Gary Powell, Composer/Producer

“Welcome to the Storm” Music for The University of Texas Football Website

Gary Powell — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:54:59 +0000

The amazing University of Texas new football website has a new song written and produced by Austin composer, Gary Powell, and performed by Austin hip-hop artist MC Overlord.

Jesmax Music, BMI has “Sweet Dreams Too”

Gary Powell — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:21:08 +0000

Written and sung by Gary Powell, the sleepy song, "Sweet Dreams Too" has been placed by Jesmax Music, BMI on two albums released by Walt Disney Records: Winnie the Pooh Lullabies, and Luv-a-byes which was first released in 2004.

Pulling Santa’s Sleigh for Jesmax Music, BMI

Gary Powell — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:13:24 +0000

Santa Claus continues to be "Pulling Santa's Sleigh" with the Gary Powell song of the same name loaded on board the album, "Fairy Tale Holiday" on Walt Disney Records released Christmas 2008.

Einstein, Bruner and Rand on Art and Life

Gary Powell — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:44:27 +0000

I offer three astute quotes about the importance of the individual, our creativity, life's possibilities and how we relate to music. Each of these three observations come from divergent disciplines. Physicist Albert Einstein, psychologist Jerome Bruno and philosopher Ayn Rand bring the gift of perspective and importance to what we do daily as composers, musicians, performers and entrepreneurs.

“Let’s Talk” Music at Sam Houston State University

Gary Powell — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:47:45 +0000

Gary Powell hosted a table topic as a "Conversation Leader" at Sam Houston State University's fund-raising event, "Let's Talk." The event raised $57,000 for the Elliott T. Bowers Honors Program. This post reports on our conversation which included a discussion of how artists can utilize new technologies to prosper if willing to take on the responsibilities of the entrepreneur.

“Seduction” as a Business Model in the Arts

Gary Powell — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:16:52 +0000

Understand that the MBA executives who hire you as a creative vendor have an arsenal of seductive techniques to keep you working while never allowing you to prosper. This initial post is only the dancing tail of a cat with big teeth.

“The Far Edge of Texas” for Governor Dolph Briscoe

Gary Powell — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:16:15 +0000

The University of Texas System's most prestigious award, the Santa Rita Award, was given to former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe on February 11, 2009. For the event, I wrote and performed the song, "The Far Edge of Texas" to honor Governor Briscoe's life and influence in Texas politics and within the University of Texas itself. Follow the link to hear a piano/vocal demo of the song.

The Color of Key

Gary Powell — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:23:16 +0000

This post is about the perceived color of tonal centers and why and how we may prefer to use or play in one key over another.

Thirty Years with Larry Seyer

Gary Powell — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:49:34 +0000

Larry Seyer and I met in 1978 at Wink Tyler's Austin Recording Studio when we both arrived in Austin to start our careers. I only have a few hours left to celebrate this 30th anniversary before 2009 hits, so I'll write the book later. Cheers Larry. Another thirty years might be possible given the advances in medicine and our continuing good looks!

Copyright Law for Songwriters

Gary Powell — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:41:07 +0000

How do the rules for registering songs under the United States Copyright Law effect songwriters, the music they create, the ability to share in profits and the culture as a whole?

The “Shared Role” Model of Music Education

Gary Powell — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:46:43 +0000

The role of the music educator is being transformed. Transitioning a student from academia to a global market economy, however, presents new and specific challenges for which we teachers and instructors are seldom able to wholly grasp. Now students must share their experience with their professors, and if rebutted, make new relationships which will foster the kind of professional growth needed to survive an increasingly complex music production technology and shifting marketplace.

Social-Media is Your Convention Floor

Gary Powell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:40:16 +0000

How can we use social-media sites like Facebook, Linkedin, Plaxo and Twitter as a tool in our business plan in reaching a broader audience and achieving our professional goals?