Posts Tagged ‘strengths’

In addition to focused daily practices, it is very important to assess your current strengths and weaknesses, and then to set some longer-term goals for yourself. Assessing your current strengths and weaknesses are usually best done by an instructor that has worked with you, or lacking that, fellow musicians. You can also do a self-assessment as a start. Periodically review these, along with reassessing your goals, at least every six months or so.

Strengths. Let’s start by listing what you think are your strengths. List five strengths that you think you have:

Strength 1. _________________________________________________

Strength 2. _________________________________________________

Strength 3. _________________________________________________

Strength 4. _________________________________________________

Strength 5. _________________________________________________

Weaknesses. Now list five weaknesses that you think you have:

Weakness 1. ________________________________________________

Weakness 2. ________________________________________________

Weakness 3. ________________________________________________

Weakness 4. ________________________________________________

Weakness 5. ________________________________________________

Goals. Finally, let’s work on longer-term goals. What would you like to accomplish musically over the next six to twelve months? I’ll provide space for ten goals, but usually three to five is a good start. Here is an example of some goals I have had, to help you get started.

Goal 1. Be able to identify the following intervals by ear: 2^nd, minor third, major

third, fourth, fifth, flat 7 and 7 in both directions.

Goal 2. Really loosen up my embouchure on the top and bottom, thus improving

my intonation in the upper register and altissimo.

Goal 3. Be able to play major and minor triads in all keys on the keyboard.

Goal 4. Complete the current CD, and complete another CD.

Goal 5. Improve my “entertainer” skills at gigs.

Now take a shot at listing your musical goals for the next six to twelve months. Start with fairly simple goals at first. They should be narrowly enough focused such that they are attainable within six to twelve months. Then will also want to review and update these about every six months.

Goal 1. ________________________________________________

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Goal 2. ________________________________________________

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Goal 3. ________________________________________________

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Goal 4. ________________________________________________

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Goal 5. ________________________________________________

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Goal 6. ________________________________________________

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Goal 7. ________________________________________________

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Goal 8. ________________________________________________

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Goal 9. ________________________________________________

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Goal 10. _______________________________________________

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