Updates and New Goals

[secrets0stolen]

As some of you remember I posted a few awesome goals and then left the forum for a while. My two main ones were Finishing School, and my relationship with my parents--I had healthy lifestyle as kind of an add on too. One problem I had that I didn't mention at the time--cause I've always had this problem-- is too many interests. Music I've always had talent for but it's always been on the periphery of my activities...there's always been something "more important" to do. Well that has changed.

But we'll come back to that in a moment, because I've got updates. Finishing school took me a while to comfortable with just diving in, but when I did I got a quarter's worth of work done in two weeks. So that's encouraging. I know I can keep this up and graduate by at least January if my school cooperates. Awesome Goal Number Two: On Track

On the healthy lifestyle front (who am I kidding? I want flat abs ) which I had kind of worked into the "school" goal if I remember correctly, I have made progress. I've been experimenting some and I think I need to up the anaerobic exercise, as opposed to focusing on aerobic. And despite what people say about fructose and insulin--fruit has turned out to be a way better carb than grains (even the whole ones).

On the parental front...it's heaps better. Our relationship is practically unrecognizable: like we're all different people. This really didn't come much from spending time together or suddenly agreeing or anything like that. I just decided I was going to do what I want no matter what. Now that sounds out of left field...now doesn't it? But it completely transformed our interactions..they're effortless now--it's unbelievable.

It could--technically--be better, closer, etc. But it's in a comfortable place right now, and it would be counterproductive to focus on it at the moment. Awesome Goal Number One: CHECK!

Which brings me back to music. I was drawn to it, and in my own mind I was able to justify working on it with those two--as I worked on it with my dad and listened while I studied. But passion has been ignited. I finally allowed myself to acknowledge my love of punk, among my other favorites--and boy oh boy--I have improved astronomically in a very short time! I've always been a singer--and have dabbled in poetry and piano. But recently things are seeming to just fall into place: I never used to have a great sense of rhythm, but what do you know! After neglecting music for a long time, it seems to have just shown up. I can now sing to a live accompaniment, and come up with complementing beats. I've started on guitar as well--in two weeks I've learned five chords plus power chords, have smoothed out my chords transitions, and learned a song! I'm really excited about my trajectory here.

Last night I sat down and wrote lyrics for around a half an hour. I filled up pages and pages (some of which are actually good XD) and it all seemed to come from nowhere--like I was in a trance. I can see myself filling up notebooks and notebooks full before I graduate school (in a couple of months).

I plan on working on my singing a lot in that time too--with guitar of course. I've had piano basics, and this coming year I'm going to reteach and teach myself that too.

Awesome Goal Number Three: Music

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

I've started on guitar as well--in two weeks I've learned five chords plus power chords, have smoothed out my chords transitions, and learned a song! I'm really excited about my trajectory here.

Oooh. What chords have you learned?

[Grandiouse]

Great job and keep it up!

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Oooh. What chords have you learned?

G, C, D, A, and E

[st33med]

I'm guessing Regina Spektor is your musical idol.

I would love to hear you sing and play guitar. Heck, maybe you'll get on iTunes or Amazon and sell #1 tracks and be RICH!!!

Enjoy learning music!

Love you,
Andrew

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by st33med

I'm guessing Regina Spektor is your musical idol.

I would love to hear you sing and play guitar. Heck, maybe you'll get on iTunes or Amazon and sell #1 tracks and be RICH!!!

Enjoy learning music!

Love you,
Andrew

Ha, thanks Andrew Regina Spektor is up there, definitely. But The Clash has been my playlist more recently

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

I am very impressed! Great work applying yourself. You are lightyears ahead of your peers, and I say this because I have to deal with a 13 year old and an 18 year old on a regular basis who are...not ambitious. Put it that way.

I also go into a trancelike state when I write. That's connecting to the unified superconsciousness, I think. I've always thought that I'm not creating so much as uncovering what was already there.

Peace and love!

Try some Bad Religion. And Against Me! (there actually is an exclamation point in their band name...)

I love Sorrow

[secrets0stolen]

I'm going to specify my goals more here:

I'm going to graduate by January with at least a C average
I'm going to improve my singing technique and range(I have my eye on a lessons program)
I'm going to master guitar basics and learn many of my favorite songs by summer
I'm going to reteach myself piano and learn some good songs by next fall
I'm going to learn the bass part to some of my favorite song with good bass parts (Longview comes to mind)
I'm going to write 4-5 songs (an EP) by the end of next year

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

I am very impressed! Great work applying yourself. You are lightyears ahead of your peers, and I say this because I have to deal with a 13 year old and an 18 year old on a regular basis who are...not ambitious. Put it that way.

I also go into a trancelike state when I write. That's connecting to the unified superconsciousness, I think. I've always thought that I'm not creating so much as uncovering what was already there.

Peace and love!

Try some Bad Religion. And Against Me! (there actually is an exclamation point in their band name...)

I love Sorrow

Thanks! I've listened to some Bad Religion already, and liked what I heard so far. I have a soft spot for anyone from Gilman Street.

[Tanja]

Ahhh the guitar!!

It's been my long-held dream to learn to play the acoustic guitar!
One day
One day


Good job with all of your goals, I'm sure you'll do great on all fronts!

[Cochonette]

Awesome, congrats.

fruit has turned out to be a way better carb than grains (even the whole ones).

I kind of agree. The past few days, I have been eating a lot more fruit/veggies in place of grains, and I have lost weight and the pain in my abdomen.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

G, C, D, A, and E

Oh, so major. You should learn some minor chords too, otherwise you'll sound like a happy campfire.

Nothing wrong with sounding happy, but if you want to add more blends of moods and emotions, you need to widen your repertoire of chords into the minors, the sevenths and other stuff.

Learn Em (E minor) next:



It's very easy, easier than the chords you've learned so far ..... and it will go very well, in several combinations with the other chords you already know. For example:

- Em, G, D and A will allow you to play Adam Lambert's "Mad World".

- Em, C, D and G will allow you to play plenty of 70s and 80s rock songs of the folkish kind (eg Neil Young, John Cougar, and even some U2 songs), also songs like "What if God was One of Us" by Alanis Morisette.


--------------------------

And since you already know A and E,

after learning Em,

proceed to learn the very easy A7



and wowee, you're already going to sound blues-sy!

(Just alternate between E and Em - lifting one finger will do the trick - and throw in an A7 somewhere along the way).

[bluelighth]

What singing program/s are you looking at? and what SPECIFIC goals can you give yourself, for now, for singing technique?

I'm working on that area alot, actually on music alot, and happen to know a few of the programs and methods out there... I'm curios about the ones you found/are looking at.

[spacecadetglow]

Definitely, 100% go for singing lessons! They helped me immensely... good for you, secrets! Glad to see things have been going so well.

[Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi]

hahaha yes! Singing lessons can feel silly (vocal exercises are weird) but they are useful. I can to take them when I was young, along with my piano, ballet, jazz, tap, and extracurricular activities out the yin yang.

This was one of my fav's: YouTube - Maria Callas - O mio babbino caro - Gianni Schicci - Giacomo Puccini

[GhostGoat]

What a great thread. Your energy and enthusiasm is wonderful, Secrets! I find it very inspirational, it takes me back to those times in my life when I was experiencing a lot of creative growth. I am glad to hear that your life is coming together on so many levels. Its funny how life works like that sometimes.

Anybody who is a Clash fan is A-OK with me! My musical tastes are all over the map, but I love old school punk, like the Sex Pistols, the Stooges, Johnny Thunders, the Buzzcocks, the Ramones, etc.

I've heard many of my favorite songwriters say that their best stuff usually comes to them effortlessly, as though they were just channeling it while in a trance. Just today I read an interview with Keith Richards where he said songs are flying around in the air all the time constantly.

Keep soaking up those good vibrations.

[secrets0stolen]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Oh, so major. You should learn some minor chords too, otherwise you'll sound like a happy campfire.

Nothing wrong with sounding happy, but if you want to add more blends of moods and emotions, you need to widen your repertoire of chords into the minors, the sevenths and other stuff.

Learn Em (E minor) next:



It's very easy, easier than the chords you've learned so far ..... and it will go very well, in several combinations with the other chords you already know. For example:

- Em, G, D and A will allow you to play Adam Lambert's "Mad World".

- Em, C, D and G will allow you to play plenty of 70s and 80s rock songs of the folkish kind (eg Neil Young, John Cougar, and even some U2 songs), also songs like "What if God was One of Us" by Alanis Morisette.


--------------------------

And since you already know A and E,

after learning Em,

proceed to learn the very easy A7



and wowee, you're already going to sound blues-sy!

(Just alternate between E and Em - lifting one finger will do the trick - and throw in an A7 somewhere along the way).

Thanks!

Originally Posted by bluelighth

What singing program/s are you looking at? and what SPECIFIC goals can you give yourself, for now, for singing technique?

I'm working on that area alot, actually on music alot, and happen to know a few of the programs and methods out there... I'm curios about the ones you found/are looking at.

I leaning towards the Brett Manning one on CD.

Originally Posted by spacecadetglow

Definitely, 100% go for singing lessons! They helped me immensely... good for you, secrets! Glad to see things have been going so well.

Originally Posted by Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi

hahaha yes! Singing lessons can feel silly (vocal exercises are weird) but they are useful. I can to take them when I was young, along with my piano, ballet, jazz, tap, and extracurricular activities out the yin yang.

This was one of my fav's: YouTube - Maria Callas - O mio babbino caro - Gianni Schicci - Giacomo Puccini

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by GhostGoat

What a great thread. Your energy and enthusiasm is wonderful, Secrets! I find it very inspirational, it takes me back to those times in my life when I was experiencing a lot of creative growth. I am glad to hear that your life is coming together on so many levels. Its funny how life works like that sometimes.

Anybody who is a Clash fan is A-OK with me! My musical tastes are all over the map, but I love old school punk, like the Sex Pistols, the Stooges, Johnny Thunders, the Buzzcocks, the Ramones, etc.

I've heard many of my favorite songwriters say that their best stuff usually comes to them effortlessly, as though they were just channeling it while in a trance. Just today I read an interview with Keith Richards where he said songs are flying around in the air all the time constantly.

Keep soaking up those good vibrations.

Great post!

[Divajules]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

- Em, C, D and G will allow you to play plenty of 70s and 80s rock songs of the folkish kind (eg Neil Young, John Cougar, and even some U2 songs), also songs like "What if God was One of Us" by Alanis Morisette.

Sorry ALG, but I have to correct you on this one. "What if God was One of Us" is by Joan Osborne, not Alanis Morrisette.

But yeah, those chords do work for those tunes, LOL!