September 12, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, September 14 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

Was that fun or what?

Our Fall Music in the Country Fundraiser a classic!

This was the view form the stage.

And, yes, somebody did play Goin' Up the Country!

Coming up:

We'll be at Artichoke Community Music on September 21 and on Zoom September 28.

Save the dates!

The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1

September 5,2025

Yep, it's finally here. Plan on bringing family and friends with you!



Remember, we're taking a day off from our usual Sunday Zoom session this week. We'll be back on Zoom next week, September 14, and in person at Artichoke Community Music on September 21. Meanwhile, meet us for a good time at Canby!

August 28, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, August 31 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

Next Saturday!

Don't miss our Fall Music in the Country Fundraiser!

Details below:

Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom September 14 and at Artichoke Community Music on September 21.

Note: We won't be meeting on September 7, the day after our Fall Fundraiser.

Save the dates!

The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1

August 22, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, August 24 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

Last week we met at Artichoke:

We had a great group ! We played original music that we have written. Talked music and songwriting. John Michael shared his recent purchase of a Martin D35 12 string.

Participants:

Robert, Jason, John Michael, Vincent, Carl, Edgar

A musical Sunday.

The class is almost full, but I believe there is a waitlist. --CK

We haven't received the schedule for the workshops hosted by the SSV home office for the rest of August. We'll post it when we receive it.

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom August 31 and September 14 and at Artichoke Community Music on September 21.

Note: We won't be meeting on September 7, the day after our Fall Fundraiser.

Save the dates!

The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1

And don't forget:




August 12, 2025

Welcome!

Join us for some in-person inspiration on Sunday, August 17 at 2 p.m.

We'll be in the upper classroom, as usual. Bring a song or two to share! Or just listen!

Here's where:

Artichoke Community Music

2007 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

Map



We won't be Zooming for this event.



Coming in October!

Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

Deb (was driving so listen only mode}

Ed (co-host) Ed had invited people he has been working with. (they didn't show up this time but we still hold onto hope)

David M, His newly released on streaming platforms, Some Leftover Sun

Trish(host) Wrote the following while waiting for people to show up:



Sitting here silent in a room full of nothing.

Waiting for someone else to shatter the wordless moment.

Who will be bold enough to step forward with a Thor-less hammer and cause the silence to litter the air?

And from the folks at the SSV home office:

Hey songwriters!

We’ve got another master class meet up TONIGHT!

Monday Aug 11

3pm PT, 4pm MT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET

We don’t have a coach lined up this week but we will be getting together and sharing our songs and getting feedback from the group.

Join us!

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



On Wednesdays, in collaboration with Warrior Beat, we're offering something a little different on our Zoom space. We hope you'll stop by and check it out!

Here's an opportunity to sample a whole new way of connecting with the rhythmic part of what we do.

Join the Zoom Meeting from 6-7 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85695100053?pwd=RWpjcnVwM1hzWTBHenpqYnYxamdyQT09

Meeting ID: 856 9510 0053

Passcode: 700977

Reveille is OFFICIALLY on the Solder Songs and Voices calendar for November 2-7, 2025.

The Reveille Songwriting Retreat is a transformative, week-long workshop designed to help veterans heal, grow, and connect through the power of songwriting. Held annually at the fully accessible TR Ranch in Hallettsville, TX, this retreat is offered at no cost to participants, room, and board—ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of this life-changing experience.

Applications will close on August 29, 2025, so if you haven’t applied yet, now’s the time! Even if you already applied to one of the canceled retreats, please apply again to let us know that the new dates work for you.

Here's the link to the Reveille web page.

Look for us on Zoom on August 24 and 31. The next in-person Vets' Song Circle will be September 21. Join us!


August 7, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, August 10 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

John L, Blue Road Troubadour

David M (he left before I got the screenshot)

David W, So I'll go,

Trish Host, The short awkward Judd Q Harris Birthday song for 2025

We shared funny and not funny stories about military life and life in general.

We haven't received the schedule for the workshops hosted by the SSV home office yet. We'll post it when we receive it.

We had some feedback that the link didn't work last month, so here's a refreshed one

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be at Artichoke Community Music on August 17on Zoom August 10 and .

Save the dates!

The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1

July 31, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, August 3 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share.

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

Here's Bill Valenti, performing at our fundraiser for Artichoke Community Music on July 24!

We haven't received the schedule for the workshops hosted by the SSV home office yet. We'll post it when we receive it.

We had some feedback that the link didn't work last month, so here's a refreshed one

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom August 10 and at Artichoke Community Music on August 17.

Save the dates!

The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1

And don't forget:

July 26, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, July 27 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share. This month's theme:

Play It Like You Mean It

See below for details

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

From the SSV home office:

We’re thrilled to welcome Michael O’Connor to lead our July Master Class at Soldier Songs and Voices.

This month’s song prompt is:

Look around the room for something that comforts you – write a song purely about that thing.

7/28 5:00pm CT : Writing Session

See you Monday!

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



July's Theme

Play It Like You Mean It: Performance prep. Less is more. The metronome is your best friend. Playing well with others. How to learn to play and sing a song. Strumming patterns with a pick. Fingerpicking patterns.

Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom August 3 and 10 and at Artichoke Community Music on August 17.

Save the dates!

The weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats is on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1

July 16, 2024

Welcome!

Join us for some in-person inspiration on Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m.

We'll be in the upper classroom, as usual. Bring a song or two to share! Or just listen!

Here's where:

Artichoke Community Music

2007 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

Map

And don't forget our June Theme,

Play It Like You Mean It.

Consider this idea and if it finds its way into your songwriting or your choice of others' songs to play, enjoy exploring it.

We won't be Zooming for this event.



Coming up next week!

July 24, 7-9 p.m.

SSV Songwriter Showcase Fundraiser for Artichoke Community Music

$15 suggested donation

Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

Ed shared information he gathered on "Play it like you mean it" Ed dropped the document into SSV Google Drive (good stuff)

Jeff C Wonder how it feels

David M showing up as usual

Deb Perfect Harmony

We had a lively discussion around what it means to "play it like you mean it"

On Wednesdays, in collaboration with Warrior Beat, we're offering something a little different on our Zoom space. We hope you'll stop by and check it out!

Here's an opportunity to sample a whole new way of connecting with the rhythmic part of what we do.

Join the Zoom Meeting from 6-7 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85695100053?pwd=RWpjcnVwM1hzWTBHenpqYnYxamdyQT09

Meeting ID: 856 9510 0053

Passcode: 700977



And from the folks at the SSV home office:

We’re thrilled to welcome Michael O’Connor to lead our July Master Class at Soldier Songs and Voices.

Michael O'Connor, a native Texan residing in Washington State, is a well respected guitarist and singer-songwriter celebrated for his soulful voice and gritty storytelling. Inducted with a star into the South Texas Walk of Fame and honored in the Corpus Christi Songwriter Hall of Fame, O'Connor's contributions to the music scene are widely recognized and revered.

A lifetime of hard-won experience on- and off-stage has allowed Michael a rare insight into the world of the rough, the faithless, the romantic, and the unlucky, all of whom find refuge in his songs. As a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, O'Connor's virtuosity shines through in his performances and recordings. His versatility allows him to explore a wide range of musical styles, from blues and folk to rock and country, showcasing his skill and artistry.

His career has seen him perform at iconic venues and festivals all over the United States and Europe all while touring with some of the most respected artists in Texas music. A seasoned performer, O'Connor has graced stages large and small, captivating audiences with his intimate performances, quick wit and understated charm.

O’Connor’s contributions to the music scene extend beyond his solo work, as he collaborates with fellow artists and shares his talents through his work with Veterans and in the community.

With over fifty album credits to his name and a discography that reflects his evolution as an artist, Michael O'Connor continues to push the boundaries of his craft, exploring new sounds and styles while staying true to his roots.

From honky-tonks to concert halls, Michael O'Connor's music continues to resonate with audiences of all ages, proving that the spirit of Texas music and songwriting is alive and well in the hands of this gifted troubadour.

This month’s song prompt is:

Look around the room for something that comforts you – write a song purely about that thing.

See you Monday!!

July Schedule

7/21 5:00pm CT : Michael O’Connor

7/28 5:00pm CT : Writing Session

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting

Look for us on Zoom on July 27. The next in-person Vets' Song Circle will be August 17. Join us!

July 3, 2025

Join us on Zoom this weekend.

Here's what will be happening on Sunday, July 6 at 2 p.m.

We'll meet on Zoom. Bring something to share. This month's theme:

Play It Like You Mean It

See below for details

Here's the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82787694684?pwd=dmJWemxOckJET29mdCtJQjc3Ry8yZz09

Meeting ID: 827 8769 4684

Passcode: 939440

Coming up soon!



July 24, 7-9 p.m.

SSV Songwriter Showcase Fundraiser for Artichoke Community Music

Purchase tickets here - $15 suggested donation



Last week on Zoom:

Participants:

John L, Quick Silver Miner

Jeff C, Mister

Deb, Invisable Chains

David W, Honesty

David M, Leftover Sun

Ed, Shared a compilation of several song writers and thier perspectives on "crafting" songs

JMichaels

Joanne

Everyone showed up in full force today and contributed to the conversation around song crafting. Ed's compilation of song writers' perspectives made great starting points to get us all thinking and talking. Very good turn out, great music and interesting perspectives.



From the SSV home office:

Stay tuned. We haven't heard anything from the folks in Texas. The link should work anyway.

Click here to join the Master Class Zoom Meeting



July's Theme

Play It Like You Mean It: Performance prep. Less is more. The metronome is your best friend. Playing well with others. How to learn to play and sing a song. Strumming patterns with a pick. Fingerpicking patterns.

Coming up:

We'll be on Zoom July 13 and at Artichoke Community Music on July 20. Save the dates!

And don't forget the weekly session with our partners, Warrior Beats on Wednesdays at 6 PST:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89190909283?pwd=1jX8bTa3H3qWLEsQ6rDbrrcPBjPBzN.1