From Nowhere with Nothing
This eight-week course is based upon Mary Dawson’s critically acclaimed book of the same title and is designed to instruct and inspire anyone interested in making music.
Beginning with a primer on the basics of the music business as it has been conducted for the past half century, the course leads the student into the new music paradigm of the 21st Century by offering an up-to-the minute perspective on the digitalization of music and the revolution it has sparked in the way we make, distribute, purchase and listen to songs. Students will learn how to take their music to the next level from wherever they live through new opportunities and advantages now available to independent artists and songwriters. Encouraging self-empowerment through knowledge, How to Get Somewhere in the Music Business from Nowhere with Nothing sets a new benchmark in addressing the needs of singers, songwriters, composers, bands, producers, parents of gifted children, and anyone interested in the ways and means of the business.
The course also includes a creative writing exercise so that each student will have a finished new song by the final meeting.
Contact exdir@centremm.org or fill out an online enrollment form today!
Mary Dawson
Songwriting
Mary Dawson is a published, professional songwriter and president of CQK Music Group, an umbrella organization comprising three music publishing companies, and many other products and services for songwriters, artists and music fans. A lifetime songwriter herself, Mary's own songs have been recorded by artists such as country music sensation, LeAnn Rimes; Island Records' Mikaila; Grammy Award winning Gospel singer, Cynthia Clawson; Dove Award winner, Babbie Mason, and many others.
Mary's critically acclaimed book, How to Get Somewhere in the Music Business from Nowhere with Nothing, answers the literally thousands of questions about the "business of music" that she has received from aspiring writers and artists during her 25-year career. For several years she has been an instructor in Southern Methodist University's Continuing Arts Education Department where she has taught a course of the same title as her book, as well as another course called Build-A-Song, on the creative aspects of songwriting. She is a frequent seminar speaker and her articles on songwriting appear in both Internet and print periodicals around the world. (See the Internet Writing Journal at www.writerswrite.com and her column and forum at www.musesmuse.com).
Mary is the creator and host of the radio talk show, I Write the Songs—an on-the-air songwriting workshop especially designed for "the songwriter in all of us." The show, which includes instruction and critiques of original songs submitted by listeners, is also available through the Internet at www.iwritethesongs.com. Interview guests on I Write the Songs have included: Willie Nelson, Janis Ian, Paul Williams, Richard Carpenter, Jimmy Webb, Mathew Knowles, Andrew Gold, Sheila Davis, Jim Brickman, Michael McDonald and others.
Mary is married to Dave Dawson, director of Equipping the Saints Ministries, and resides in the Dallas area. They are the parents of four grown children and five fabulous grandchildren.