Quick Reminder about Song Circle 5/1/2017

Hello all,

Tonight at 6:30pm at Federated Church.
400 West Aspen Ave
In room 24.
We may be moving rooms but there will be a sign posted if we do.

Quick Reminder about Song Circle Tonight 4/10/2017

Hello all,

6:30pm
Flagstaff Federated Community Church
400 West Aspen Ave (Room 24) Upstairs
Bring a mug and a new song!

Ryan Biter

Our Next Song Circle 3/13/2017

Last Month 
We met at Flagstaff Federated Church.
We had 5 songwriters in attendance. It was a great evening. We established rules, drank tea, shared songs, gave feedback,  discussed song writing philosophy, and explored some techniques for modulating.

Assignment 
Part of our format I wanted to encourage was writing assignments.  The parameters are loose so that you can take some license. They are a means of making you explore something new.  As songwriters it is important we are always writing to hone our craft. Not everything has to be gold!

Use the following chords
Progression: I- vi- iv-  V(7)

You are welcome to put this in different keys to suit your voice/style. Have fun and use the rules to guide you!

In C 
C-am-fm-G7    or     C-am-Fmaj- G7
In G 
G -em- cm-- D7   or  G-em-Cmaj- G7

Titles you can use 
-These Highway Lights
-Not in Nashville

I encourage you all to give it a go!

Next Song Circle 3/13/2017
Flagstaff School of Music (Tentative)
2213 E 7th Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Time: 6:30pm
Bring a mug for Tea!

Warmly,

Ryan Biter

 

Flagstaff Song Circle 2/6/2017

Hello Song Writers,

Venue Info 
I wanted to check in and give everyone an update. I have been scrambling around trying to find a venue to host us. I consulted with several other members of The Song Circle and the consensus was that even though Bookmans had been gracious in hosting us in the past and was willing to do so again, it was a less than ideal setting.
Finding a space that is  free for us to use, provides ample parking, and has enough space is difficult.
For our first meeting I have managed to get us a meeting room at Flagstaff Federated Community Church in Downtown Flagstaff . I know some of you may have reservations about meeting at a Church and I respect that. If you are someone who has those reservations feel free to voice that. I want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable.
The room we would be using is comfy with couches and lots of chairs. It is upstairs so if that is an issue for anyone please let me know ASAP.

I will have hot water and assortment of tea (Please bring your own mug).

Bring your Instrument!
Warmly,
Ryan Biter 

Monday February 6th, 2017
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Flagstaff Federated Community Church (Room 24)
400 West Aspen Ave, Flagstaff Arizona 

Time For The Circle to Be Unbroken!

Hello Song Writers,

It has been quite a long time since we have got together to share songs.  A lot has happened since the last time we gathered. Ted moved, some of us developed a case of writers block,  others could not stop writing and had to get help,  some of us forgot how to use all 4 chords, and I suspect a few of us gave up on ever using the word orange in a song.

Its time to reunite!

Its time to dust off our guitars, mandolins, and ukes. It is time to rise up in one voice and proclaim we are songwriters!

Warmly,
Ryan Biter

Monday February 6th, 2017
Time: 6:30pm
Location: TBA

Hibernating, Ruminating, Hesitating -- Still Creating

The Flagstaff Song Circle is on hiatus for now.

The most dedicated songwriters in our circle are preoccupied with other endeavors.

Sherrill is brewing beer. Jim is agitating. I am in Madagascar. But we are all still making music, the songs just ruminate a little more slowly and compete with other activities for our attention.

Revealed: Where songs come from.
Image: Pearson Scott Foresman
Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

There is thought of finding some fresh blood for the song circle, or even finding a caretaker to run it.

Want to be notified when we jumpstart the song circle? Sign up for the mailing list.

Want to help jumpstart the song circle? Contact us on Facebook.

Back to Bookman's! Leave your Chestnuts at Home

The Song Circle will be resuming after a hiatus of more than seven months to...

 
What the hell happened? You may ask.

Here's the short version:

We loved Bookman's, but we decided we needed to start seeing other venues.

We played the field for awhile, but settled on The Weatherford Hotel, because of its cozy mezzanine sandwiched between two bars: Charly's downstairs and The Zane Grey Lounge upstairs. The convenient downtown location worked.

Then something disastrous happened -- or wonderful, if you are a hotel trying to make a profit. Monday Blues Night became a hit, but made holding a Song Circle difficult. For awhile we were able to move up to a side room off the Zane Grey lounge, but only when that room wasn't reserved for a paying customer.

Could we have paid for the use of that room? Certainly. But it was hard enough encouraging the cheap-ass songwriters to buy a beer from the bar 20 steps away.

The song circle became homeless. I held one or two meetings at my house, but only the diehards came -- including Sherrill Kennelly who told me that we had to find a public place, a familiar place, a place that people could find from memory; without directions. She was right.

So for months I inquired, did reconnaissance, and asked around. Then I got word that Bookman's might take us back -- would take us back. I just needed to get through to the right person; the one with the calendar and a pencil in hand. That took a few more months. Until yesterday, in fact.

Thank you, Desiree.

So, songwriters, let's begin anew. Bring your new song, your in-progress song, your under-renovation song. Leave your chestnuts at home, but bring a couple bucks for a coffee drink. The Flagstaff Song Circle is back on!