Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~
In this year, what will define our music careers or music ministries? Will we allow our music to die with us? Here are a few of my thoughts and reflections as I start 2013.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~
In this year, what will define our music careers or music ministries? Will we allow our music to die with us? Here are a few of my thoughts and reflections as I start 2013.
This year, I'm doing more
Yes, each year I say it; but this year I really want to make it happen. What music achievements did I have this past year? Well it certainly wasn't bad. Some of my music highlights this year are as follows:
Despite a year of new music experiences and events, I can't help the feeling that I can do a lot more. But how will I define these things and make sure they happen? First, I'm putting pen to paper (or actually, printer ink to paper), and setting solid goals. Second, I'm going to share them with my wife, with select friends, and share a few of my music related goals on my blog to keep myself accountable.
- In March, my wife and I performed a music program for our hometown audience at an annual community dinner.
- Throughout the year, I performed concerts throughout the state of Georgia with the Sons of Jubal.
- In April, I performed with the Sons of Jubal in Pyongyang, North Korea and Beijing, China. See some excerpts from one of our North Korea concerts in this link (YouTube -- Sons of Jubal in North Korea).
- Throughout the year, my wife and I participated in the music ministry at our home church. This included special music for church services, a funeral, Homecoming program, and Christmas programs, among other things.
- In September, I began teaching voice students at a local arts center.
- In December, my wife and I had our first recitals for our music students. We also performed in another hometown event for our local Christmas celebration. The Sons of Jubal performed in a concert in Atlanta for a special Christmas event with Keith and Kristyn Getty.
Despite a year of new music experiences and events, I can't help the feeling that I can do a lot more. But how will I define these things and make sure they happen? First, I'm putting pen to paper (or actually, printer ink to paper), and setting solid goals. Second, I'm going to share them with my wife, with select friends, and share a few of my music related goals on my blog to keep myself accountable.
This year, I'm writing my goals down
Some years, I have written out my goals and aspirations. Other years, this past year included, I did not. It may be different for you, but in my life I don't accomplish much that I don't prepare and plan for. So this year I am not only writing my goals down, I am putting together an action plan for each one.
Fifteen goals are on my list this year, and I won't bore you with all of them, but I would like to share a couple with my blog readers, and update them as I accomplish what I have set out to do. For each of these goals, I am putting together an action plan on a separate page so that I can mark off the steps as I complete them. However, I'm not going to make it complicated. For people like me, the simpler the better.
Fifteen goals are on my list this year, and I won't bore you with all of them, but I would like to share a couple with my blog readers, and update them as I accomplish what I have set out to do. For each of these goals, I am putting together an action plan on a separate page so that I can mark off the steps as I complete them. However, I'm not going to make it complicated. For people like me, the simpler the better.
This year, I'm sharing my goals
So, here goes...
One goal I'm sharing with my blog readers is my composition goal. I have wanted to begin writing some of my own music for a while now, and have jotted down little lyric and music motif ideas as I have thought of them. This year, it's time for me to take action with these ideas, and develop more new material. This goal is stated as follows:
As I complete each piece, I plan to share it on the blog -- first, for accountability and second, for critique by other musicians. I'm sure there will be much room for improvement, and the only way to get some feedback from a larger community is by sharing what I have done. My second shared goal is this:
Acapella music is one of my absolute favorite things in the world. There are a lot of great one-person acapella videos surfacing on YouTube, and I want to get in on the fun! Again, as I create these clips, I will share them on the blog. My last shared goal is this:
This will be a challenge for me, as I have not been the most consistent in my posting for the first six months this blog has existed. However, if I want to continue to build this site as a place that brings together ideas and resources for church and community musicians, I need to put a lot more material out there.
Don't die with your music in you! Make 2013 the year that you do more, share more, and grow more!
What are your music goals for this year?
One goal I'm sharing with my blog readers is my composition goal. I have wanted to begin writing some of my own music for a while now, and have jotted down little lyric and music motif ideas as I have thought of them. This year, it's time for me to take action with these ideas, and develop more new material. This goal is stated as follows:
- Write one new song every month to begin building composition experience and repertoire.
As I complete each piece, I plan to share it on the blog -- first, for accountability and second, for critique by other musicians. I'm sure there will be much room for improvement, and the only way to get some feedback from a larger community is by sharing what I have done. My second shared goal is this:
- Record and video three songs in one-man acapella style and post to YouTube.
Acapella music is one of my absolute favorite things in the world. There are a lot of great one-person acapella videos surfacing on YouTube, and I want to get in on the fun! Again, as I create these clips, I will share them on the blog. My last shared goal is this:
- Post three times per week on the Harmony Passion blog.
This will be a challenge for me, as I have not been the most consistent in my posting for the first six months this blog has existed. However, if I want to continue to build this site as a place that brings together ideas and resources for church and community musicians, I need to put a lot more material out there.
Don't die with your music in you! Make 2013 the year that you do more, share more, and grow more!
What are your music goals for this year?
Rick McDonnell is a vocalist, voice teacher, and the head blogger at Harmony Passion. Rick enjoys family, vocal harmony, personal finance, church events, Mexican food, and studying the Bible. Rick and his wife Bethany teach music students in their home studio and in music studios in nearby Thomasville, GA.