Canadian Musician - January / February 2020 | Page 16

CHANGES MARK YOUR CALENDAR... Registration Open for CD Baby’s 2020 DIY Musician Conference FAI to Bring Global Folk Community to New Orleans The Folk Alliance International Confer- ence is returning to New Orleans, LA, from Jan. 22-26, 2020. FAI is the largest annual gathering of the folk and roots music industry and community, as well as its many variants, including jazz, blues, Appalachian, Celtic, spoken word, and more. At the Sheraton New Orleans hotel, FAI’s official showcases of 180 jury-selected concerts will feature emerging artists and touring legends from around the world, including many Canadians. As well, many record labels and regional organizations will stage their own showcases each night. At the conference, organizers say their “conscious programming will ex- plore the themes of diversity, inclusion, immigration, intersection, and influence.” This includes the return of the Interna- tional Indigenous Music Summit, which debuted last year in Montreal, and the new Cultural Equity Summit. There will also be sessions on: Greening Folk Events, Music and Migration, Effective Leadership in Non-Profit Music Organizations, and Cultural Awareness. Additionally, there will be many sessions offering practical advice to musicians, covering topics like album release strategies, self-promotion, songwriting, Cajun fiddle techniques, and more. For more information, including showcase and conference schedules, go to www.folkconference.org. 16 CANADIAN MUSICIAN CD Baby has announced that its sixth annual DIY Musician Conference will be held from Aug. 28-30, 2020, in Austin, TX. Currently, CD Baby is offering an early registration price of USD$129. The conference welcomes more than 1,500 musicians of all ages, career stages, and backgrounds for three days of presen- tations, workshops, mentoring sessions, jam rooms, and networking. Organizers say it’s designed with a strict focus on provid- ing practical advice for indie musicians and not a platform for industry talking heads. “CD Baby pays close attention to what our artists need,” says Kevin Breuner of CD Baby. “We know they are often hungry for a real plan of action, for helpful advice and encouragement, not for another panel on abstract business issues facing major labels.” For more information, go to www.diymusiciancon.com. ICONIC BASSIST BILLY SHEEHAN WORKING WITH GUITAR WORKSHOP PLUS PARTICIPANTS Guitar Workshop Plus Announces 2020 Dates & Locations Now in its 18 th year, the Guitar Workshop Plus summer music education program has announced its 2020 schedule and early registration discounts. Confirmed session dates are: San Diego, CA, from June 21-26 at the Lafayette Hotel; Seattle, WA from July 19-24 at Northwest University; Nashville, TN from July 19-24 at Middle Tennessee State University; and Toronto from July 26-31 at the Kingbridge Conference Centre. Designed for aspiring musicians of all ages, including teenagers, adult hobby- ists, students pursuing music careers, and semi-professional and professional musi- cians, the program offers students a setting for intense musical and personal growth. As well, this program allows for group development and courses are offered for all levels (beginner to advanced), ages (12 through adult), and styles including blues, jazz, rock, acoustic, and classical. There are also intensive bass, drum, keyboard, vocal, and songwriting courses. For more information, contact Guitar Workshop Plus: 905-567-8000, [email protected], www.guitarworkshopplus.com. ACCENT SING! Toronto to Host 9 th Annual School Workshop Day SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival is set to host its ninth annual School Workshop Day for high-school and middle-school students on Friday, May 22, 2020 at Young People’s Theatre. The event will be part of SING!’s 2020 edition, running from May 22-31. The host headlining group for the School Workshop Day is accomplished close-harmony a cappella jazz assemble Accent. The group will present the follow- ing workshops for participating students: A History of Vocal Groups: Early Influences from Jazz to Pop & Beyond; A Cappella Suc- cess: Intonation, Listening, Blending; and Learn to Create Multitrack Music Videos. The day will also feature a special lunch- time presentation by the Speech Appeal Clinic on vocal health. Participating students will experience all of the workshops and the cost to partic- ipate is $30/student, with a limited number of subsidized seats available for classes, choirs, and singing ensembles from schools located in designated priority areas. For more information, go to www.singtoronto.com/education.