Tip #17

In education, most of the achievements and milestones are determined by grades, classes, awards, method book levels etc and these require institutions or other people to tell us that we have achieved something. Although this aspect of education is crucial, motivational, and certainly fulfilling, the enforced idea is that achievements in education come only through recognition by others.

However, creating our own goals based on our needs and wants lets us fulfill more frequent achievements and allows us to be self-motivators.

Here are a couple of helpful tips while creating goals:

Provide guidance to your children while creating goals

As our children’s role models (TIP #13), our guidance is crucial for them to determine what is realistic and productive.

Let children decide for their goals as well

While providing guidance, it is important to be open to our children’s capabilities (TIP #6) and expectations (TIP #8).

Many is better than a few

Fulfilling goals bring relief therefore more goals will bring more relief.

Consistency can be a goal on its own

“In January, I will practice 4 days week, 20 minutes each” (Tip #11)

Commitment is a great long term goal

Although pursuing music professionally or graduating from a certification program can be very productive goals, they do not always provide the daily motivation that we all need.

Short term goals

Having goals in the near future provide more consistent motivation.

Having goals for practice creates a fulfillment and achievement feeling after each practice which is a great motivator to come back the next day.

For each practice:

“I will practice only two lines of this piece and will get it up to ‘x’ tempo”

“I will learn the notes for only the right hand for one piece”

For each piece:

“I will learn this piece by this date”

“Eventually I will play this piece in ’x’ melody”

Be realistic

Listening to other musicians can be very inspiring however we should create goals based on our own capabilities and needs rather than other musicians, recordings etc.

Be specific

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way of creating goals and you can get as specific as you wish.

“I would like to be more clear with my sixteenth notes in measure 3”

Be creative

“I would like to have a better phrasing with my right hand by the end of this week”

Be flexible

We should remind ourselves that not completing something or failing is a part of success and we can MAKE ‘LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES’ our main goal!

May you know you are making a difference, even if your child never tells you themselves.

We would be more than happy to answer any questions and provide more specific consultancy if needed.

Thank you for being a part of the PianoAlpharetta community!