We’re about to embark upon something that truly bites, but is necessary when it comes to charting a course for your success. It’s the dreaded task of setting goals. But we’re going to keep this fairly simple to begin with so that you can dig deeper and push harder as you make progress in meeting these goals. Start by choosing two or three of the following goals.
Panning For Goals
I want to have a stronger voice.
I want my image to make a statement.
I want to get physically fit.
I want to get better at networking.
I want to become more comfortable with marketing myself.
Be Specific
Next take each goal you’ve chosen and make it more personal and specific. For example, “I want to have a stronger voice” could become “I will increase my range by an octave.” Another example, would be the goal “I want my image to make a statement.” That might become something like, “I want to project the power of cultural diversity” or “I want to my image to remind people that we all serve a higher power” or “I want my image to make people relax, shake off the daily bull, and get real.” You want your goal to ring true personally for you so that you’ll be more likely to have a real impact in relating to your audience.
As you look at your goals ask questions such as “in what way” or “what should I focus on first” to help you personalize each goal and make it more specific. Like, “in what way do I want to get physically fit” or “what should I focus on to get better at networking.” In the case of networking, if you’re really shy, it might mean finding an outgoing friend to do the legwork for you.
For each goal, keep playing with it until it clearly states what you want to achieve in that area that will advance your career. Then, write down one thing you can get started on right away toward making each of your specific personalized goals come to life.
Next, consider the following question for each of your goals: In what ways am I willing to bend, stretch, or break in this area to make it as a performer (singer, singer-songwriter, musical theatre artist, etc)?
Build On Your Progress
Having that flexibility and willingness to build on or refine will keep you fresh, alive, and constantly growing as an artist, talent, voice, and performer. Of course you don’t want to set goals and make plans and become the world’s greatest procrastinator. To avoid become a “never was” not even as a “has been,” goals mean diddlysquat unless you take action to meet them and then set higher, tougher, greater goals.
This exercise is designed to get you started taking those first critical steps that will lead you to the light, shape, color, and tone that is your unique voice and talent. We will visit this concept in the future to check progress, share ideas, and success stories.
Bend and Stretch article
Here's a different sort of goal. Yes, I am working to have a stronger voice, as I've always had a soft one, and my vocal cords are out of shape, so I have no endurance. But I really found this article helpful in encouraging me to examine some self-image issues that are going to have to GO. I was a full time rock n' roller and pop musician back in the 70's. My musical involvement has been pretty minimal for quite a long time, and now I am 57, and want to become professional quality again. I've lost most of my vocal and instrumental "chops", plus now I have the added mental attitudes about age, appearance (I'm still petite, but feel dumpy) and what my musical possibilities might be. I'm not looking for a stellar career, but would like to be gig-ready and available. I've only been working on the singing part of the program since 4/14, but already notice good changes, and all the articles are very helpful, too.I can also see where, as my ability improves, the pieces I write will start to change also, to express my new talents. I think what I'm saying with all these words, is that I am using your program to provide everything I need to have great self-confidence as my musician self. Thank you so much!Skye
Really useful!
Thanks for this great tip.. it's easier to measure and follow the progress if you set the goals.. and it kinda organizes your work better, at least this is my case. Personally, for the moment i just want to sing without strain and fatigue for a long time and sing high notes without strain especially. I already have my own style that i work on constantly, but in order to change it and develop it even more i need the voice i want first! so this is my first goal,get rid of strain, expand the range and then work on style and continue to write music and to perform. I also have a small summer tour in plan, so by july-august i must get in shape. anyway thanks Brett.. I went from an E above the male high C (that i could barely pull out.. yes, pull out like pulling teeth) to B flat below the woman high C that i can sing almost effortlessly in just 3-4 days, and when it comes to exercises (like lip rolls & tongue trills) i got to G above the woman high C the third lesson.. and i think i could actually sing above that note but i just still can not believe it is coming out of my mouth, so i stop in order not to push my voice too hard. And it comes so easy to me that i can not believe i am actually singing that. I even had my boyfriend to come and check because i was convinced i was singing an octave lower than what you were playing. but i wasn't. And that E that used to be pulling teeth at the top of my old strained range.. now when i drop down to it from somewhere above the woman high C while doing your exercises, i think OK, now i'm on the safe side, the hard part is done! and not to mention the male high C that now seems a relaxin SPA to my voice, instead of "oh my god here it comes will i ever get it to sound the way i want it" that it used to be just 10 days ago! I am even afraid to write all this stuff 'cause i'm afraid it is all a dream and that the next day i will wake up with my throat aching and my voice back to it's old strained range (actually i caught a cold and a little bit of dry throat with it, so now i am not singing and i am still waiting to see how will i sound like afterwards)! So thanks again for everything! K
This was good
This was good... one of my goals is to get a stronger chest voice.. I have a very very strong mixed voice, but the notes in my range leading up to my mixed voice get fatigued easily... I can sing a high C forever... but I can only sing a G for a minute or two you know?? I need to work on my E-F-F#-G range, and strengthen that up so that I can be ready for my little mini tour this summer... Thanks Brett... I already have your singing success and it's honestly made me 4x the singer that I ever could have been without it... THANKS FOR THIS ARTICLE!! -Chris http://www.jellimusic.com
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