[Clough]

I can see again that you're no longer logged on here.

I really must get some sleep!

If you let me know what time zone you're in, we could plan to be on at about the same time at other times.

I'm in the Central Time Zone of the U.S.

Thanks!

[KB50MJ]

Ok. I'm on the Eastern Time Zone in the US. I would love to discuss more with you. I'm willing and ready to learn about this. Currently I'm training my voice and building it up. On top of that I'm writing lyrics to some songs, sharpening my dancing skills, and trying to come up with new sounds and dance moves at the same time.

I'm multi-tasking like crazy. But It will be all worth it in the end. I'm trying to bring something new to music. Not too many people today are being innovative. And I'm looking for new things.

And I know, its going to be a HARD and LONG road. But that's what drives me to do it. The challenge.

But for now, I need to learn the basics on the music. I've been studying artists like Michael Jackson for about 3 years now, and he's inspired me to do this. I'm on various MJ boards and learning about his artistry and genius.

And I do appreciate your help.

[Clough]

I'm usually on here starting at about 12:00 midnight, your time.

I look forward to further dialogue with you about what you're wanting to know and do!

Thanks!

[KB50MJ]

Ok, I'll be on then.

[Clough]

I'm around here now, KB50MJ.

If we don't get together here tonight, certainly we will another time.

Thanks!

[KB50MJ]

Hey, what time do you have to get off?

[Clough]

Not too long from now. Need to get up early again.

I do have some time, though...

[KB50MJ]

Ok. So going back to what we were talking about yesterday.

Now I'm currently writing songs. And I'm trying to figure out what are the right sounds and stuff and how I should sing the song.

Now I'm still learning the many different instruments s oI can properly help make arrangements.

[Clough]

Please give me some background about yourself musically. If you do that, it will really help a lot!

For instance:

Are you currently in school somewhere?

Do you play an instrument?

Have you had general music classes in school?

If you've had lessons of any type, what types of lessons have you had, please?

Etc.

Thanks!

[KB50MJ]

To be honest with you. I have no professional training. The only experience I have in this field is studying Michael Jackson and his music for 3 years.

That's why I came here, as a starting point.

[Clough]

So, do you play a little bit of any kind of instrument other than being a vocalist and are you presently in school somewhere, please?

[KB50MJ]

I'm currently in High School, I can look into taking some music classes.

And no I don't play any instruments. And I really don't plan on doing so. I mainly want to focus on being a vocalist/producer/songwriter.

[Clough]

Thanks for the information!

You'll need to know something about the theory, nomanclature and construction of music to be able to do what you want to do the best and most efficiently.

Most professional vocalists also know how to at least plunk out a melody on a keyboard of some kind. If they don't know how to do that, then they can spend lots of time trying to find someone who can do it for them.

Those are things with which I can definitely help you!

[KB50MJ]

Thanks. I'm going to need your help. Because I just started taking making music and singing seriously less than a week ago.

So what are some pointers and tips that you can lend to me?

[Clough]

For starters, the basics of music theory and basic keyboarding skills.

If you click on the following links, you'll find my second cousin Adam. He's getting to be pretty big in the field of musical theater. He sings and dances.

However, he doesn't have any keyboarding skills. I've had to help him in the past with knowing the notes that he had to sing because he doesn't know how to at least plunk out a melody. Not knowing how to do that slows him down.

LINK ONE

LINK TWO

LINK THREE

LINK FOUR

There's plenty more "out there" about him on the Internet...

[KB50MJ]

Cool. Now where do you live? And are you ever coming up to the New York area? Because I would love to meet up with you sometime to learn this in person. Any other tips?

[Clough]

I'll give you lots of tips in the coming evenings. What we discuss should probably be the subject of another thread. It could be about writing a song - theory and about keyboarding could be a part of that thread. However, we can talk about that at a later time for how the thread should be.

It might actually be on this thread. However, when the Administration granted me the Expert status, I didn't ask for Music to be one of the forum topic areas in which I would be an Expert. Hence, it's also not one of the areas that I moderate. At the time, there were hardly any questions being asked in the Music forum topic area about which I was interested. Most had to do with naming the song and/or the artist. Those are things that anyone can look up on the Internet.

I know regret not asking for Music... I could still ask for it, though. I'm sure that I've been considered for it, but the Administration gets busy with other things...

So, most of the questions about writing music or songs have been in the Writing forum topic area. That's the area to which I've led people, because I moderate that area, and if something goes "Oops!", I can fix it there.

If you click on my name, you can read my profile. I'm also listed in various places around the Internet. Some are reviews of shows that I've been in. Where I live is to the extreme right side of my name on this thread.

It's really late and I need to get some sleep!

Goodnight, for now! I wish for you sweet dreams, whenever you get to bed! :)

Thanks!

[KB50MJ]

Ok, cool, thanks for the info.

Maybe we can do this private and Message each other here or via E-Mail.

[Clough]

Hi again, KB50MJ!

I did receive your Private Message.

Once a thread has been started, all information needs to stay on the thread so that others with similar questions can benefit by the information that's exchanged.

Also, once a thread has been started, going outside of the thread with the exchange of information, defeats the primary purpose of this site, and that would be for it to be the best question and answer site on the Internet!

As of this writing, this thread has already had 108 views. What that means is, because of the information on it, that people are curious enough to see what is posted on it or very interested enough in the contents of it that they might ask a question or questions in the future on a thread or threads about how to do something musically, or wanting information about something musical that will have more substance than just wanting to know about the name of an artist or the name of a song.

Another thing is, is that when I do things like teaching, playing and/or singing for people outside of the site, those are things that I do to make a living. Helping people here is a hobby that I like to do because of meeting and helping people who I most likely will never meet in person and helping to give them a "start" at something is a perk for me to see them beginning to realize their own worth at something they would like to be able to do.

If you were my neighbor, things might be different...

That's my short answer, without going into a lot of detail.

Please keep things on the thread, or other threads, as the case might be.

I'm glad to help you on the thread.

I appreciate your understanding concerning that.

Thanks!

[KB50MJ]

Oh, OK. That's cool.

So lets pick up where we left off.

I currently have 2 problems when it comes to making a demo.

1. I don't know how I should sing it.

2. I don't know how to choose the right melody for it.

I know that all you really need to make a demo is the voice and a melody, like a piano or something.

But those are 2 things I'm having problems with.