Record in the studio with Jenny Phillips or Tyler Castleton
& learn what it takes to break into the LDS music industry!

At a Glance
Prices/Register
LDS Music Industry Workshop (outline & more info)
Recording Competition (How it works, recording times, & more info)
LDS Songwriting 101 (outline & more info)
FAQs
Contact

Workshops and Competition at a Glance
Jenny Phillips & Tyler Castleton have teamed up to organize annual workshops and competitions for those interested in breaking into the LDS Music Industry. These workshops are an incredible opportunity for singers and songwriters to learn from and meet some of the biggest producers and contacts in the industry and to obtain valuable information. The recording competition gives those who love to sing the opportunity to record in a professional studio with Jenny or Tyler, and compete to be featured on the 2009 youth theme CD, by Jenny Phillips.

LDS Music Industry Workshop
When: Friday June 27th, 2008; 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: The Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City (100 S West Temple)
What:  A workshop for singers, songwriters, producers/arrangers, that are interested in breaking into the LDS music industry.
Who Can Attend: Males and females of all ages.

2008 LDS Vocal Recording Competition
When: Choose a recording session time between Friday June 27th and Tuesday July 8th
Where: Counterpoint Studios in Salt Lake or June Audio Studios in Provo
What:  Record a demo at a private professional studio session with producers Jenny Phillips or Tyler Castleton and compete to record on Jenny’s 2009 youth theme CD.
Who Can Participate: Women ages 16-40.

LDS Songwriting 101
When: Thursday, June 26th and Saturday June 28th from 5:30-9:30 pm
Where: Deseret Book Corporate Offices in Salt Lake (directly South of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square)
What:  This intense workshop is designed for the beginning songwriter or for those who have always wondered if they could write LDS music--if they just knew how to get started.
Who Can Attend: Males and females of all ages.

Prices/Register

*The recording Competition is limited to the first 150 participants.
*The workshops have a limited number of spaces, and registration will close when all the spots are filled.
*Please contact Stephanie@jennyphillips.com with any questions. 801-649-3952 (please email first if possible).

How to Register & Pay

1. Click here to go to the registration form. Fill out all of the information online, and submit the form.
2.  The registration form will have you choose the option to pay with a credit card (online or on the phone), mail in a check, or pay with your PayPal account.
3. You will receive a confirmation email with 24 hours, and then you will be mailed a registration packet (including the competition CD song and minus track if you are doing the competition) within 2 weeks.

2008 Prices
$80: LDS Music Industry Workshop; Friday June 27th only (3pm-9pm, Salt Palace)
$25: Add on “Dinner Event” to LDS Music Industry Workshop
$80: 2 Night Songwriting 101 Workshop. June 26th and 28th from 5:30-9:30 pm at the Deseret Book offices in SLC
$110: LDS Vocal Recording Competition

$50: ADD ON Parent or spouse for the LDS Music industry workshop
$25: ADD ON Parent or spouse “Dinner Event”

Specials:
Combo #1: LDS Music Industry Workshop, “Dinner Event,” and LDS Vocal Recording Competition
$190: LDS Music industry workshop Friday June 27th (3:00-9:00pm , Salt Palace), includes the “Dinner Event,” AND a Recording Competition Session (session time signups below)

Combo #2: LDS Music Industry Workshop, “Dinner Event,” LDS Vocal Recording Competition, & Songwriting 101 2-day Workshop
$270: LDS Music industry workshop Friday June 27th (3:00-9:00pm, Salt Palace), “Dinner Event,” included, AND a Recording Competition Session (session time signs below) AND the 2 night Songwriting 101 Workshop June 26th and June 28th (5:30-9:30 pm each night).
               

2008 LDS Music Industry Workshop

Outline

2:30-3:00: Registration

3:00-3:30: Welcome and Opening Concert
Hilary Weeks, Peter Brienholt, and new Deseret Book label group Mercy River.

3:30-4:00  pm: Knocking on Opportunity’s Door
(Jenny Phillips)
How to find the opportunities, deciding where you fit, finding a niche, making connections
Handouts: 5 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door; “Defining Yourself” Worksheet 

4:00-4:30 pm: The LDS Record Label
(Tyler Castleton)
Why do you want a record label deal? What does a label do? What are the pros and cons of being a label artist?  How to make the perfect pitch; what are the LDS labels currently looking for? Also—5 things you must know before pursuing a record label deal. Audience Q&A.

4:30-4:50 pm: The Independent Artist
Panel Q&A Discussion with independent artists Peter Brienholt, Lauri Carrigan, and Debra Fotheringham

4:50-5:00: Break

*See below for a more detailed description of each mini-class
5:00-5:30 pm: Mini-Classes, session 1 (choose one)
A. Songwriting Critiques (Tyler Castleton, Staci Peters, Hilary Weeks, Peter Breinhholt)
B. Vocal Master Class (Jenny Phillips)
C. Marketing, Promoting, and Selling Your CD (Bob Ahlander)

5:30-6:00 pm: Mini-Classes, session 2 (choose one)
A.  Sound systems 101 (Jenny Phillips)
B.  Songwriting Critiques (Tyler Castleton, Staci Peters, Hilary Weeks)
C.  Creating a Successful Concert (Peter Breinholt)

6:00-6:30 pm: Mini Classes, session 3 (choose one)
A. Behind the Scenes: Q&A for producers, arrangers, songwriters (Tyler Castleton)
B. Creating and booking successful firesides (Jenny Phillips)
C. Becoming a Successful Studio Vocalists (Hilary Weeks & Staci Peters)

6:30-7:30 pm: Dinner Break or “Dinner Event”
*Add on Dinner Event is $25.00 (Executive boxed dinners and special 1 hour event)
*See “Dinner Event” description below for details.
*Only those that purchase the “Dinner Event” will be able to stay in the workshop rooms and participate. Those who don’t purchase the “Dinner Event,” are welcome to go get dinner and meet back at 7:30 pm.

7:40-8:00 pm: Family/Personal Life and the LDS Artist
Panel Q&A Session with Audience: Tim and Hilary Weeks, Dan and Jenny Phillips, Tyler and Emily Castleton
How do you balance family and music, Is it better if your spouse is involved? How do you have kids and pursue a music career? How much time do you spend on music? How much traveling is necessary? Do you have to live in Utah? Does age matter? And much more.

8:00-8:30 pm: The Money Factor
(Jenny Phillips & Tyler Castleton)
How much does everything cost? Creating and following  a production budget. How much do I need to spend on marketing? How much $ do label artists make? Independent artists? Studio vocalists? How hard is it to make a living doing LDS music? How much do I need to spend on a demo? How much should I plan on spending for marketing?
Handouts: Average Production Costs (studios, arrangers, vocalists, musician’s), Budget Worksheet, Example Budget Sheets, LDS Artist’s Favorite Studios (studio contact information)

8:30-9:00 pm: Creating a Demo that Gets the Deal
(Tyler Castleton)
What I wish everyone knew about making a demo--the biggest mistakes and the things that catch a producer's attention. How effective are demos? Are they listened to? Can I always expect a response? How do you find songs for demos? What recording quality is expected? Do I need to hire a vocal producer? How to create an effective cover letter. Where to submit demos.
Handouts: How to Create a Cover Letter; List of LDS Arrangers for Demos

Dinner Event
At 6:30 pm, those who purchase the “Dinner Event” will be allowed to stay in the workshop rooms. You will receive an executive boxed dinner and be included on an event called, “Directing You to Success,” a special mentoring & pitching session. Everyone who purchases the Dinner Event will get a chance to put their name in a box at the beginning of the hour. We will pull out names, and you will have up to 2 minutes to either pitch yourself or ask questions to the panel (the panel consists of the Deseret Book Music Buyer, the head of Deseret Book Distribution & the Shadow Mountain Music label (Tyler Castleton), Stone Angel Music (which represents artists such as Mindy Gledhill, Peter Brienholt, and Paul Cardall), and Jenny Phillips). The panel will then personally respond to your pitch or question, giving you invaluable, specific advice and direction.

For example, if you have recorded a CD, and want to get it in stores, you can show the CD to the panel, explain a little about it, and even play a clip of the music. If you are a singer, you could sing for the panel, and get feedback on what you would need to do to get work as a studio vocalist. If you want to create a CD, but have questions on the direction, this is your chance to ask some of the best contacts in the industry. For those who don’t want to put their name in the box, watching and listening to the feedback will be a lot of fun and provide you with a wealth of knowledge.
*We cannot guarantee that we will get through all the names in the box.

Mini-Classes
On your registration form, you will be asked to select a class choice for each session. Some classes may have limited spaces.

5:00-5:30 pm: Mini-Classes, session 1 (choose one)
A. Songwriting Critiques (Instructors: Tyler Castleton, Staci Peters, Hilary Weeks, Peter Breinhholt)
This class is limited to 24 participants. You will be broken into groups of 6 and each have a chance to have 1-2 of your songs critiqued by one of the instructors. Please bring 7 copies of the lyrics. We will have CD players for you to play up to 1 minute of the song. Demo or home-recording quality is fine. (You don’t have to have a recording of the song—just lyrics are fine)

B. Vocal Master Class (Jenny Phillips)
This interactive vocal master class will focus on the most common problems preventing people from getting studio recording work, and how to fix them. Who is getting the work and why and how to compete. Class includes handouts and practical ideas for improving your technique and stylization.

C. Marketing, Promoting, and Selling Your CD (Bob Ahlander)
Bob Ahlander has a wealth of experience from working in A&R at Excel Entertainment to marketing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir music for Deseret Book. What do you do with your CD once it’s recorded? Covers getting your CDs in the store, creating a marketing plan, effective marketing strategies, creating a fan base, and getting publicity for the CD.

5:30-6:00 pm: Mini-Classes, session 2 (choose one)
A.  Sound systems 101 (Jenny Phillips)
How to determine the kind of sound system you need for firesides or concerts, where to purchase your system and how much everything will cost, basics on setting up and running a sound system, a look at types of microphones. Jenny will bring and demonstrate several of her favorite sound systems, as well as show you a way to create a sound system for firesides for under $300 that is also super easy to travel with. Includes handouts.

B.  Songwriting Critiques Continued (Tyler Castleton, Staci Peters, Hilary Weeks)
This class is limited to 18 participants. You will be broken into groups of 6 and each have a chance to have one of your songs critiqued by one of the instructors (if you did the songwriting critiques from 5-5:30, you will get a chance to move to a new instructor). Please bring 7 copies of the lyrics. We will have CD players for you to play up to 1 minute of the song. Demo or home-recording quality is fine. (You don’t have to have a recording on the song—just lyrics are fine)

C.  Creating a Successful Concert (Peter Breinholt)
Insights and ideas into what makes a successful concert, holding an audiences attention, creating a fan base for your concerts. Audience Q&A with one of the most successful concert givers in the LDS culture.

6:00-6:30 pm: Mini Classes, session 3 (choose one)
A. Behind the Scenes: Q&A for producers, arrangers, songwriters (Tyler Castleton)
This class is a chance for songwriters, producers, and arrangers to find out anything they want to know about the LDS market from the viewpoint of a songwriter, producer, or arranger. How and where do you submit songs? What are some of the biggest reasons songs are rejected? How much money can songwriters, producers, and arrangers hope to make in the LDS market? How can you get your foot in the door as an arranger or producer?

B. Creating and booking successful firesides (Jenny Phillips)
Tips and secrets Jenny has learned from putting on over 1,000 firesides in 15 countries and 28 states. Audience Q&A.

C. Becoming a Successful Studio Vocalists (Hilary Weeks & Staci Peters)
What do producers look for in the LDS market? Do you need to be able to sight-read music? How much do studio vocalists make? What are the best ways to pitch your voice? How can you beat the competition? Staci Peters has produced projects such as Women of Destiny and many EFY CDs and has worked as a vocal producer for voices dozens of LDS singers. Hilary Weeks has recorded for dozens of LDS projects and worked with a myriad of LDS producers as one of the most successful studio vocalists in LDS music history. This audience Q&A session is an opportunity to learn from their combined experience.

LDS Vocal Recording Competition

Please note that in order to participate in the competition, you must register for the LDS Music Industry Workshop, unless you have attended the workshop in a previous year.

How the Competition Works
Register for the competition, and then sign up for a 30 minute studio session with Jenny Phillips or Tyler Castleton. Everyone will record a new song written by Jenny Phillips/Tyler Castleton for the Jenny Phillips 2009 Youth Theme CD. The song is called “Firm in the Faith.” Click here to listen to a clip of the song.  When you register for the competition, you will be mailed a copy of the song as well as minus tracks and a lyric sheet to practice with (please note that there will be no sheet music for the song).

In the studio, Jenny or Tyler will lead you through each step of the recording process, and will try to help you get the most competitive demo possible. You will have approximately 20-25 minutes to work on the demo, and then the last 5-10 minutes will be spent mixing the demo, bouncing it to disk, and burning a copy. You will leave the studio with a copy of your demo, and you are welcome to burn copies of the demo to give out to friends and family and even to submit to producers. You are welcome to talk with Jenny and Tyler at the session about your voice and get feedback and advice.

Who Can Participate
Who Can Participate Women ages 16-40 years old can participate. This competition is designed for those who are serious about wanting to record in the LDS music industry as well as those who just want to have the experience of recording in a studio with a professional producer. *You must have attended one of Jenny's past LDS Music industry workshops or are attend this years LDS Music industry workshop to participate in the recording competition. ** You are not eligible for this competition if you have recorded as the lead vocal on a CD that has sold more than 5,000 copies.

How the Winners are Chosen
After all demos are completed, Jenny and Tyler will choose the top 20 demos. Every demo is listened to and considered. The top 20 winners will then be posted on Jenny’s website. Jenny and Tyler will then come up with the top ten winners and post them on the website. The top ten will receive $100 and be invited to a choir recording session for the 2009 youth theme CD (most likely in September 2008).

The top winner will then be chosen from among the top ten by a panel consisting of Jenny Phillips, Tyler Castleton, Stephanie Rees, and two Deseret Book Music Department employees. The top winner will record “Firm in the Faith” for the 2009 Youth Theme CD by Jenny Phillips, to be released by Deseret Book in 2009. Jenny’s youth theme CDs have been #1 bestsellers at Deseret Book for the past 2 years and have gone out to tens of thousands of people across the world. The top winner will be paid $250 for their recording.

*Winner must provide their own transportation and travel expenses to the recording which will be in Salt Lake City (most likely the 3rd or 4th week in September). If the winner cannot make it to Salt Lake the week of our recording, they forfeit their opportunity to record the song and will not receive the $250 for their recording.
*Because of the tight deadline for this CD, if the winner is sick on the scheduled day of recording, we will give them up to 1 week for their voice to be back to par. If Jenny and Tyler determine that their voice is not back to par within 1 week, we reserve the right to use a different vocalist.
*We reserve the right to have the winner record a different song for the 2009 youth theme CD than “Firm in the Faith,” if we decide not to have that song on the project.

How Many People are in the Competition
There is a limit of 165 people in the competition.

Recording Times (click the dates below to view the recording schedule for that day)
*You will sign up for one of these times on your registration form.
*IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A RECORDING TIME PLEASE MAKE A NOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ON THE REGISTRATION FORM

Friday, June 27th; Counterpoint Studios in Salt Lake with Tyler Castleton
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Saturday, June 28th; June Audio in Provo with Tyler Castleton
9:00 am to 10:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Saturday, June 28th; Counterpoint Studios in Salt Lake with Jenny Phillips
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Monday, June 30th; June Audio in Provo with Tyler Castleton
9:00 am to 10:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Monday, June 30th; Counterpoint Studios in Salt Lake with Jenny Phillips
9:00 am to 10:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Saturday, July 5th; June Audio in Provo with Tyler Castleton
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Saturday, July 5th; Counterpoint Studios in Salt Lake with Jenny Phillips
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

Tuesday, July 8th; Counterpoint Studios in Salt Lake with Jenny Phillips
2:00 pm to 10:00 pm
*ALL SPOTS ARE FULL

LDS Songwriting 101

For those who have wondered if they could write songs . . . if only they knew how to get started! And for those beginning LDS songwriters who want to raise the bar and get their music out there.

Two Day Workshop:
Thursday, June 26th AND Saturday June 28th from 5:30-9:30 pm
Deseret Book Corporate Offices in Salt Lake City
Cost: $80

This 2-day workshop is designed for the beginning songwriter, or for those who have wanted to learn how to write songs for the LDS market. Leave the workshop with your own song completed through the step by step, hands on exercises. No musical background necessary. Covers topics such as song structure, getting ideas/getting started, secrets to successful songs, connecting with the audience, lyric writing, and more. This workshop focuses mainly on lyric writing but also briefly covers melody writing, chord progressions, creating lead sheets, and points you towards what type of music theory you should learn if you want to write the music as well as the words. Each participant will receive a workbook. This workshop is taught by Jenny Phillips.

FAQs

Q. Can I tape record or video tape the classes?
A. No. You can take notes, but you can not record the sessions in any way.

Q. Can I come to just selected classes, or come for just half of the workshop?
A. Yes, but you still have to pay the full amount for the workshop.

Q. I am going to turn 16 in 2008, may I still participate in the Vocal Recording Competition?
A. Yes.

Q. Can I bring a nursing baby to the workshops if I stay by the door?
A. No. But you can bring someone to watch your baby out in the lobby.

Q. I live out of state and can’t afford to travel to the workshop. Is there a way to get a tape recording or buy the handouts? Can I participate in the recording competition by recording in a studio where I live and sending the song in?
A. Unfortunately, no. There will be no taping of the workshops, and we do not sell the handouts. For fairness to all participants, you must record with Jenny or Tyler to participate in the competition. This is also in fairness to you as well, as Jenny and Tyler most likely would not choose a winner that they did not work with. They need to see you and how you work in the studio. It’s hard to know how much time you spent, how much pitching was done on your voice, etc.

Q: Can I bring a friend or parent to my recording session?
A: Yes. You can bring up to 5 people to watch you during the recording session.

Q:  Can my sister (or friend) and I record the competition songs as a duet during our recording session?
A: No. This is a soloist competition only.

Q: What if I register and pay and then decide I don't want to participate, can I receive a refund?
A: If registration is still open (not full yet) you will receive a refund of the amount you paid minus $25. If registration is closed (full), you can not receive a refund unless we have a waiting list and can fill your spot, in which case, you will receive a refund of the amount you paid minus $25.

Contact

Please contact Stephanie with all registration or workshop questions.

Stephanie Rees
stephanie@jennyphillips.com
801 649-3952
*Please email before calling

Mailed in registration address (please fill out the online form first):
Jenny Phillips Music
4956 W 6200 S Box#456
Kearns, UT 84118

Jenny Phillips
jenny@jennyphillips.com