Let\u2019s learn a five-step process for achieving your goals. The acronym S.M.A.R.T. will help you remember each step.<\/p>\n
These S.M.A.R.T. goal steps are:<\/p>\n
SPECIFIC<\/strong> and MEASURABLE<\/strong> goals, with ACTIONS<\/strong> and RESOURCES<\/strong> over TIME.<\/strong> S.M.A.R.T. steps!<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s examine each step more closely. I will point out the important words in each phrase. I\u2019ll show you the WRONG way, the RIGHT way and then you fill one that applies to something you\u2019re struggling with. The first time you do this, it could take some time. That\u2019s \u201cSometimes, the ‘have to’ in practicing is more boring than the ‘want to.\u2019 When you start and you’re into it for about 30 minutes, everything changes, from need to, to want to.\u201d – Simone, violin, piano, guitar, voice<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In order to be useful, your goal must be as SPECIFIC as possible. Define EXACTLY what you will do.<\/p>\n WRONG WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will learn to do those scale thingys.\u201d (NOT SPECIFIC and thingy\u2019s not RIGHT WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will learn to play all TWELVE MAJOR SCALES in TWO OCTAVES by MEMORYin EIGHTH NOTES at a metronome marking of 100 BEATS PER MINUTE.\u201d (SPECIFIC)<\/p>\n EXERCISE:<\/strong> In a notebook, write out one of your goals and ask yourself: \u201cIs it specific enough?\u201d If it isn\u2019t, continue to hone and refine the goal until it is.<\/p>\n “It’s called wood-shedding. You sit down until you take care of business. Work it out between you and your axe. Breathe, buzz, play, and repeat on days that end with \u2018Y\u2019!” -Dave<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Your SPECIFIC goal should also be MEASURABLE. It must be easy to know if the goal was met. You did it or you didn\u2019t. What is the measurement? There is no \u201cUh, sort of.\u201d<\/p>\n WRONG WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will kind of sort of play my scales for my teacher well enough so that they don\u2019t yell at me or quit and go sell real estate.\u201d (SPECIFIC but not MEASUREABLE, unless you want your teacher to quit and sell real estate)<\/p>\n RIGHT WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will learn to play all twelve major scales FOR MY TEACHER in two octaves by memory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 beats per minute WITH NO EXERCISE:<\/strong> Referring to the earlier SPECIFIC goal, ask yourself: \u201cCan I measure my progress on this goal?\u201d This should be a yes or no answer. If it isn\u2019t, you may have to make it more specific or look for other ways to measure your progress<\/p>\n Now that you have a SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE goal, it\u2019s time to pick the ACTIONS you will use to accomplish it.<\/p>\n WRONG WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for my teacher in two octaves by memory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by, um, doing stuff.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE, actions are too vague. And you say \u201cum\u201d too much)<\/p>\n RIGHT WAY<\/strong>: \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for my teacher in two octaves by memory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by using SLOW PRACTICE, FINGER PATTERNS, and RECORDING THEM.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE, with ACTIONS)<\/p>\n EXERCISE:<\/strong> Now that you have a SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE goal, ask yourself: \u201cDo I know which ACTIONS will help me achieve my goal?\u201d If not, brainstorm some other possibilities to help you get there. Can you come up with five? Ten? More?<\/p>\n ACTIONS<\/strong> rely on RESOURCES. In the above example, slow practice is made easier through the use of a metronome. WRONG WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for my teacher in two octaves by memory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by using slow practice, finger patterns, and recording them. I will use my invisible friend Harold. He will tell me what notes to play.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE, with ACTIONS but if you have an invisible friend, maybe you should close this book and go play duets with them on the planet Drignut)<\/p>\n RIGHT WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for my teacher in two octaves by memory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by using slow practice, finger patterns, and recording them. I will use my METRONOME, SCALE SHEET, FINGERING CHART, RECORDER and PENCIL.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE, with ACTIONS and RESOURCES)<\/p>\n EXERCISE:<\/strong> Ask yourself: \u201cDo I have the RESOURCES I need to achieve this SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE goal?\u201d If not, list the ones you\u2019re missing and make a plan for getting them as soon as possible!<\/p>\n TIME is the final piece of the puzzle. In order for the goal to be met, it needs a due date. When will you have your scales ready? Bear in mind it may take some practice to set usable time limits. Sometimes we set a date that is too soon or too far into the future. Don\u2019t worry if you get this wrong at first. Just keep adjusting until you find what works.<\/p>\n When practicing, it’s always tempting to leave the hard stuff and resort back to things we’ve already mastered. Because we start doubting our own musical ability. So we show off excerpts that are already polished as if to say, “Hey ego, check this out! I am a worthy player!” As enticing as it feels, resist this approach. The purpose of practice is to “improve.” Not to “prove.\u201d – David Cutler, pianist & composer; author of “The Savvy Musician”<\/p>\n WRONG WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for your teacher in two octaves by RIGHT WAY:<\/strong> \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for my teacher in two octaves by memory EXERCISE:<\/strong> It\u2019s time to ask the final question about you goal: \u201cIs my deadline appropriate?\u201d Do you have enough time? Too much? Not enough? You may have to adjust the deadline a few times to find the right balance. Don\u2019t panic, it is a part of the process. Now that we\u2019ve explored each step, let\u2019s go back and look at our original \u201cgoal\u201d: \u201cI will learn to do those scale thingys.\u201d<\/p>\n Here it is again, showing how it breaks down, according to the S.M.A.R.T. STEPS: \u201cI will play all twelve major scales for my teacher in two octaves by memory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by using slow practice, finger patterns, and playing the scales for my teacher. I will use my metronome, scale sheet, fingering chart, recorder, pencil and teacher to achieve this goal by the end of the semester.\u201d<\/p>\n Which one will be easier to achieve?<\/p>\n
\nokay. The important thing is to JUST KEEP DOING IT! It will get easier every time and pretty soon you\u2019ll be able to recognize the steps right away.<\/p>\nSpecific<\/h2>\n
\ntechnically a real word)<\/p>\nMeasurable<\/h2>\n
\nMISTAKES.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE)<\/p>\nActions<\/h2>\n
Resources<\/h2>\n
\nResources can be physical, like a metronome, or personal, like a teacher. They even include such things as time and a
\nplace to practice.<\/p>\nTime<\/h2>\n
\nmemory in eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by using slow practice, finger
\npatterns, and playing the scales for my teacher. I will use my metronome, scale sheet, fingering chart, recorder, pencil and teacher to achieve this goal before I turn 92.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE, with ACTIONS and RESOURCES. However, unless you are currently 91, you may want to look for a shorter period of time)<\/p>\n
\nin eighth notes at a metronome marking of 100 by using slow practice, finger patterns, and
\nplaying the scales for my teacher. I will use my metronome, scale sheet, fingering chart,
\nrecorder, pencil and teacher to achieve this goal BY THE END OF THE SEMESTER.\u201d (SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE, with ACTIONS and RESOURCES in a reasonable amount of TIME)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI really do not enjoy practicing without some sort of big goal. I need some sort of goal like \u2018I want to be able to keep up at a jam session at a jazz club\u2019 or \u2018I want to play in the horn line for a rock band.\u2019 Practicing with longer-term goals like that gives me motivation.\u201d – Steve, euphonium and trombone.<\/p>\nREVIEW<\/h2>\n
BONUS DRILLS!<\/h2>\n
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\nIf you\u2019re stuck, think \u201ctoday,\u201d \u201cthis month,\u201d and \u201cthis year.\u201d (10 min)<\/li>\n
\nqualities are covered.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n