Djarts Voice Coaching ~ www.djarts.com.au
© Daniel K. Robinson - 2010
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TheNextLevel…
By Daniel K. Robinson(2 0 0 8 )
I have many students who start each year with the statement, “I want to go to
the next level!” This is a wonderfully proactive phrase…but what does it mean?
Of course I understand it to suggest that the student wants to continue with the
development of their voice, but what does it really mean to ‘go to the next
level’?
Whilst completing my final years of high school the school library had a number
of posters hung on its walls with motivational phrases on them. One particular
poster always spoke to me the moment I entered the non-fiction isle... “If you
aim at nothing you’ll hit it!” What are you aiming at this year? Uplifting, yet
highly ambiguous phrases such as, “I’m going to the next level”, fall far short of
any specific goals. For example how will you know you’ve reached the next
level? You’ve never been there so you probably won’t recognise it when you
arrive. As you consider your goals this year for your vocal development I offer
the following food for thought:
1. Create Achievable Goals. A friend of mine had a little saying,
“Understate, Overachieve!” Too many people overstate and
underachieve. Make sure you create goals that will give you some
wins. Success generates confidence to set the next lot of goals and
continue the journey.
2. Identify your goals. Be specific with what you want to achieve. If
Breath Management is an area that needs work, then nominate exactly
what it is about your Breath Management that needs improving. E.g.
you might be searching for greater consistency in your exhalation
which in turn might provide smoother notes.
3. Measurable Outcomes. Once you have identified your goals, how will
your know you have achieved your goals? Continuing with Breath
Management…talk to your voice coach about your goal of ‘greater
consistency in exhalation’ and together determine how you might
measure the outcome. Perhaps the measure will be a steadier vocal
line by Easter or greater note accuracy by year’s end.
4. Celebrate your Success. Do you take time to savour the view after an
arduous mountain climb? If you’ve planned your journey of
development well you will most likely succeed in achieving your goals.
Enjoy the achievement before moving onto the next mountain.
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