Do you have dreams of what you’d like to sound like, or what you’d like to be able to do musically? I hope you do! And I hope you will consider what baby steps you may be able to make towards meeting goals that may help that dream come to reality this year.
Musical goals are important for your development. I would challenge you to spend time thinking about some simple questions you can make toward hearing them happen.
I might suggest the following questions for your reflection:
- What do you want to sound like musically this year?
Tone, vibrato, and range are all areas any vocalist or wind instrumentalist can work on that can greatly affect your sound. What are some reasonable goals you can meet in these areas? If you are a chordal instrumentalist you may have a specific sound you are going for that is accomplished by a certain kind of voicing or fingering technique. What are some reasonable goals you can meet in these areas?
- What do you want to be able to do?
Is there a certain style or genre of music you’d like to learn this year? Maybe you want to memorize a certain number of tunes, transcribe a handful of great solos, etc.
- Who can you serve with your music this year?
At the academy, we believe that music is more than simply a commodity, but a gift intended to serve others. How much time did you spend serving others last year with your music, in any way? Maybe you spent time tutoring or teaching, maybe serving through music to a specific people group. What are some reasonable goals you can make toward tuning into the community through music this year that would be an increase from last year?
- How can you help build community or make a new friends through music?
Most music students or musicians know at least a few other musicians. Did you spend much time with other students last year making music outside of class or rehearsals? And not just making music, but also in basic friendship and fun? That’s important too.
These are just some basic considerations. I hope you find them helpful, and I would love to hear your goals. I will follow up with some of mine. One of the best things you can do to help solidify your goals is to share them with others that will help keep you accountable. It also helps to write them down and record steps toward success in a practice journal. Make sure you start by sharing your goals with your teacher! They more than anyone other than you will be your greatest supporters in making them happen!
Happy New Year and Happy Shedding!