional Sunday afternoons. Share music in a casual setting; take the opportunity to sing and play songs that are original, “trad,” and everything in between. Join in a jam session that’s always fun. The Jims are part of HarleyStringBand.com.

Get into the habit of checking SAW.org’s calendar often and find out how each unique event operates and what SAW member hosts it.