AboutPhil Kelly Expertise I`m a semi-retired professional music arranger with over thirty five years in all phases of the commercial music production business. I can try to answer questions regarding music arranging, theory, orchestration , and/or composition for most acoustic ensembles .( jazz band or orchestral ) I can try to offer suggestions about studio music recording procedures and some basic MIDI applications , too. In the course of my career I`ve worked with such artists as Doc Severinsen and the old Tonight Show Band, Bill Watrous, Buddy Greco, John Gary, Mel Torme, Julius LaRosa, as well as the Pop programs of the Fort Worth, Dallas, North Carolina, and Houston Symphonies, as well as library music material for ABC, ESPN, and NFL Films.
Question Hi i am a junior in high school and i have a strong passion for music. I would like to become a successful songwriter in the future, but I do not have a strond background in music education. Would learning to play an instrument help me become a better songwriter?
Answer Hi Kelly:
Theres no doubt that learning some basic keyboard ( and/or guitar ) skills would be of
great help to your songwriting ,but you would be advised also to begin to
acquire some basic harmony and music theory concurrently.
These skill sets would provide you with the basic building blocks of
music of all styles ,and would aid in greatly expanding your
songwriting abilities.
