[la grange]

Hi Justin,
Here is another one for you,
find a mid size studio and go and offer your help for free. You might end up making coffee or tea to start with. Being able to prepare a good brew will help you building a good relationship with producers and musicians....
but seriously, watch, learn, ask questions when the time is right, feel the work. A dream is one thing and reality is often another and that is why you need an experience. And as we all know, an experience is often what you got instead of what you wanted.
And after this, if you think you still want to do it then make a list of all the advices above and start digging.
But for sure, learn to be a musician before you spend time in front of a computer, programing tracks.

best of luck

Oli