Denali Arts Council, in partnership with Parlor in the Round, presents a Youth Song Writing Competition! In the spirit of the musical game show, we ask songwriters to include the prompt:The winning submission will receive an educational scholarship, donated by the Sheldon Family. Music to the song will be written by Parlor in the Round and performed live at the Parlor in the Round performance at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar on Friday, December 14th. Competitors will receive a free ticket to the performance.
Submission deadline is Friday, November 29th at 5pm!
Scholarship:
The winning songwriter will receive a voucher for $500 that may be utilized as an education scholarship. This can be applied towards a homeschool program or activity, AK529 account, or youth camp. These funds will be paid directly to the organization.
Rules:
Songs must be submitted by email to michelle@denaliartscouncil.org, no later than Friday, November 29th. The subject for the email must contain the words “Songwriting Submission”, followed by the title of the song.
Submissions must be typed and emailed.
Submissions must contain the song title, name of artist and their age.
The song must contain the prompt ‘cozy socks’.
Competitors must be 17 years or younger.
Song lyrics can’t contain explicit material or swear words.
Music is not necessary, although if you have a melody in mind you can submit a recording with your song. This could be as simple as humming an idea.
Although not required, it is highly recommended that the youth follow our below songwriting tips.
Tips for success with song lyric writing:
1. Use a simple format, such as verse > chorus > verse > chorus. Choruses almost always repeat the same lyrics and are something memorable that can be a sing-along. Verses should be similar in rhythm or flow and present the more complex ideas or thoughts.
2. Verses are typically 4-8 lines. Choruses are typically 2-4 lines. Even numbers of lines are easier to work with.
3. Rhythm is important to allow a song to flow. Lines within a unit (such as a verse or chorus) ideally should have similar syllable lengths. They do not need to be exactly the same but should not be dramatically longer/shorter.
4. Sing your lyrics to yourself and see how they flow. Does it feel smooth or clunky?
If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Michelle at michelle@denaliartscouncil.org, or call 907-733-7929.
The winning submission will receive an educational scholarship, donated by the Sheldon Family. Music to the song will be written by Parlor in the Round and performed live at the Parlor in the Round performance at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar on Friday, December 14th. Competitors will receive a free ticket to the performance.