Music Goals That Best Suit You

(A more in-depth part 2 to - Goals: How to Choose and Achieve)

Staying focused and motivated in your musical pursuits can be challenging at best in such a busy and demanding world. Knowing how much time to invest and what exactly to invest your time in is always a difficult choice. Regarding your music ministries or dreams, choosing where to focus your energy and learning can be even more challenging.

Scripture tells us in I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

It also says in Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

From these verses, we are reminded that all we do should bring glory to God and we should be doing it to the best of our ability because we have only one life to achieve something for God.

So, what music goals are best for you? Only you and the Holy Spirit can decide the final answer to that question, but here are some tips to help you make a wise choice on what goals to pursue.

Pray for direction from the Holy Spirit. You can…

• Ask Him to bring specific ideas to your mind about what projects to work towards.

•    Ask Him to answer specific requests that would give you a clear direction to go. (If you think you should start piano lessons, but you need money for books, ask Him to provide the exact amount that you need. {don’t be vague with God. Get specific!})

•   Ask Him to bring the same burden to someone else in your life so that you can accomplish the goal together.

Relying on direction from the Holy Spirit will also require you to listen to Him in other areas of your life. You cannot live in sin and then expect Him to give you clear leading on your music goals. As Christians, we should be living in surrender to the Holy Spirit in all areas of our life.

Writing down your goals will help you to visualize and organize the goals that you already have. Make it a list of what you are already doing and what you would like to add or change. Next, review the list with prayer and see what the Holy Spirit suggests.

            Consider the following…

• How much time am I spending on my goals?

• What procedures could I modify to help streamline what I am already doing?

• What do I need to cut because it is not working?

• What new elements would I like to add?

• What sacrifices would I need to make for this new goal to be possible (and will it be worth it)?

• Are my goals realistic and attainable?

• Do my goals relate to what I am doing in ministry right now or what I would like to be doing in the near future?

• How will these goals advance my work for the Lord and service for others?

After you have all your goals written down, it is time to choose one (or more) and put them in motion. No work will work unless it is worked! It is now up to you to get your goals accomplished.

• Consider how much time you will need to accomplish your newfound goal. Having an organized schedule of your time will allow you to give the proper amount of attention to the tasks of the goal. Also, consider how long-term the goal may be (true goals are not overnight. That would be a task).

• Divide your goals into manageable task. Some goals will require daily tasks (such as learning to play an instrument. That goal takes daily practice.). Other goals may only require weekly attention (such as planning the music schedule).

• Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today! If you can get a step ahead, don’t miss that opportunity!

Now that you understand how to choose your goals, here are a few simple ideas of goals to consider that might help you!

For the Vocalist:

• Strengthening your voice: increasing range, clearer tone, longer endurance, better pronunciation.

• Help teach someone else to sing. (Many people with great potential are to shy to sing in front of others and just need a vocalist they respect to lift their confidence)

• Learn how to sing parts.

• Learn how to better sing in groups

• Find opportunities outside of church to use your voice to bring honor to God and be a blessing. (Nursing homes, hospitals, Christmas events, etc.)

  
  

For the Instrumentalist:

• Routine practice time

• Offertories, prelude, postlude, accompanying specials.

• Strengthening your skills (improving dynamics, tone clarity, sightreading, proper fingering, etc.)

• Finding opportunities outside of church to bring honor to God and be a blessing (Nursing homes, hospitals, special events, elderly members of the church who are home alone, etc.)

For the music Director (or song leader)

• Strengthening your skills: clarifying and diversifying your song-leading style (for congregational and choir), sightreading music, understanding of vocal ranges and parts, understanding of Time Signatures and how to lead them or change them, etc.

• Creating a music schedule

• Building music groups (adult choir, teen choir, children’s choir, mixed choir, men’s groups, lady’s groups, mixed small groups {duets, trios, quartets, etc.}) Some groups may need help choosing songs or may need help at practice.

• Teaching your singers how to sing parts

• Building an orchestra

• Creating special music programs for holiday services

There are endless lists of goals that you could choose from, but the best goals are the ones that you are willing to work towards. Everyone’s ministries will differ slightly and what works well for someone else may not work well for you. Be willing to plan your work and work your plan. Adaptations and changes will be inevitable, and setbacks will be unavoidable. Don’t be discouraged if something does not go as planned, just stick as close to the plan as possible and get back on track undeterred.