Hello and welcome to the website for women in music Minnesota. We are a non profit to help women and girls in music.

Thank you to Jill Holly who is writing a monthly songwriting tip in the middle column of this home page. Thanks Jill! you can visit her website at www.jillholly.com

Girls Rock Camp is coming up. Week one is July 13th and week two is July 20th. For more information on the Girls Rock Camp, please visit www.girlsrockandrollretreat.com   They need volunteers and it would be nice to have you there!

What do you guys think of the word "Mam"?  There has been some controversy on this. I was at the store the other day and the young man at the check out counter said to the woman in front of me "thank you Mam" and she corrected him saying, "Please don't call me 'mam'. Call me 'miss'." I was next in line, and when I came up to the counter, he looked at me and said, "I learned in the military that 'mam' was a respectful thing to say". I think that he meant well but many women are no longer liking this title. There seems to be a clash between a new generation of women who see this word 'mam' as not complimentay there are folks who may be old school and from the military who say the word 'mam' because that's what they learned to pay respect. Personally, I think of the word 'mam' as someone who is older than you. I was first called 'mam' at the age of 32. I knew that I had entered into a new grouping of women who were not considered young. I'm curious what your thoughts are on this. Can you send me your opinion at rebekkafisher@comcast.net ?   We will post the responses on this bulletin board in a few weeks.

We have improved the live webcam!! we have a sound feed coming from the board now (thanks Ty) and we are getting a digital camera to zoom in more on the band. It's fun! we recorded that last jam and you can view it at: www.ustream.tv/recorded/1728231

Don't forget about all the projects we have going on: please visit these websites:
The songwriting contest:  www.minnesotasongcontest.com
Women Reign showcase: www.womenreign.com
History of Women's music in Minnesota: www.minnesotawomensmusichistory.com

The pictures from the last jam (June) will be up shortly.

thanks for checking in! check back next week.
Rebekka

If you leave a message on the hotline, it will be a week before we get back to you. It's better to leave an e-mail: rebekkafisher@comcast.net

thanks for checking in! next jam is July 26th.

Questions? Leave a message on the hotline: 651-649-4877
rebekkafisher@comcast.net
Rebekka Fisher

In today’s high-speed, digital age, music has certainly changed with many pluses and a few minuses. Keeping in mind how quickly images and sound pass from one person to another, we have to wonder how our quicken senses change how we listen to music. Quite simply, we make a decision in a matter of seconds whether or not we like a song. If the listener has decided they don’t like the song, it’s a quick flick of a button, toggle or switch and it’s on to the next tune.

As far as songwriters are concerned, the less established you are, the quicker you need to get to the core of your song. Unless you’re already a big sensation, keep you intro as short as possible. Four bars is a great standard to go by. It’s enough to present the emotional intent or attitude of the piece, long enough to establish a groove, and short enough to create intrigue.

Following along those lines, it’s also a good idea to get to the chorus as close to a minute as you can. 59 seconds to 1 minute 6 seconds is something to shoot for. Unless you’re COLDPLAY and have many platinum records and a 300 date tour schedule, it’s a good idea to get to the heart of your song sooner than later. Of course, getting to the chorus in a minute requires some pretty tight lyric writing but that’s the beauty of creativity. How concise can you be and still make those lyrics emotional, set a tone, tell a story and be interesting enough for us to listen through the chorus and be intrigued enough to patiently hear the next verse? You can do it.

Now, go write some great tunes!