Hi again all.

as you are aware from my other post, i am in the final stages of decorating my new room. i have that looking very nice now, and i just need a few finishing touches before i take the pics, that should happen this weekend hopefully.

but what i wanted to update you all on is my music...

last night i searched the web for a vocal/singing teacher, and came across this site - www.vocaltutor.co.uk - and found a local tutuor (look for Ella in Bristol for more info) and i emailed Ella last night, i spoke of my influences, and i mentioned how i have gone against my famil's opinions and advice to pursue a music career. i told her singing is my life and my one and only love. i said how singing to me is euphoric. i basically told her the truth about how i feel towards music and singing. i explained how i write my own music and have had many bad experiences which i use positively to write powerful songs.

i woke up this morning, and logged into my email account and found an email from her. her first words were, and i quote:

"Wow, you should be an inspiration to all of us, as you should follow your dream cause if you really want to so bad you will eventually get it! You should read I book called, " I can do anything, if only I knew what it was". I know that you know what you want to do, but it really has some great advise about following it through, although your will power sounds strong and has to stay strong as the years unfold, it can be a long process, but it's worth it in the end!...."

the email progressed but spoke of pricing and lesson structure.

that email made me smile so much, as i felt i had taken a huge step towards my goal. and the first sentence of the email made me smile, a smile i havent shaken all day. i am loving it.

i havent replied to her yet, but she gave me a phone number to ring, which i will do tomorrow.

the good thing with Vocal Tutor (as you may know by reading the site) is that there is so much opportunity to get signed by record labels. they hold annual performances where record executives attend etc. this could well be my big break.

i started the year off at such a bad note, i struggled, badly. i had breakdowns and cried loads. but i managed to work through that, and man was it worth it! things are picking up for me now, and i cannot wait to get into the singing, which i will arrange tomorrow.

so keep your fingers crossed for me...this is the beginning of something big for me, it really is. today is the start of my future, a future i have control over and i know i will succeed. all the hard work of depression and darkness is paying off and i am well on the way to fulfilling my destiny - to help others through communicating via music. the dream i have of standing on stage singing my heart out to fans who connect with my music seems that little closer. and all i have done is contacted a vocal coach, but it seems so much more than that, it really does.

simon

Right, i have just rang the vocal tutor...

the appointment is for 3:00pm this thursday

ugh, i am actually really nervous!! argh!!

simon

[biiv]

go for it simon! your enthusiasm is fantastic and i hope it gets you where you want to be. im so glad things are moving forward for you. you deserve it!

[sparkling]

Good luck! Hope it goes well.

[Boopers]

Simon, that's so great!
I wish continuted success for you.
It sounds like if you keep it up, we will be all asking for an autogragh!!
Good luck,
Boopers

[bipolar_bear]

Awesome Simon. I am so glad to see you persuing what you want to do. Good luck.

thanks for your support guys. i will be sure to let you know how it goes. im just so nervous!

i have a problem though, that i would like some advice about...

today i showed my sister a leaflet from my vocal tutor and i explained about my lesson on thursday and that i am really excited... big mistake!! then she began saying how she wants to take up singing lessons, and she asked me how much i am paying and where it is etc. now, this may sound really nasty and harsh, but i dont like that idea. its not a competition thing at all, and ive been thinking all day as to why i get this horrid feeling in my stomach everytime i think of her saying those words, but i dont know why i am so against her doing it. maybe its because me and her are so different, and she listens to the type of music that i cant stand, and it makes me feel negative, but i have to respect that we all have our own tastes. im just not happy witht he idea that she could sing too, and i hate myself for thinking it, and i really dont think its jealousy, or competition...why would it be, i have so much to look forward to... but yet i feel a horrible churning feeling in my stomach when i think of her doing singing. its not becuas ei want the limelight, i have questioned that too, but i dont want limelight, and i dont ask for attention from anyone, so it isnt that.

the answer has just dawned upon me

i consider her a threat to my success. she is the type of person that causes arguments for the sake of it, and she thrives on negativity. she brings me down..or used to anyway, not anymore, because i dont let her (until now). and because i am so protective over my singing and music i fear she could make it harder for me. i know this is so harsh to say, but i dont class her as a part of my family, because she is so nasty to everyone she meets, and i dont want to be associated with that. isnt that nasty! i dont like thinking that, but i do, and i dont know what to take from it, whether i need to change that, or whether its good, i really dont know. any suggestions?

she wants to be in music for the money, she is the money seeker, and often admits she will be a footballers wife just for the money... she is shallow, and seeks a shallow life that to me isnt what music is, i never think of the money side of it, you only get money from it if you are successful, but she only wants money, music isnt important to her. thats why i hate the idea of her doing it. she likes the artists in the charts that ar eonly in music for the money, and their songs have no relevance or meaning, nor any talent is used to make them either. she wants to be in music for ALL the wrong reasons, such as attention and money, and i dont, i want it for the feeling music gives me, and the feeling i get from singing, and to be able to help others through my music. none of that would matter to her, and i know she would trample over me to get what she wants, money. and it scares me so much, scares me more than i can express. i really dont know what to do.

i do feel it is ruining my excitement and enthusiasm for thursday. i dont have enthusiasm anymore, not at this minute anyway, and i feel really down tonight, quite upset. this is what happens when my family get involved!

simon

[Zen888]

Hi Simon

What type of music do you sing? Try not to laugh...do you sound like Westlife?

Take Care

pilatus, sorry, i tried not to laugh, but i did chuckle. no i dont sound like westlife...they are one of the acts around that i believe dont deserve the millions they have, and the career and success they have, they cant write their own music, they just copy everyone elses songs... its talentless in my eyes. making fortunes from someone elses music writing skills. it isnt fair.

why did you ask?

i sing acoustic, soft rock love songs, ballads. the very emotional songs.

simon

[Zen888]

Hi Simon

I am just curious to hear what your voice sounds like

[(JD)]

Aw fooey on the sister anyway! If she wants it she'll do it...or not.

You are two different people. Consider her like all the other customers the coach has...none of them affect who you are and what you can do.

Life is full of naysayers. We have to learn how to work around them and ignore them to get what we want. If you crumble so early, you'll never know what you are truly capable of doing. Once you are through these early steps, they will never be able to crumble you again, for you will have seen what's on the other side of them and their negativity!

GO FOR IT!

[Numbers]

that is so wonderful Simon!!!
I'm very happy for you

If you make a CD the whole world can hear your voice Wouldn't that be wonderful?

like Pilatus I'd like o hear your voice too!

Don't let your sister spoil your joy, you deserve this happiness, and you deserve the help this coach can give you. Everyone should get a chance and the help they need to make their dreams come true and to get the best out of their talents.

[JustAPixie]

I'm so happy for you Simon, I'll keep all my fingers, my toes and my eyes crossed fro you!!! All though I don't think you need it, you will do great!!! I know you will, you have so much passion and that is a key ingredient for success. Things aren't always going to be good and when the money runs out you will need the passion to survive... and maybe your sister does not have that???

I can understand that you don't want her to sing to... I have a sister and we are very alike, but I hate it when she does the same things as me, even if it's just bying the same pair of shoes...

To me it's like she is trying to take my identity, like she is trying to ruin my uniqueness... I don't know what it is, but I always want to break free of my family and I don't want her to be the same as me because I think I'm also scared that people might think that I'm copying her instead of the other way around....

But good luck, and "may the force be with you"

Love ya

thank you guys for the well-wishes.

JustAPixie, you hit the nail on the head when you said "To me it's like she is trying to take my identity, like she is trying to ruin my uniqueness". i agree. i know she is unhappy with her life, and i feel she is trying to "imitate" mine to make hers a little better.

may the force be with you...hehehe i like that.

thanks for your kind words, everyone. i gives me the confidence i need to tackle thursday head on... only 2 days to go!!

simon

Well, i said i would let you all know how the vocal tutor session went...

I had it yesterday. i nearly cancelled it after having a very bad panic attack i spoke of in my other thread, but i kept my chin up and went ahead with the lesson. i went, we talked, i didnt sing to her as i wasnt comfortable and didnt want to, but she set me a goal to be singing open mike nights around Bristol (the town where i live) within SIX MONTHS!! that isnt long at all, and it is daunting, yet exciting. She wants me to be performing around the town in bars etc to audiences within 6 months...how scary is that!

6 months...that blew me away when she said that. we spoke about other goals of mine, i told her about my goal to record a cover of the song "Nothing Compares To You" by Sinead o'Connor, and that too is on the 6 month list...which is exciting for sure. "Nothing Compares To You" was played at my mums funeral, and it holds immense power with me, as does "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Eva Cassidy, which was also played at the funeral, and is on my "6 month" goal list too.

This looks like the start of something big for me, and maybe 2007 could be the year when i take off. I still have SO much work to do, but as long as i build my confidence up, and have faith in my talent, i should be ok.

I have been writing many songs recently, have approx 20 - 30 now, so once my confidence builds in my voice, recording will start. my vocal tutor has a recording studio, so i could use that, or i could use the program i have on my home computer, either way, i will be recording many songs before this year is out.

so there you have it, the update. isnt it exciting!!

Simon

[katheryn]

good to hear that you are trying to reach your goals, hope you gain some more confidance

There you go Simon, you're on your way! Youpie!!!!

[biiv]

way to go simon. thats fantastic you went despite your fears. takes a lot of courage to do that! and it sounds like it paid off. now the really hard work starts but i believe you re up to it! good luck to you!

[Fuzzybear]

[Boopers]

Simon!! How exciting!! I am so happy for you!

Way to go, I knew you could do it.

I love both of those songs. Nothing Compares To You, is such a cool song.

Good luck in these next six months. Keep up the confidence and you will go far.

Thanks for sharing the good news.
Hugs,
Boopers

[JustAPixie]

That is absolutely fantastic news Simon!!!! And it's great that you get to start your life sooner, rather than later... this leaves time for mistakes and stuff... so although it is a lot of pressure to start in six months already, it is also a lot more time for you to get into the thing.

Do you write the music and the words???? And do you write chords and play ad lib or do you write the notes???

Pixie, i canot write music at the moment, i write the lyrics. but, i do know how i want the music to sound, and i have the tools available to create the sounds. i cant play an instrument yet, but i know exactly how i want them to sound.

'tis all good!

simon

p.s thank you for your support everyone, i may need it over the next few months...

i'm so proud of you simon!

At thursdays singing lesson, i was asked to make a list of 5 songs that i wanted to work with over the next few months. ones that eventually, i will record.

i made a list of 5, and you can find the songs, numbered, at www.esnips.com/web/simonwatts87sOtherStuff . i have given a small description of each choice, which i hope enlightens you as to why i chose them. the list is:

1."Stand By Me" - Ben E King

2."Over The Rainbow" - Eva Cassidy

3.Voice Within" - Christina Aguilera

4."I Dont Wanna Miss A Thing" - Aerosmith

and finally

5."White Flag" - Dido

let me know what you think of the choices, and i will keep you posted as to the progress of this.

thanks

simon