This post and the next continue the story of my first trip to an NSAI Song Camp in Nashville. This contains some details about the events of the trip gleaned from my notes taken at the time. The next post describes some of the classes I attended.
I could have missed the pain
But I’d have had to miss
the dance.
— lyrics from “The Dance” by Tony Arata
NSAI Song Camp 101
I left for Nashville Saturday, February 17, 2007 about midday. For the song camp we were told to bring three songs for critiques. However, I had five songs on my CD because I wasn’t sure which ones I wanted to share. As I got to the north side of Birmingham I slid the CD into the player and listened intently.
Later, as I listened to other CDs I brought on the trip, random thoughts popped into my head. One notion was the concept of “home.” Even after moving to Birmingham eight months earlier, it did not quite feel like home yet. It made me a little sad to not have a “home.”
Shortly after that thought, I listened to Raul Malo’s CD You’re Only Lonely. The third song on the CD is Randy Newman’s “Feels Like Home.” I love this version of the song. It is very beautiful and moving. I started to cry. Not just cry, but sob. Feels like home . . . would my destination feel like home—more than the place I had just been an hour and a half earlier? I did not know. The words comforted me somehow. I did not know where home is or would be. All I knew was that I was headed toward something I really wanted—to learn about songwriting.
As I approached Tennessee, it began to snow. It was a beautiful drive. The snow made the trip feel magical. In fact, it snowed quite heavily off and on into the evening in Nashville. It snowed as I walked to a restaurant for dinner. I ate alone since I had not met anyone yet. Usually I will not eat by myself, but I was hungry, tired, and excited. I knew I needed a hearty meal. As I waited for my food, I read the information in the plastic holder on the table and pretended to be occupied with myself. To my good fortune, the food service was quick and I did not end up feeling too awkward or self-conscious being alone.
NSAI Song Camp 101 – Orientation
Saturday night there was an orientation session for anyone who wanted to attend. It lasted from 7:00 until around 9:30. About twenty people came to the meeting. The two facilitators had opposite personalities. One was laid back and the other more organized and detail-oriented. We were given an overview of the workshop and we each had an opportunity to describe why we came to the song camp. The people and their stories were varied and interesting.
That night at the orientation session I told my story. I described my background as a classical musician and church organist, and how I loved Bach, Medieval, and Renaissance music. I told about the day (when driving back to work after lunch) I heard “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” sung by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. The song reminded me of how much fun music could be. I described the night of November 24 when I decided to be a songwriter and then about ordering books to learn about lyrics. I mentioned how much I loved my thesaurus and I later found out that Phil (the detail-oriented leader) really enjoyed books about songwriting and grammar. His favorite book is also Roget’s Thesaurus.
We found out there were sixty people registered for the song camp. That made me nervous. I imagined myself walking into the room filled with people the next morning but I decided not to think about it. I was determined to walk into that room with confidence. And, if not with confidence at least not turn around and run away!
Meeting People
Sunday morning I went down for the first session which included a continental breakfast. I had brought breakfast food with me so I had already eaten in my room however, I did stop at the coffee station. Immediately, someone from the orientation the night before came up and spoke to me. She told me how much she enjoyed what I had to say during the meeting. (She was not the only person who said that to me.) I sat next to her every day during the morning session. She is a nuclear chemist . . . I don’t meet those everyday!
Each day at lunch, I sat with different people and that was actually fun! On the last day I sat with Teresa from Ohio (we had sat at the same table once before) and with two guys. One had been in Desert Storm, the other one worked on elevators. Toward the end of the meal, I was talking about the thesaurus. They each had bought one at the song camp, but did not know the joys of using it. I told them how much I loved and used mine.
I almost finished dessert (a wonderful lemon cake) when the waiter tried to take my plate away. There were only a few bites left but I immediately said, “Oh, I’m not finished yet.” Everyone at the table laughed at me. But it was fun, and I was not embarrassed. I was just being myself and happy for being myself. They seemed to accept that and thought I was amusing. Teresa even sent me a sweet email Wednesday night after she got home.
Epiphanies and a Challenge
Epiphany 1:
On Monday afternoon, the following thought shot into my mind like a dart: “I feel like I have been ill-prepared for life up until this moment.” Then it occurred to me that my whole life has prepared me for THIS moment—for songwriting. I have jumped into the water and I am swimming. (Maybe only dog paddling at this point.) But with practice, perhaps I can learn to swim gracefully.
Epiphany 2:
I did not know when I accepted the challenge to be a songwriter that I would have to sing my songs. I know now that I will need to sing them.
Challenge:
I am an introvert. Being in large groups of people is uncomfortable. It is hard for me to make small talk. I usually feel out of place and awkward—perhaps that is why I rarely connect with the outside world. But now, I wanted to learn how to write songs. I had something bigger than myself that I wanted to accomplish. I decided I would do whatever it took . . . even get out of my comfort zone.
“The Dance”
During my class with Don Henry, he said one song in the lesson of perfection is “The Dance” by Tony Arata. On the way home, as I was entering Birmingham, that song came on the radio. It caught my attention because it began with piano and then added guitar. As I listened to the words, I realized that the title of my very first song was, “Let’s Dance.” I had finally begun dancing.
You can never know at the beginning of something (life, love, or songwriting) what the outcome will be. The final words from “The Dance” are fitting because, even if things don’t work out, what you do and love is totally worth the effort. Living is about growing and having experiences. It is the joy and sometimes the pain that gives life meaning.
NSAI Song Camp 101 – Final Thoughts
On leaving Nashville, I listened to my CD of original songs. Then I listened to the Raul Malo CD and again played my CD. I realized that one thing I gained from my trip was a new set of ears. By hearing all the live music, especially on Monday and Tuesday night, I had learned more than reading a dozen books. I could now listen with a new perception.
By going to Nashville I knew I would find out what I needed to do to learn songwriting and how to assess my songs. Since beginning this journey I had been working in the dark—by that, I mean not knowing what the benchmark is for good songwriting. These songwriters all study and admire the classic songwriters. Their goals are to write good songs, not make a hit. Of course, they have had hits, but that is not their ultimate goal.
Over the course of the several days, I went in and out of being encouraged and then being disheartened (that’s probably too strong a word). At moments, I would wonder—what do I think I can contribute to the world of songwriting?
One day, when I was talking to one of the leaders from Saturday night, I said I had never been to a honky tonk. He looked down at my feet and said, “No boots?” I said that I don’t own any boots. Then I complained that I did not think I had enough life experiences to write about. I was sitting at a table so he knelt down in front of me and said, “The only one who’s seen the world through your eyes is you. That is special and unique.” That statement meant a great deal to me. I heard that in various classes—but to have someone say it specifically, directly to me was extremely powerful.
NSAI Song Camp 101 – Home
Wednesday when I got home it was lunch time. My husband and I went to the Black Pearl (an Asian Cuisine restaurant). Here is what my fortune cookie said: “Nothing can keep you from reaching your goals. Do it!”
There will be more about my first trip to Nashville in next week’s blog.
§
Is there something you wanted to do for which you were willing to step out of your comfort zone?
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.