My Songwriting Challenge: 50 songs in 90 days

I am very excited about this and already started today. I think I just put three hours into songwriting. There is a thing called 50/90 in which songwriters join the challenge to write 50 songs in 90 days. The challenge starts on July 4th. This is exactly what I need. It's a clearly defined goal and I've been wanting something to kick me in the butt to get writing. Until today, I have mostly written when I'm inspired...but when life is busy and cluttered, it can get harder to get that inspiration. If you'd like to follow my progress, here's my profile...

http://5090.fawm.org/fawmers/katiepearlman/

I'll be uploading songs starting 7/4/09.

Woohoo!

Something different this Father's Day

I created a webpage in my Dad's honor where people can donate to the Alzheimer's Association. I'm not asking you to donate...just check out this link if you have a second and there is a photo album. This is my Dad....http://act.alz.org/goto/kenschmidt

PS - no cracks about the pictures of me haha...and Happy Father's Day to all you Dads!!

Promising responses from booking

OK - I just started working on booking my solo acoustic tour and have had a few positive responses. That's encouraging! Sent out 23 emails so far...and finding out that there are so many great looking venues out there that I hope to play. :)

Whenever I work on booking, I get a little antsy that I'm not practicing enough. This morning I started writing a new song, so I'm not totally neglecting my practice. Tonight I have band rehearsal and four shows in the next three days, so I'll get to play too!

Business Day

I spent at least four hours on the website today. I added an acoustic page and a discography page, and also moved some things around to make it look nicer. There's more to do, but I took a big step in the right direction. http://www.katiepearlman.com/

I also spent a couple hours on booking. I'm working on putting together a solo acoustic tour. I'm looking for "listening rooms" or places that have an audience that like singer/songwriters. I love being on the road and am looking forward to getting busier now that I'm done with school. Need more dates!

Tomorrow, I will work on house concerts....

Voice Lesson #2

I went for voice lesson #2 today with Ron Meixsell. Yay! I've wanted to take lessons for a long time, but didn't because of cost, availability, etc. Things happen when they're supposed to in their own time!

Today, we did more vocalizing and testing of the width of my vocal range. I can sing higher than I thought.

• Ron taught me to focus on expanding my rib cage and pushing out while singing. He also said to use my lower abdominals. This felt a little weird to be pushing out the ribs while singing and will take some time getting used to. Doing this, and the use of the lower abs seems to help me sing higher.
  
• I tend to tighten my jaw sometimes. Focusing on the ribs and abs helps me release my jaw a little...also opening my mouth more. I also found that I relax when I don't think about it so much.
  
• We talked in between for a while about our life stories. We have some things in common, healing stuff. My experience in yoga helps me with having an awareness of my breath and body.
  
• I have a little uncertainty with continuing lessons because of the cost, but I know that I will find a way to afford it. I think it's very important for me as a person and a singer, and also for my career to get vocal instruction on a regular basis for a while.

I'm looking forward to growing as a singer and letting my voice be free and easy. I'm looking forward to singing in a new way, and writing songs that utilize my voice in a new way. Most of all, I'm looking forward to the feeling I get whenever I sing and write and perform...it's blissful!

Played in Ohio this past weekend

On Saturday, I drove 8 hours to Canton, Ohio to play at Muggswigz Coffeehouse. It was a beautiful drive and I loved looking at all of the different shades of green that our earth has to offer this time of year. Pennsylvania is gorgeous country. Some of the farms made me daydream of what farm and country life would be like. No buzz of the highway or sirens, and less complicated, less busyness of a life, perhaps?

To keep me company on my drive, I downloaded an audio presentation of Wayne Dyer on his most recent topic Excuses Be Gone. It lasted the whole trip to Ohio and for some of the way back. It's all about creating a life without limitations and challenging the limiting thoughts that our minds have. I liked the audio presentation version of this, because he put his theories to work with people in the audience. I recommend it. Rom Dass talked at the end...what an amazing story he has!


Muggswigz was a nice place to perform an acoustic show. The sound was OK. It's one of these places where the sound system is placed in a location other than the stage, like high up somewhere, which means that it's harder for the audience to discern the words that I'm singing. The people that were there were a great audience. They clapped (even though I told them not to) and seemed interested even though many were reading books and surfing the net (which is what people do in a coffeehouse.) It was nice that when I started talking, they lifted their heads to see what I was saying. I was greatful for their attention and for the opportunity to sing to them.

All in all, it was a worthwhile trip. I hope to be doing more touring this summer. I love to travel and I love singing my songs.


PS - there was a double rainbow outside of Muggswigz. I didn't get the double in the picture, but here you go...