Creating a Musical Vision for 2010

For the past month I have been working on my musical vision for myself in 2010.  Each year I try to organize my activities to better reflect the goals I have for myself for that year.  Not everything goes as planned and some tasks get rolled over but each year it helps me stay focused.  I feel doing this activity this year is even more important than ever before for several reasons. 

1. I'm 27 years old and want to make sure that before I hit 30 that I tie up current loose ends and finish any projects that I have left undone so far.  I would like to enter that next decade with a somewhat clean slate, ready for what comes next for me. 
   
2. Now that I have two children my time to do what I love seems to be getting shorter and shorter.  I have to make sure what I do spend my time on is worthwhile and truly helps me accomplish my goals.
3. Many different versions of the "Bucket List" have been showing up for me when I'm reading online.  I must be calling these to myself for some much needed reflection.
4. I have so much I want to accomplish as a musician that I am a little overwhelmed.  Organizing and prioritizing my ideas should help take the stress down a bit.   
   

For this post I thought I would focus on my brainstorming sessions with the many "Bucket Lists" I have found.  I ran across 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind and decided to start there.  This list is all over the place and got me thinking about life and how I want to live it.  Then I was off to Day Zero where you can "Plan.  Create.  Motivate. Achieve."    Day Zero is the home of the 1001 day project.  It challenges you to complete 101 tasks in a 1001 days.  The tasks in your customizable list must be specific and be clearly defined.  Each task must also be realistic and stretching.  At first I had a hard time thinking of 101 things that I wanted to accomplish but Day Zero gives you suggestions that really helped to get the ball rolling.  Here are a few of my music goals from my list at Day Zero.   

1Go see an Opera

5 Sing karaoke at a bar

36 Record 1st Vocal Christmas CD

37 Create a play-list of my favorite songs for my MP3 player

38 Create & Offer a Family Music Class for the studio

39 Offer Music for Little Mozarts Music Class for the studio

40 Audition for the Kansas City Symphony Chorus

41Send info to Kansas City Chorale to audition

49 Record a Taize Music CD

50 Record a Sacred Music CD

61 Attend several live music events

66 Go to the Kansas City Jazz Museum

67 Go out and listen to live Jazz

68 Video Tape Me Leading Worship

71Sing at a Piano Bar

72 Record Wedding & Church Music Sample CD

73 Practice & Perform my 2nd Solo Recital

74 write 4 articles a month for my blog

75 Find out more about Emerging worship

76Attend a KC Taize service

78 Start my own Kansas city choir or ensemble

79 Book myself for Christmas 2010 music gigs related to my CD

80 Hold First Christmas Winter Concert w/ Choir-Ensemble

81 Hold First Late Spring Concert w/ Choir Ensemble

82 Hold a Spirituals Concert during black history month or MLK Day w/ choir ensemble

83 Reignite Kansas City/Raytown Taize for Advent 2010

90 Hold auditions for my choir/ensemble May 2010

91Have Choir Ensemble retreat August 2010

94 Hold German Leider Recital w/ Don Forsythe

97Add Music Player on Website to showcase recorded works

98 Finish rep list on biography

100 Prepare an audition notebook w/ varied selections

This is such a great way to keep track of personal goals of any kind.  I am looking forward to checking some of these things off my list.  I encourage you to take some time this week and make a list of all the things you have yet to accomplish on your 2010 "Bucket List".  Then make a plan for your year.  Research what it would take to complete some of your goals and break them down so you can manage the steps.  Stay confident and enjoy the journey.  You will reap some amazing rewards.