Archive for March, 2015

Teaching at the Music Tech Conference

Monday, March 30th, 2015
Setting up for one of the sessions on Evolution of a Song

Setting up for one of the sessions on Evolution of a Song

This past weekend I got to go back to Capital University as part of their Music Tech Conference. I was teaching a session called “Evolution of a Song: From Writing, Through Recording, to Billboard.” The blurb was “Follow the life of a song from concept and writing through production to radio. We will look at aspects of songwriting, co-writing, radio writing, various methods of production used in Nashville, budgeting, radio promotion, marketing, and the charting process through real song examples from the presenter’s catalog.”

Again, I love teaching, and these students had the greatest questions! It was fun to be with them, and looking forward to being back again sometime.

Weekend on Science Hill

Monday, March 23rd, 2015
At Science Hill Community Church

At Science Hill Community Church

I just got back from a packed weekend in Northeast Ohio. I did a concert on Friday night, and women’s retreat on Saturday, and then worship service on Sunday for a church called Science Hill Community Church. I asked the pastor about the name because I’d heard the church was located “on Science Hill”, and I wondered if there used to be a lab or a university or something – I was curious about the name. Well, it turns out that when the Mennonites came a long time ago, they called it “Zion’s Hill” but their accent was so thick people thought they were calling it “Science Hill” and the name just stuck. Hilarious! Apparently there’s never been anything remotely science related there.

I had a great time with them. It was such a warm congregation, and I especially loved getting to know the pastor and his wife and our host, Marilyn. Just lovely people. The coordinator, Lori, worked so hard to make everything beautiful, and it was fun to see her plan come together.

Thanks for having me!

Church of the Open Door Rocks!!

Monday, March 16th, 2015
We are in Amish country here - the amazing view from the camp, even if it was raining

We are in Amish country here – the amazing view from the camp, even if it was raining

Teaching the retreat at Church of the Open Door

Teaching the retreat for Church of the Open Door

I just got back from such an amazing weekend. There are times that I’m with people, and I think “won’t it be fun when we have all the time there is in eternity to get to know all these wonderful people of God?” I was doing a women’s retreat in Carlisle, PA, for The Church of the Open Door in York, PA, and I knew it would be fun because they were so great on the phone while we were planning, but it was so good to get to know them in person. They are a special group! We talked about being transformed to be usable by God and how He wants to use us to change the world around us.

The other reason I know they are special is because of their amazing response to the Compassion kids we brought for sponsoring. They were not a large group – probably 90-100 women – but they sponsored 18 kids! That is pretty much unheard of, because sponsorship is a big deal. I was so touched by their hearts for the kids! It really is one of my favorite parts of what I do that I get to help kids around the world, and I think it says so much for their church that they stepped out like that.

Hoping to get to do something with their church again! They were precious, and it was a great weekend with them.