Songwriter Associations for New York, North Carolina, North Dakota & Ohio
New York
NSAI, NYC. Contact coordinators Randi Drucker, 516-822-7942, e-mail: nashrand@yahoo.com or Mary Beth Stone, 212-740-2072, e-mail: stonepulse@aol.com. This is the New York City chapter of the Nashville-based Nashville Songwriters Association International, which has with over 5,000 members worldwide. NSAI, NYC meets monthly (with meetings usually held on Sundays for a three-hour session), featuring songwriting exercises and song critiques. All styles of music are welcome, including country, alternative, rock, pop and gospel. Special events three or four times a year feature hit songwriters from Nashville, open mics, guitar and singing workshops, etc.
Songwriters Guild Of America (SGA), New York office. George Wurzbach, National Projects Director. The Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) founded in 1931, is a voluntary songwriter association run by and for songwriters. It is devoted exclusively to providing songwriters with the services and activities they need to succeed in the business of music. The preamble to the SGA constitution charges the board to take such lawful actions as will advance, promote and benefit the profession. Services of SGA cover every aspect of songwriting including the creative, administrative and financial. SGA's non-profit educational foundation was created to aid and educate writers through university scholarship grants and various Guild programs which are offered at the lowest possible cost. Songwriting workshops are taught by leading professional writers in New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. Classes run for varying lengths and are offered on different levels for beginning or more advanced writers. Song Critique sessions are conducted regularly presenting members with the opportunity to play their songs and receive constructive criticism from peers and professionals. Guests include some of the industry's most prominent writers, artists, publishers, producers, managers, and attorneys. For more information go to their Website or contact the New York office at 212-768-7902, or e-mail: SongNews@aol.com.
Island Songwriters Showcase. 631-462-3300. P.O. Box 430, East Northport, NY, 11731. Contact Director Sonny Speed, e-mail: mcspeed@aol.com. This Long Island-based organization is comprised of more than 250 songwriters, lyricists, producers, engineers and performers with a common goal: to support original music through its workshops and live showcases. They hold meetings the first Monday of each month, and also host about three "Songwriters In The Round" live showcases every month. All styles of music are welcome. Website
SummerSongs. 845-246-0223. E-mail: sumsongs@aol.com. This non-profit organization hosts an annual summer camp for songwriters held in the Catskills, New York. The camp features a teaching staff of noteworthy songwriting experts. Website
Central Carolina Songwriters Association (CCSA). Mailing address: CCSA, 131 Henry Baker Road, Zebulon, NC, 27597. Contact President Tony Dickens at 252-308-2437 or tonydickensmusic@gmail.com or Vice President Diana Dimsdale, 919-269-6240 or e-mail: DADimsdale@aol.com. CCSA is a non-profit organization founded in 1997. The group was created to encourage and support the craft of songwriting. Their current membership consists of songwriters that include talented performers, musicians and producers. CCSA offers an environment where songwriters can grow in their craft by learning and sharing with each other. The goal of CCSA is to establish a nurturing environment for songwriters and lyricists at all levels and to provide support, evaluation, activities and resources employing both amateur and professional affiliations to assist each other in achieving their highest potential. They meet the first Tuesday in each month from 7pm - 9pm at the Long View Center located at 118 S. Person Street in downtown Raleigh, NC. Website
Charlotte, NC NSAI Workshop. Coordinator: Doak Turner at 704-896-7234, e-mail: doak@bigplanet.com. Co-coordinator: Bruce Johnson, e-mail: bjohnson7@carolina.rr.com. For information about this workshop, please visit their Website
Listings will be added soon. If you know of an association in North Dakota which should be added, please e-mail us.
Songwriters Workshop at SouthBrook (SWS), the official NSAI Chapter for the Dayton/Cincinnati area. Coordinator: Jim Melko. 937-657-4076. e-mail: Jim.Melko@Notes.UDayton.edu. The SWS has been active since 1993. Their vision is to "build community among songwriters to develop an epicenter of great songs and great songwriting in this area." They meet on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:00 pm at SouthBrook Christian Church in Centerville, Ohio, at 1150 Spring Valley Pike. They cover all genres of music, and their workshops include lessons about songwriting craft, and a song critique session.
