Chapter Events

The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International currently holds monthly Chapter Meetings on every 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30pm to 9pm CST.  These meetings can be attended in-person or virtually via Zoom.  At these meetings we discuss our mutual passion for the craft of songwriting and share our songwriting experiences and insights. Meetings consist of news and announcements of NSAI events and opportunities, an educational presentation by Chapter Coordinators on some element of songwriting craft or songwriting business, and then we conduct a peer feedback session in which Members have an opportunity to share a song they've written or co-written with the group and receive a valuable outside perspective on it.

WHO CAN COME TO MONTHLY MEETINGS?:

Songwriters of all genres and all levels of ability are welcome.  NSAI Membership is not a requirement for attending the meeting.  If participants wish to bring a family member with them, that is allowed as well.

IS THERE A COST TO ATTEND THE MONTHLY MEETING?:

NSAI Members can attend as many of any Chapter Meeting anywhere in the world as an included part of their paid membership and they do not need to pay any additional fees for these meetings.  People who are not NSAI Members are also welcome to attend two of our meetings for free, and then beyond that we ask Non-Member participants to pay a fee of $15 for each meeting they attend.  The payment form for that can be found at this link (click here). 

BRINGING A SONG TO SHARE FOR PEER FEEDBACK:

NSAI Members have the option, if desired, to bring one song each to our Chapter Meetings to share with the group and receive feedback on.  Submitting songs for feedback is a Member exclusive benefit, but we heartily encourage attending Non-Members to participate in the discussion and participate in providing feedback on songs.  We ask that all Members who wish to share a song sign-up online by 5pm the day of the meeting.  A sign-up link and instructions are sent to all NSAI Members affiliated with the Oklahoma City Chapter, as well as anyone who has RSVP’d to the meeting.  Our sign-up form provides options for submitting a lyric sheet and a recording.  Submitting a recording is optional, and songwriters are welcomed to perform their song live at the meeting if they prefer.  Submitting lyrics is also optional but encouraged because it will enable Coordinators to display the lyrics to all meeting attendees, including virtual attendees.  Songwriters are welcomed to bring paper copies of their lyrics as well if they’d like the group to provided written notes.  It is also fine for those who only have a lyric sheet or only have an instrumental song to participate.

HOW OUR PEER FEEDBACK SESSIONS WORK:

We will listen to Members’ songs in the order that they signed-up online before that day’s deadline of 5pm.  Before we read/listen to each song, we encourage the songwriter to tell the group what their goal for writing the song is and what kind of feedback (if any) would be most helpful to get from the group in order to achieve that goal.  If there are too many songs to realistically share during the meeting and still end on time, each song might only be partially played in order to conserve time (usually to the end of the 2nd chorus or the bridge).  After reading/listening to each song, we will go around the table and one by one provide our compliments, observations and suggestions, if we have them.  Coordinators will say their comments last before moving on to the next song.  With each new round of commentary, the person who gives their comments first will rotate so that no one is stuck in the position to always speak first or always speak last.  Those who are joining the meeting virtually over Zoom will have their faces up on a screen at the end of the group table, and for all intents and purposes will be considered to be occupying that spot at the table when turns are being taken to speak. 

WHAT KIND OF THINGS WILL PEOPLE SAY ABOUT MY SONG?

Our purpose for providing peer feedback on songs is to help the songwriter achieve whatever their personal goal is for writing that song.  Whether they are a recording artist and are writing it to record and release themselves, or writing it to pitch to other music industry professionals, or are just writing it for fun as a hobby!  Some songwriters might want to know whether the meaning of their song is clear or not. Some might want to know if the group has ideas for how to make the melody or chord progressions more contemporary and catchy.  Some might be looking for collaborators and are sharing a song to demonstrate their writing style.  Whatever it is you want your song to be able to do, we want to provide you with as many outside opinions as you want about how to get your song closer to that goal. In the process of doing that, sometimes we will push each other to aim higher, and sometimes it is uncomfortable to be given constructive criticism about something as personal as a work of art, but everyone in our diverse membership is there to help one another grow by sharing insights.  Those insights are ultimately only any given person’s personal opinions, and it is up to you the songwriter whether you agree or disagree with the commentary you receive from your peers.  One thing we will always say is congratulations on writing a song, because that is not an easy thing to do, and you should always be proud of that achievement no matter what!

MEETING LOCATION:

The OKC Chapter's monthly meetings take place in the Songwriting Room on the first floor of the Academy of Contemporary Music, centrally located in the Bricktown area.  Enter from the East door unless signage says otherwise. Free street-side parking is available North of the building along the streets Sheridan, Oklahoma and Main (these are metered parking spots during the day but are free in the evening).  Two pay lots are also available immediately to the North and South of the ACM building.

JOINING MONTHLY MEETINGS VIRTUALLY:

All of our Chapter Meetings can also be attended virtually using the Zoom app!  Approximately a week before the meeting and on the day of the meeting, we message the Zoom link and some instructions out to all NSAI Members affiliated with the Oklahoma City Chapter, as well as anyone (whether an NSAI Member or not) who has RSVP’d to the meeting.  For Non-Members, RSVPing to the meeting or contacting Coordinators via the Contact Us button on our Chapter’s page is the only way to receive the Zoom link for the meeting.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN NSAI MEMBER?

Beyond free participation in local events and meetings like those held by the OKC Chapter, there are numerous benefits to NSAI membership!  Explore some of those benefits by reviewing NSAI's Learn About Membership page or by signing up for the Inside NSAI Seven Day Sneak Peek Series. Or, for those who already know they want to join, registration can be completed from this link (click here). Let them know you learned about NSAI from the Oklahoma City Chapter, and don’t forget to affiliate with our Chapter once you are a Member!  (Look for the “affiliate” button on our Chapter page.)