SCALA (Songwriters, Composers And Lyricists Association Inc.) is a non profit, voluntary, incorporated association which officially formed on 22nd November 1987 in Adelaide, South Australia. SCALA's objectives are to:
- Encourage the activity of Songwriting, Composing and Lyric or Libretto writing.
- Provide information and support to Songwriters, Composers and Lyric or Libretto writers by way of workshops, seminars, regular meetings and other activities which eventuate as SCALA evolves.
- Encourage the playing and recording of innovative and original music and the use of innovative and original music in commercial applications.
- Provide a service enabling Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists or Librettists to collaborate on innovative music projects and, in particular, to enable (non lyric) Composers to collaborate with Lyricists.
- Encourage and assist in the employment of Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists or Libretto writers in appropriate situations within the community.
- Live Original Music - Weekly!: SCALA has showcased original music live almost every week since its foundation. SCALA's performance venue is a safe, friendly, warm environment where "just starting" songwriters, composers and lyricists rub shoulders with professional original musicians. The venue is open to all who want to hear the newest original music and songs presented by its creators. Our current venue is at Higher Ground, 9 Light Square (North Western corner), Adelaide.
- Workshops: Monthly Songwriting Workshops are held on the third Tuesday of each month at our venue, Higher Ground. If you are interested in Songwriting and would like to discuss your songs, lyrics, music, if you would like to meet with other Songwriters and discuss all sorts of aspects of songwriting, maybe find a collaborator or two or just hang out with some other people with Songwriting interests then this is for you.
- Radio Airplay: SCALA provides guests for Radio Adelaide's Arts Breakfast programme, Saturday mornings about 9:30 (101.5FM)Some of our members are also involved in Songcatcher on Radio Adelaide at 9pm, Mondays.
- A Quarterly Newsletter: SCALA's quarterly newsletter, SCALA News, is packed with information, news, views and resources.
- Online News Updates: If you have an email address you will be added to the SCALA Members' Online Mailing List and receive news updates that occur between newsletters. This information is sent Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) to preserve members' privacy and without attachments to reduce the risk of viruses and hard drive clutter.
- Competitions: SCALA has run its annual SCALA Festival of Original Music (FOOM) Song Competition consisting of live performance, lyrics, demo tape and master tape sections since 1994. It also organised the annual Songwriters Event between 1988 and 2001. SCALA has also been asked to organise other song competitions. In all competitions winning songs have been recorded and released on tape or CD.
- Recordings - SCALA CDs: SCALA has issued an annual album of professionally recorded original music since 1988 including the Songwriters Event series from 1988 to 1994. In 1995 SCALA released its first CD, SCALA Big And Strong, which consisted of song competition winners supplemented by songs recorded by and submitted by SCALA members. Subsequent CDs have generally followed. SCALA is currently preparing its next CD. SCALA's CD Collection aims to provide SCALA members with the opportunity to try out their recorded material in a professionally presented low cost manner. Contact SCALA for more details. The CDs issued in 2009, SCALA Another Lesson In Love, and 2010 SCALA A Guided Tour, are also available as downloads.
- SCALA Online: SCALA has its own Website on the Internet. The URL is http://www.scala.org.au. This award winning site is highly regarded around the world for the quality and quantity of information and the site's design. The site is updated regularly. [Note: pages at our previous website are progressively being loaded on this webdomain.]SCALA also maintains a Myspace page and a Facebook page which have information about SCALA's activities. You can also follow our activities on Twitter
- Discounts etc ...: SCALA members are also able to obtain discounts at various stores and at SCALA's own activities (such as entry to our venue and entry in our annual song competition).
- Membership: SCALA provides an environment in which all styles of original music can flourish but SCALA only exists because of its membership base. SCALA membership is open to anyone with an interest in original music, anywhere. SCALA members can be found in all states and mainland territories of Australia and a number of countries outside Australia.Membership benefits
Members receive:
- SCALA NEWS and other supplements;
- Discounts at SCALA events (including entry in competitions) or for SCALA products or services;
- Discounts at selected businesses;
- The opportunity to submit original material for SCALA CD Collections;
- The opportunity to stand for election to SCALA's Board of Management and to influence SCALA's decision making.
