Musical Goals For the New Year

"The practice of goal-setting is not just helpful; it is a prerequisite for happiness".

Michael Hyatt - leadership expert

If you've already set your 2015 musical goals Bravo! If you haven't, or they need a tweak, here are some ideas to help you set and achieve your goals.

1. Make a list

2. Make it manageable

3. Set up friendly reminders

Let’s take a deeper look.

1. MAKE A LIST

I would like to… (Check off the following goals that apply to you):

_  Play happy birthday on my birthday

_  Play with a musical neighbor a singer/trumpet player/drummer/etc.

_  Play some songs for an aging parent

_  Play some Christmas carols for a grandchild

_  Play in a seniors care home

_  inspire a child to play the piano

_  have a few tunes memorized to play at a party

_  accompany a sing-along with friends

_  accompany a choir

_  accompany a dance class

_  Learn these specific pieces _________________________________

_  Other _____­­­­­­­_____________________________________

_  Perform a classical piano concert in Carnegie Hall

Now let's discuss a way to bring this about.

2. MAKE IT MANAGEABLE

A. Go back to your 'I would like to list' and put a date next to the ones you have checked off. Every goal needs a date associated with it. A goal without a date is just a dream.

Can't decide what date to put?  Give it your best guess (they can be revised in the future).  Here are a few examples:

     - Play a few Christmas carols for a grandchild may take anywhere from 2 to 6 months.

     - Play for a sing-along may take anywhere from 4 months to a year.  

     - Perform at Carnegie Hall will take approximately 15 years practicing 4 - 6 hours a day.

B. Find a nice note book (or purchase this Piano Journal from the Play Piano Chords Today website). 

       a. On the first page of your book write the words REPERTOIRE TO LEARN.  Write down 3 - 300 songs you wish to learn in the future 

       b. On the next page of the book write the title REPERTOIRE LEARNED.  When a piece has been learned,  move it from the first list to this list.  See  Play Piano Chords Today Book 2 for information on how you know when a piece is ready to play for someone else.   

C. Keep track of what you're currently working on for the rest of your piano journal.  A page could look something like this…

Piano teachers are a great help with advice as to what technical exercises are appropriate for your level. Learning patterns (scales and chords) and exercises for finger independence are important to pleasurable playing.  More on this in future blogs.

OK.  Now it’s manageable and we need to add it to our daily habits.  

3. SET UP FRIENDLY REMINDERS

Most smart phones have a REMINDERS apps on them. I love to use mine for reminders of my goals. For example set a reminder for two months from today that says "Have you memorized Happy Birthday?" Now set a reminder for one month that says "Have you memorized part of Happy Birthday?" You can take it further and set a reminder for one week that says "Have you memorized the first line of Happy Birthday?" When you break your reminders down into small achievable goals you'll look forward to receiving them.  They will be confirmation of a goal achieved or an opportunity for a revision.  Don’t have a smartphone?  Put reminders in the same place you put doctor’s appointments, or lunch with friends.  A good daily reminder is, "Have you played your favourite song on the piano today?"   That's on a post-it note on my fridge.  Click here for fun printable.

Three steps to keep you on track for a 2015 full of musical growth.  When you feel yourself growing you are happier and healthier and you will enjoy the beautiful music you play!