GOAL SETTING - MUSICAL GOALS

Research has shown that people who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them. 

SMART GOALS

Specific - Write down your specific musical goal.

Examples of musical goals might include:

Passing a practical exam  (Grade 4 Piano)

Playing in a recital or concert

Passing a theory exam  (Grade 3 theory with Trinity)

Practising for one hour five days each week.

Measurable

If your goal is to sit grade four practical piano you can measure this by your achievement when you sit the exam and pass it.

Attainable

The goal needs to be realistic, although for you to benefit it will be good if it extends you just a little musically.   You may need to write a specific plan as to how you are going to achieve your goal of passing grade four piano. 

Realistic

For you to achieve your goal of passing grade four piano it would be important that you had already passed grade three and that you and your teacher believe you are ready for this next level.  If you set your goals to high or low there will be little personal satisfaction.

Time bound

You will want to create a timeframe for your musical goal.  For our student wanting to pass grade four piano, it would be realistic at the beginning of 2009 for him/her to say I want to pass grade four piano by the end of 2009.  A less realistic goal would be to say I will sit grade four in May 2009 when that student has only passed grade two piano.

To create your musical goals click here

For more information on goal setting go to:

http://www.topachievement.com/smart.html

http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html

http://www.topachievement.com/goalsetting.html

http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/