Five Songwriters to Take Stage at 'Tunesmithing' in Nashville on Nov. 16

         NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 2019) -- Five professional songwriting acts will take the stage on Oct. 19 (Saturday) at "Tunesmithing," a monthly songwriters show at WXYZ Restaurant/Bar at the Aloft Nashville West End Hotel, 1719 West End Ave. 

          Attendees will enjoy original songs and instrumentals by Steven Cade, Lisa Hannah, Les Kerr, Ida Kristin, and David Llewellyn. Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Nashville composer-educator-publicist Chuck Whiting will emcee the show. Songwriter-performer Paul Nielsen will handle sound. 

          "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase is sponsored by Music City Arts Network, Striking Moon Music, and Shine Time Music. The monthly show was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters, as well as artists of all kinds. The event offers mentoring, career growth and networking opportunities for artists at all levels.  

          For more information about "Tunesmithing", call (615) 423-9857, write Info@MusicCityArts.net, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com.

'FEARLESS! The Golden Love Musical' to Bring Music, Dance and Comedy to Cookeville Stage

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (June 2016) -- The Broadway-style play "FEARLESS! The Golden Love Musical" will hold its world premiere in Middle Tennessee from July 7-17, bringing music, dance and comedy to the 450-seat Cookeville (Tenn.) Performing Arts Center.

            The show, which features a vibrant cast (including two puppies) and a 21-piece orchestra, will benefit the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity's new Cookeville West End Place Housing Initiative, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, TTU Tech Players, and the Mustard Seed Ranch for endangered, at-risk children. "FEARLESS!" stars Valerie Connelly, a Cookeville playwright/composer who spent many years writing what some are calling today's version of "West Side Story" and "The Sound of Music".

            The eight-performance show times are 7 p.m. from Thursday-Saturday (July 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16) and 2 p.m. on Sunday (July 10 and 17). Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $16 (adults age 18 and over), $12 (seniors age 62 and over), and $10 (students age 17 and under, and individuals in groups of five or more). Ticket sale proceeds from the play will benefit the four nonprofits. CPAC is located at 10 E. Broad St. in downtown Cookeville. To buy tickets, visit www.cookeville-tn.gov/ls/cpac/cpac-calendar/ or call (931) 528-1313.

 
            "I'm thrilled to stage the world premiere of my musical at the beautiful CPAC theatre in Cookeville," said Connelly, who describes her play as a wholesome family double-love story.

            Advance reviews and feedback have been strong, with one previewer praising Connelly's play for "provoking toe-tapping, laughter, and tears." The story's characters sing and dance across the stage, expressing 2016 challenges, opportunities, joys and the importance of fearlessness in the pursuit of life, love and happiness.

            "FEARLESS!" centers on divorcee Nikki and widower Daniel, 60-somethings who befriend each other later in life. What does a mother/grandmother do when a man falls for her at this age? Connelly uses playful dialog, heartfelt songs, and elaborate dance moves to bring the two friends and/or potential "Boomer" lovebirds to life. Meanwhile, Nikki's daughter and son-in-law have love-related challenges of their own.

            Connelly's parents introduced her to Broadway theatre at an early age. The artist has worked countless hours to perfect her creation after meeting with a number of highly respected New York theatre professionals.

Valerie Connelly performs songs from "FEARLESS! The Golden Love Musical" (Photo by Hal Alpiar)

            "Producers loved the music, and they made terrific constructive suggestions for the story," Connelly continued. "I took it back to the drawing board and revamped it considerably. I added some songs, changed some others, added more drama to balance the comedy, and in general increased the strength of the storyline."

            The composer/playwright was surprised when the directors asked her to portray the play's lead character, Nikki, after the actress originally tapped to play the character fell ill. As a "Boomer" herself and a professional performer for many years, she is enjoying a return to the stage.

            "'FEARLESS!' feels like a real love story, even though it's a fictional one," the artist said. "It reaches into the heart and pulls on it -- to give the viewer a reason to feel the full range of human emotion."

            The play features a Middle Tennessee cast with educators and students from Tennessee Tech University. "FEARLESS!" will be directed by TTU theatre professor Mark Creter. Other directors include Middle Tennessee State University professor and veteran conductor Mendy Richards as musical director; Jennifer Dotson-Creter of Stage One Dance Studio as choreographer; TTU theatre design professor Colin Forsyth as set designer; and TTU technical theatre instructor Nick Ryan as light designer. The 21-person orchestra includes professional musicians and TTU students who were brought together by well-known percussionist Don Lordo.

            "We have a strong cast drawn from all walks of life with great talent and a terrific will to give their best performances," added Connelly, who realized her dream after raising more than $15,000 through the support of local individuals, businesses and organizations.

            Connelly is a Cookeville-based songwriter-performer, fine artist, film score composer, and book publisher with nine albums to her credit. She is writing her seventh book, a novel. The Cornell College (Bachelor of Arts) and Northwestern University (Master of Arts) graduate joined ASCAP in 1987 as a songwriter and professional performer and has composed hundreds of songs. She wrote her first musical, "Nothing Is Ours But Time", in 1994, and the one-act musical, "Her Story", presented at Cookeville's ART a la Carte in 2013. She has performed and tested many of the songs from "FEARLESS!" at the "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase in Nashville. Her book publishing company, Nightengale Media LLC, has published more than 200 books for authors around the world. Also a visual artist and educator, she has created hand-carved block printed images and illustrations for gift items and children's books. 

            To learn more about Valerie Connelly and her play, visit www.fearlessthemusical.com.

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                  Businesses, organizations and individuals have supported the first staging of "FEARLESS!" through sponsorships and donations of cash or in-kind services. Supporters include the following businesses: First National Bank of Tennessee, OUTBACK Steakhouse, Copeland Veterinary Hospital, Tractor Supply, Critter Cottage, Southern Paws Spa, The Outdoor Experience, Market on the Square, WORLD FOODS, Cookeville Bicycles, EXIT Rocky Top Realty, Johnson's Nursery & Garden Center, French's Shoes and Boots, Office Max, Shaffield's Furniture, Williams Wholesale Supply, Magical Music Gallery, LAMAR Advertising, Papa John's, Sam's Club, Fairfield by Marriott, Clarion Inn, Rib City, Kneaded Together Bakery, Del Monaco Winery, Cookeville Budweiser, Liquor World, Bluewaters Equipment Rentals, Cumberland Auto, Wilson Bank & Trust, Skender-Newton Realty, Kroger, Carlen Chevrolet, New York Life/Andrea and Terry Burckhard, Ford Lincoln of Cookeville, The Law Office of Donna Simpson, Hampton Inn & Suites, Party City, Copy Pack and Ship, Poet's, Carmike Cinema, State Farm Insurance/John White, One-Hour Martinizing Dry Cleaning, CPA's Cannon Clark Holman & Associates PLLC, Firehouse Subs, Trademark Printing, WALKER Investment Company Real Estate Development, First Tennessee Bank, Abel Gardens Florist & Gifts, Adecco Employment Recruiters, Belk Department Store, Old Navy, Cookeville Transmission Co., Country Inn & Suites, Crawdaddy's Restaurant, HUB Radio Stations, Stonecom Radio Stations, McCool's Video & Photography, Planet Fitness, TAYS Realty & Auctions, Winell-Lee Mouldings & Hardwoods, Benjamin Moore Paints, Cardinal Computer, Crossroads Music, and Tennessee Technological University.

Good Music on a Cold, Snowy Night

          Songwriters gather after "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase on Jan. 20. Christi Darby, Lisa Hannah, Jason Kabler, and Ric Sandler braved the icy streets for outstanding performances. Special thanks to AJ Bigler for handling sound and the staff of the Aloft Hotel for supporting the event. Our next Tunesmithing will feature five songwriters on Feb. 17.  http://www.Tunesmithing.com #ChuckWhiting #MusicCityArts

          Would you like to perform at "Tunesmithing" in Nashville? Write us at info@Tunesmithing.com.

Nancy Moran's 'Ultimate Booking and Touring' Training Program to Begin June 10

 
         NASHVILLE -- Hit singer/songwriter/educator Nancy Moran will offer her "Ultimate Booking and Touring" online training program starting June 10.  

         Moran's popular, four-week, in-depth program is aimed at performing musicians who want to have more (and better-quality) gigs through expert booking techniques. It’s very detailed and hands-on, and she walks artists through the entire process of professionally booking gigs and tours. Students have reported career-altering results from what they learned in the program.

         "In my five-week-long, in-depth online program, I'm going to walk performing musicians through the entire process of booking gigs and planning tours," said Moran, a former member of the popular group The Bitchin' Babes. "I'm truly going to share everything I can think of to help artists book better gigs and to get them out on the road sharing their music with the world."

         The "Ultimate Booking and Touring" training process will show artists how to

         * Prepare for their first on-the-road gig.

         * Expand into new towns, new venues or even brand new music markets.

         * Land bigger, better and more lucrative gigs (to be able to quit their day jobs).

         *  Overcome the self-booking blues.

         Participants will receive five weeks of step-by-step guidance and in-depth instruction. Video, audio and written lessons will be delivered online and available for Mp3 download onto iPods, Mp3 players and other mobile devices. Artists can also download a host of worksheets, sample scripts, and sample contracts. They will receive personal attention during live group Q&A phone calls. Conference calls will be recorded for 24-hour access. A private group Facebook forum will provide additional insights and student interaction. Participants will have lifetime access to all educational materials.

         Tuition for the "Ultimate Touring and Booking" class is only $397. To sign up, click here.

         Moran is a working indie recording artist who performs at notable venues such as The Bluebird Cafe, house concerts such as Rouse House, and festivals such Kerrville Folk Festival. Declared "Songwriter of the Year" by the Virginia Sound Achievement awards and WXGI-FM Radio, she has released four solo albums, including her most recent "Something Old, Something New".

         The artist's CDs have garnered her public and commercial radio airplay on stations coast-to-coast and have landed her on the Gavin Americana charts alongside Delbert McClinton and Joan Baez. She also has been featured internationally on radio stations in Australia, Canada and Europe. 

         The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch called Moran "nothing short of a [modern-day] Joni Mitchell". Dirty Linen Magazine says Nancy has "a powerful, expressive voice...stunning."

         Moran is a former member of the acclaimed all-female folk troupe, The Four Bitchin' Babes. She also is a frequent keynote speaker at music conferences and events, an NSAI-endorsed music business instructor, a SongU.com online instructor, the former assistant editor of American Songwriter Magazine and the author of several books, audio series, and live or online courses including, “The Songwriter’s Survival Kit,” “The Professional Songwriter’s Code of Conduct,” "Ultimate Booking and Touring", and “Making and Releasing Your Own CD.”

        
        

'Fett's Mixing Mastery!' Course for Emerging Recording Engineers to Begin Jan. 28

            Nashville independent record producer, engineer and author Fett will lead a master-level course on professional mixing starting Jan. 28 (Wednesday).  "Fett's Mixing Mastery!" will show emerging recording engineers the methodology, secrets, tricks and techniques from a seasoned pro who has spent decades mixing thousands of songs... someone who can show step-by-step exactly what engineers need to do to take mixes to a higher level, providing the musical and emotional impact they deserve.

            Highlights of the course are

            * The 3 M's of mixing (the "why").

            * How to create an emotionally impactful mix.

            * The relationship between song arrangement and mixing.

            * Specific techniques for three-dimensional positioning and placement of parts in a mix.

            * Using "stock" versus third-party plug-ins.

            * How to use groups for organization and saving resources.

            * Mixing musical parts versus mixing "tracks".

            * Extensive coverage of automation.

            * Specific mixing techniques for relative levels, panning, EQ, compression and limiting, and time-based effects (reverb, delay, etc.).

            * Specific mixing techniques for drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, lead vocals, background vocals, specialty instruments, percussion and MIDI/virtual instrument tracks.

            Training will include video lessons, hands-on exercises, sample audio files, and live Q&A calls. All resources will be accessible 24/7 and available for one year.

            Fett is a 30-plus-year music industry veteran who has played a role in more than 50 albums. He served as the technology editor for Performing Songwriter magazine for seven years. He is the author of the popular resource book, "Fett's Mixing Roadmap".

            To learn more about "Fett's Mixing Mastery!" master-level course on professional mixing, visit http://www.mcssl.com/app/?af=1617165 .

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