.

[crashgates]

.

[cosmicdolphin]

So the question whether some sort of formal music training is going to be the “be all-end all” is not clear for me.

It's not. I've not had any ( apart from singing lessons a few years ago...still suck ) ...everything I've learned has come from books, magazines , Cassette Tapes ( ! ) CDs , DVDs, now Youtube etc.

Not had a formal music lesson since 1983/4....even then my report card said my entire attitude to learning was wrong and I had " difficulty " with practical music work ( ha..screw them ). Thankfully the world came around to my way of thinking , and there's been a seismic shift in the way computers allow us to make music now. I'm a computer guy that likes music..not the other way around.

So what I would prefer rather then going back to school, is to find some hot shot music producer or record label dude, even a wannabe be one, who has a bit more of an idea then me about what’s the best road/direction to take my or our (as in joint works) music to the promised land of billboard.

Lol..You're dreaming...Why would they ? What are you bringing to the table ? You just have to put the work in like the rest of us. It's hard....damned hard sometimes. Some of these guys & gals you're competing with DID get the prestigious music scholarships and write music for Libraries. Many of them went to good music schools. Others like me taught themselves...but none of us fell out the womb able to make high quality licensable music.

Why would they want to make " joint works " ..i.e.halve their income with someone who hasn't developed the skillset required. It's laughable.

I echo what @Pvgeldrop says...get off your arse and do the work. Nobody is going to do it for you.

[cosmicdolphin]

Yeah, the chances of that happening are next to nothing; what would be the benefit for an accomplished producer to do that? Not trying to be mean, but let's be realistic: there are no shortcuts, and accomplished producers prefer to work with either extremely talented or accomplished people. Taking someone under your wing takes a lot of time and effort, and there is only so much time in the world that anybody has.

Or you know..you can PAY someone and then they'll end up making more money off the back of teaching you than actually doing it.

Speaking for myself, I went back to school, and am going back again in a few months. I also keep working on developing my skills on a daily basis, and I'm quite sure that goes for most people on here. Nobody's going to reach out from the good of their soul to help you succeed, you'll have to do it yourself. Even the very best producer can't magic something into being good; it needs to be good to begin with, then they can turn it into something amazing.

I can guarantee pretty much every 2-3 days I'm trying to learn something new, a new genre , some new mixing and production tip. Sometimes I'll watch these things while I'm making dinner or listen to them loading the dishwasher. Packing as much into the time spent doing chores as possible.

You've been given a lot of feedback and tips, but so far I've yet to see you put them into action; have you purchased Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio, like has been suggested? Have you really studied the references and compared them to your work? Stumbling across a good track or mix is very, very rare. Good tracks and mixes happen by learning, practicing and writing for years.

Breaking down reference tracks and writing everything down...importing tracks into your DAW to A/B with....+1 for the Mike Senior Book

You act as if the skills and knowledge needed are way beyond you, and that other people have gotten them by some magical trick; they didn't. They played, learned, studied, tried, tried again and again. It takes years (and a lot of them) to develop those skills, so don't expect things to magically happen overnight. Get to studying, learning, reading, watching videos; everything that everybody else has done to improve their work.

30 years into it here. I started out live mixing at gigs for my friends as I didn't have the skills to be on stage - not that I ever wanted to go up there anyway. You learn a lot about mixing when there's a crowd.

Your reasoning behind the kids in that music program makes no sense, especially not as a justification for not getting an education. Who says they wanted to be a pop musician at all? A few of them made it into professional orchestras, which is no minor feat at all, and perhaps the others just decided they wanted to go a different direction. The difference is that if they'd want to compose something, they have the skill and knowledge to do so, thanks to that program (and likely others).

A lot of them are made to do it by pushy parents. Most of the " musical " people at my school never got involved once they left.

You have to put the effort in, and perhaps I'm mistaken, but most of your posts exhibit a sense of 'Ohhh, I wish I could do that, but I can't, I might as well give up, unless somebody tells me what to do'. Not going to happen. You've been told what to do by quite a few people, so you KNOW what to do. If you're serious about your dream, then stop posting about it and get to work. Find a teacher, buy the books, watch the videos, try the ideas, get feedback, improve, et cetera, et cetera.

100% what he said ...YOU are responsible for your own development....nobody else..you gotta own it

Dreams don't come true by dreaming about them. They take work, so.. get to work.

Depending on your location, there are often music teachers around who can help you master the basics of composing and songwriting, not to mention a myriad of books, online courses and videos on the subject. If you feel you need personal guidance, find a music teacher in your area.

You need a teacher like that guy off Whiplash

[crashgates]

.

[cosmicdolphin]

But at the same time what's wrong with asking the universe for help

It's not listening - You gotta help yourself

[crashgates]

.

[crashgates]

.

[cosmicdolphin]

I've said all I have to say on the matter. Good luck!

+1

[JohnDroese]

Hi I will give you my 2 cents..... The track was ok it developed, it was clean, it made sense to me musically and most importantly it conveyed a feeling..... Do I think that track would get by a taxi screener? No I do not but so what.... I have only had one track get signed to a library that was forwarded by Taxi.....but I have had 10 tracks get signed that I wrote for Taxi listings that didn't get forwarded.... I have taken every bit of feedback from every person that has offered it and learned.... I have also spent hours online taking classes to better my craft...... I have learned what sounds are current, How to write a current melody, How to mix and master.... I hope you take this track as a victory it is a stepping stone leading you closer to your goal if you listen and learn.... There is no place for pride, ego or being right in this business there is only taking that one step forward each and every day..... I do it the guys that are successful on here do it.... I will tell you this takes a lot longer than you think it will and if you are putting all your eggs in Taxi to get you a forward which will lead to signing with a library which will lead two your song on tv..... You have it all wrong..... learn build your own relationships with libraries, go to the road rally that is where I made connections to get my songs placed without hoping a screener will forward it.... best advice I can give you make a complete 10 to 12 track album of songs in a particular style..... find a Cool niche name it something like goofy cues or pandemic tension cues something not every other guy with a computer is doing and shop it yourself.... DO IT NOW and you will thank me later.....

Sorry for the rant...... Best of luck!!!!!

[crashgates]

.