Have YOU checked out songU?
Some IFS readers are making great strides
because of it. Take a free course.
http://www.SongU.com/ifs

~ ~ ~

Are you one myspace.com yet?

My site is
http://myspace.com/anders
You can now pick your top 8 friends
link to me as a friend

~ ~ ~

Dear IFS Readers,

I hope this email finds you well.

First, thanks to the person who
asked me to help them with what I do in my day job.
I appreciate it.

NEXT in this issue you'll find an
IFS OLD # 9 Scholarship OPPORTUNITY
(a $475 value)
You'll find full details below.

I'm beginning to wade through the IFS AD submissions.
I've heard some great tunes

Lately my lyric writing seems to cycle through droughts and floods.
Last week was flooding. This week not so much. I have several songs
I'm working on that I'm very excited about.

2 of my songs get forwarded on songu.com OPPS and one artist said
she was interested in Blue Holiday
www.SongU.com/IFS
Have you heard Blue Holiday?
You can listen to it at:
http://www.songramp.com/homepage.ez?playcatalog=Yes&Who=ande

I decided to focus on discovering talented songwriters and singers
on MySpace and I decided to grow my www.myspace.com/anders Friend
List. I now have 464 friends.

I've found some amazing vocalists like
http://www.myspace.com/kierrakwan
and
http://www.myspace.com/tresajordan
http://cdbaby.com/cd/tresajordan/from/ande

Also after seeing and hearing thousands of talented artists and
songwriters on myspace, I've also come to the conclusion there are a
lot of very talented people who are writing songs and making music,
and if you ever want to have significant success in songwriting
you've got to be flexible, talented, dedicated, disciplined, focused
and a little lucky.

If your songs aren't as great as songs written by professional
writers and you still expect to have success.
You might be deluding yourself.

Congratulations to CDBaby
soon they will have paid over $20,000,000 to artists.
Is that cool or what?

their Current Numbers are:
110,824 artists sell their CD's at CD Baby.
1,894,995 CDs sold online to customers.
$19,844,705.67 paid to artists.

do you have your music up on CDBaby?
http://cdbaby.com/from/Ande

get in the game you might score
if you don't then you won't

Ande Rasmussen


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IFS is very pleased announce the
Old No.9 Eliza Gilkyson Songwriter Workshop SCHOLARSHIP Opportunity!

On Friday January 13 through Sunday, January 15, 2006
the Old No.9 Music Series is presenting
a three day songwriting / music workshop for
20 students with
Eliza Gilkyson in the beautiful Texas Hill Country near
Waring, Texas, about 40 miles northwest of San Antonio.

The Old No. 9 Road House workshops are truly inspirational musical
experiences full of fun, great food and fellowship!
IFS and the Old No.9 Corporation for the Arts is proud to provide:

+ One Grand Prize - a FULL Scholarship to the Eliza Gilkyson
Old No. 9 workshop - a $475.00 value.

The first five runners up will receive free tickets to Eliza's
Saturday evening Concert starting at 6:30 pm and
Friends of the Old No.9 Campfire Jam after the concert.

Thanks to Kricket at the Old No. 9 for cosponsoring this scholarship
with IFS.

A Few RULES:

Please understand that the Grand Prize Scholarship of $475.00 covers
tuition, accommodations and meals. The recipients MUST provide their
own transportation to and from the event. This scholarship is only
good for the Eliza Gilkyson Songwriter Workshop, Jan. 13-15,2006..
The grand prize winner may not give their scholarship to another.
If the grand prize winner is unable to attend the grand prize
scholarship will be awarded to the first runner up.

IFS and the Old No.9 Corp.for the Arts will select a panel of judges
to evaluate applications and applicants and to award the prizes.

I, Ande Rasmussen, will NOT be a judge of this scholarship and
will have nothing to do with judging.

FYI, in the past, very few people have applied for this amazing
opportunity.
Your odds dramatically increase when you enter.


To be eligible to apply you MUST:

1) Be able to attend all three days of the Workshop from
6:00 pm / suppertime on Friday, Jan. 13 through early afternoon on
Sunday, Ja. 15, 2006.

2) Submit your application before the DEADLINE
Midnight CST December 10, 2005

To apply for this Scholarship to the Old No.9 Eliza Gilkyson
Songwriter Workshop:

1) Fill out an application which includes

Your name,

Your address,

Your phone numbers,

Your email address,

Your your website (if you have one)

URLS to 3 songs or song clips you'd like the judges to hear
where the judges can hear your music online.
Let the judges know who the writers and performers are
(if you don't have a website you can quickly and easily set up a
free site and load 3 songs on www.songramp.com)


2) Answer the following questions and respond to the prompts

a) Tell us about yourself and your songwriting
1) What have you accomplished so far?
2) What do you hope to accomplish with your songwriting?

b) Why should IFS / Old No.9 Corp. judges select and send you to
attend the Old No 9 Songwriter Workshop with Eliza Gilkyson?

c) What do you hope to gain from the experience?

3) Email your info and answers to
OldNo9Sch@yahoogroups.com

Put your responses in the body of the email
NO ATTACHMENTS! (In fact all attachments are discarded.)

In the subject field write
IFS Old No.9
Submit your application before the 12/10/05 DEADLINE


Judging Criteria:

IFS judges will select who they feel is the most deserving
individual. In the past, the judges have considered the following
factors:

The applicants':
Essays,
Songs, songwriting and music,
Commitment and dedication to their music career,
Financial need, and
if the applicant has ever been to Old No.9 before?

IFS hopes to send a songwriter who will greatly benefit from the
experience at the Old No.9.


IMPORTANT DATES

Submission Deadline:
Sunday December 10, 2005 midnight CST
Recipient Announcement Date:
December 14, 2005

IFS will announce the Grand Prize winner and runners u
Old Number 9 is an incredible experience and an awesome opportunity!
We look forward to reading your submissions and hearing your music

About the Old No.9
The Old No.9 Road House is an educational facility for the arts
located near Comfort in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and within
walking distance of the Guadalupe River. Created as a place for art
related workshop/retreat, the Old No.9 features classroom
facilities, a covered stage for performance and bunkhouse-style
accommodations for individuals or small groups. The Old No.9 Music
Series hosts Songwriter Workshops where education is offered during
intensive three-day retreats. These retreats are usually
highlighted by a Saturday night concert that the public is invited to
attend. For complete information visit our Songwriters Workshop page.


About Eliza Gilkyson
http://www.elizagilkyson.com
"Her words are too good to be ignored. She sings with plaintive
power and writes with soulful strength."-Dallas Morning News

Eliza Gilkyson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in
February of 2003, alongside such luminaries as Willie Nelson, Townes
Van Zandt, Nancy Griffith, and others. Grammy nominated Eliza
Gilkyson is a third generation musician who grew up in Los Angeles
knowing that her life would revolve around music. "I got into it for
all the wrong reasons, more as a survival tool than anything else,
but it proved to serve me more than I dared to imagine." As a
teenager, she recorded demos for her dad Terry Gilkyson, who wrote
folk music hits "Greenfields," "Marianne," and "Memories Are Made of
This," as well at the DISNEY CLASSICS "The Bear Necessities." "He
would use me in the studio because I had a mature voice at an early
age and would work for free," laughs Eliza. Soon after, she was
writing and recording her own material as well.

At the end of the sixties, Eliza moved to New Mexico with likeminded
souls, eventually raising a family, all the while developing a loyal
fan base in the Southwest and Texas. She cut numerous records,
including Pilgrims, released on Gold Castle Records in 1987. In
1996 Eliza released Through the Looking Glass (Private Music),
followed by Redemption Road (Silverwave/ MTI) in 1997, which she has
recently reissued.

Eliza started her own label, Realiza Records and put out Misfits in
1999, a collection of outtakes that received favorable press as a
sound that connected the worlds of folk and modern storytelling. In
2000, Eliza released her first album on the Red House Records label,
Hard Times in Babylon. The album was a critical success followed
quickly by more acclaim for Lost and Found. "Gilkyson's superior
songwriting and sensuous singing make Lost and Found a true delight.
It is one of the few discs that listeners can enjoy in any mood. The
complexities of male-female relationships have rarely been expressed
better – or deeper – than in those lyrics." – Boston Herald

Eliza has recently appeared on NPR's All Things Considered, Austin
City Limits and on tour with Patty Griffin and Mary Chapin
Carpenter. Eliza's recent release, Land of Milk and Honey, is a
recording decidedly more sociopolitical in theme. Eliza's new
CD, "Paradise Hotel" was released in August 2005.


SONGWRITER WORKSHOP
SCHEDULE and FEES
Fri., Jan. 13: 4:00-6:00pm Students check in
6:30-7:30pm Welcome & Dinner
8:00 - until Around the campfire get to know you,
song circle with Eliza

Sat., Jan. 14: 8:00-8:45am Breakfast
9:00-11:45am Workshop Sessions
12:00-1:00pm Lunch
1:30- 4:30 pm Workshop Sessions
4:30-5:30pm Free time, writing & jamming
5:30 –6:15pm Dinner
7:00 -7:45pm Student Openers for the Concert
8:00pm Eliza Gilkyson in Concert at the OldNo.9 Road House
10:30-until Friends of the Old No.9 Campfire Jam

Sun. Jan. 15: Sleep in Free time until 9:30am
9:30-10:15am Brunch
10:30am 2:30pm Live Student Concert with Eliza recorded
for commemorative CD
2:30-until Farewells and departures

Scheduled times are approximate. Eliza Gilkyson will conduct
sessions in creative inspiration in songwriting, music creativity,
and song craft. She will provide information and answer questions
regarding publishing and producing in the music business.

$25.00 Non-refundable Reservation Fee must accompany Registration
Form

COST: $475.00 Total including Reservation Fee , Tuition, Room &
Board First Tuition payment of $225.00 due by Nov. 15, 2005 Second
Tuition Payment of $225.00 due by Dec. 15, 2005 (includes workshop
tuition, lodging, meals, snacks, Student/CD, Eliza Gilkyson CD, and
Old No.9 t-shirt)

Spend three days with Eliza Gilkyson
in the beautiful Texas Hill Country
for an intense and inspirational musical experience
full of fun, good food and fellowship!

Limited to 20 students

For more information call
830-995-4413 or 508-314-4762

or email kricketmri@...


This event is limited to 20 students. If you really want to attend
IFS suggests you contact OLD NO 9 and SIGN UP before the workshop
fills up
Soon they may have to turn people away

Thanks again to Kricket and The Old No. 9 for partnering with IFS.

For more information call
830-995-4413 office
508-314-4762 cell

email
kricketmri@...
or drop by
http://www.oldno9.org/

got questions about the scholarship?
send them to
OldNo9Sch@yahoogroups.com
in the subject field write
QUESTION

Good luck
Send in your application now!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From allaboutcountry

'Nashville Star' Breaks Casting Attendance Records

To date, twice the number of contestants are showing up in every
audition market for "Nashville Star," USA Network's original
grassroots talent search to find Americas next great Country Music
star. With several major markets still to come, the nation's top
rated Country Music program which gives one artist their big break,
has already exceeded expectations to find the most talented and
deserving cast when the show returns in March for its fourth season.

"So far this year, we have doubled the turn out in each market from
previous years and the talent we are seeing is amazing," says
Executive Producer Jeff Boggs. "With HUGE stops in Nashville,
Washington D.C., and Houston still to come, this will be the largest
casting turnout in the history of our show by far! We look forward
to seeing what the rest of the markets bring."

For the first time, this year "Nashville Star" Executive Producers
enlisted some of the top music critics in the country to help in the
judging process. From the Daily Oklahoman, to the St. Petersburg
Times, music critics have been raving about the talents of their
hometown areas.

Stacy Peterson of from the Fayetteville Observer had had this to
say: "It really was a lot of fun and it gave me a new insight and
respect to how well "Nashville Star" goes after talent just as much
as image."

"I was absolutely blown away by the talent," says St. Petersburg
Times Pop Music Critic Sean Daly. "By Sunday, many people had been
weeded down, so I saw the very cream of the crop. Some of these kids
were still in high school--but the original songs they performed
could be hits today."

Sandi Davis, music critic for the Daily Oklahoman, helped judge day
two of Oklahoma City and noted: The caliber of talent who made it to
the second round was amazing. I cant imagine having to weed out from
the first round. We even had a guy show up from Germany! I truly
believe the show found their next Nashville Star right here. I cant
wait to tune in and see the finals.

Upcoming NASHVILLE STAR casting markets include Portland,
Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Nashville, Indianapolis,
Houston and Las Vegas.

Updated information on auditions including cities, locations and
times, song lists and applications can be found on "Nashville Star"

The auditions are open to women and men, ages 18 and over (as of
January 1, 2006), who think they have what it takes to become the
next "Nashville Star." Those auditioning will have one minute to
perform a song off an approved song list. For the those invited back
for the second day, they will be asked to sing two songs from an
approved song list or one approved, and one original song. The top
contestants then proceed to one of two regional competitions to
again audition for a chance to appear on the show.

As in the past, the winner of this season's "Nashville Star" will
receive a major music recording contract with a top-level record
label.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

here's links to all of CDBaby's Country Flavors

Blue Grass
http://cdbaby.com/style/25/from/ande

Country Blues
http://cdbaby.com/style/26/from/ande

Country Folk
http://cdbaby.com/style/27/from/ande

Country Pop
http://cdbaby.com/style/28/from/ande

Country Rock
http://cdbaby.com/style/29/from/ande

Modern Country
http://cdbaby.com/style/31/from/ande

Traditional country
http://cdbaby.com/style/30/from/ande

Western
http://cdbaby.com/style/224/from/ande

Western Swing
http://cdbaby.com/style/32/from/ande

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

this has nothing to do with songwriting but could be important to
your family's safety.

Do you REALLY know who your neighbors are?
find where you live
set the map on level 3
then click FIND OFFENDERS

http://mapsexoffenders.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Write On,

Ande

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Ande Rasmussen's Inspirations for Songwriters (I F S)
www.SongwriterBlog.com
IFS aims to INSPIRE YOU into ACTION
over 3,800 songwriters, music publishers, artists, and
music fans receive IFS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

Please FORWARD IFS to your SONGWRITING friends

If you want to RECEIVE IFS or
If you want to CHANGE your email address
SEND an EMPTY email to
difs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Please Allow IFS get past your SPAM FILTER
place
anderasmussen@...
on your safe / approved list

DID YOU KNOW THAT All IFS messages are archived on
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/messages

Once you're in the IFS archive, if you're looking for something in
Particular, you can do a key word search

Here's an easy way to find the IFS home page, type in:
http://www.SongwriterBlog.com
or
http://www.SongwritingBlog.com