Happy 2016 From Rising Stars!
Happy New Year, everyone! We here at Rising Stars would like to thank all of you for an awesome 2015! Whether you participated in one of our camps or workshops, or simply followed our blog and Facebook updates this year, we thank you for being a part of our community and hope that you will continue singing, acting, and dancing with us in 2016.
As we resume our normal routines of school, work, lessons, and whatever else it is that we do, it's important for us to think about our goals as performers for the year ahead. How did you grow and improve in 2015, and what can you do to build upon that in 2016?
Lest you think that this is simply another attempt to get you to make a "new year's resolution," think about it this way: as performers, we are CONSTANTLY self-assessing and re-evaluating and resolving to do better. What better time to regroup and re-focus our efforts than January, after the chaos of the holidays is over and the inevitable consistency of winter sets in?
When you set goals for yourself, performing-related or otherwise, it's important to keep the following things in mind:
1. Choose a small, attainable goal to start. If you set too lofty a goal, like wanting to run a 5K by June when you've never run a race in your life, you will likely get discouraged and want to give up. Setting and achieving a small, attainable goal will make you feel like you accomplished something (because, let's face it, you did!), and motivate you improve more.
2. Put a plan in place to help you achieve your resolution. If your goal is exercise more, create a routine that will hold you accountable to that goal, such as "I am going to exercise for 30 minutes every Tuesday." Or if your goal is to "eat healthier," tell yourself that you are going to try limiting your desserts to only 3 times per week. Be as specific as you can about your new plan.
3. If you slip up, don't give up! Making one mistake is not going to ruin everything unless you let it. So if something doesn't quite go your way, resolve to try again the next day.
But, you think, I'm still not sure where to start.
If you need ideas for your resolution, then BEHOLD:
Rising Stars Productions' 16 Artistic Resolutions for 2016!
1. Resolve to practice more. (Be sure to observe guideline #2 above!)
2. Set more specific goals for each practice session. Instead of just doing your same routine, set a smaller goal for your session such as "I am going to be physically grounded the entire time" or "I am going to make sure my throat is open with every breath." It will give you something concrete to focus on, and something to build on for your next practice session.
3. Find more creative ways to practice. Practicing doesn't always involve actual singing/acting/dancing. Listening to your songs while following in your score is a good way to memorize your music and be more aware of the accompaniment. Visualizing your blocking or dance steps, or writing them out, is a good way to solidify what you've done in class or rehearsal.
4. Up your listening/watching game. You can learn so much from watching videos or listening to recordings of the pros. If you are learning a new song from a show you're not familiar with, find a video recording of the show. Or if you find an artist you like, listen to/watch more of their stuff. You may discover an awesome new song you want to learn or a completely different way of interpreting one of your current songs.
5. Read more. Read about your art form, about the people who do it, about its history. It will give you a whole new perspective on what you do.
6. Research more. Have questions about your song or character? Do some digging to figure out what the composer or librettist might have intended in a certain instance, or to see how other performers have handled the same questions.
7. Attend more live performances. Aside from being enjoyable, it is also very educational to watch your professional role models in action.
8. Strive to stay healthy. Sickness is the bane of every performer's existence. While a cold here or there might be inevitable, try to keep yourself as healthy as you can so as to avoid any major setbacks to your practicing and performing. Small goals like increased sleep, eating more vegetables and less sugar, or exercising more will help your overall health.
9. Resolve to drink more water. I could have included this in #8, but I think it deserves its own place on the list. Staying hydrated will dramatically increase your chances of staying healthy. To get in the habit of drinking more, carry a water bottle with you at all times. Have a glass of water before and during each meal. Avoid drinking dehydrating beverages like soda or coffee in large quantities, especially before a performance.
10. Work with your teacher or coach to set and work towards a specific technical goal. Maybe you've always wanted to improve your breath stamina or increase your projection. Ask your teacher or coach for specific advice on how to practice toward this goal.
11. Take piano lessons (or teach yourself). I wrote a whole post on this back in the fall. Keyboard skills are invaluable for any singer.
12. If you are a singer, take dance classes. Or, if you are a dancer, take singing lessons. You get the idea.
13. Resolve to do more auditions. Sometimes we get performance opportunities handed to us, but more often than not, we have to chase them down. This requires lots of dedication and perseverance, but the results are worth it! Plus, the more auditions you do, the less nerve-wracking they are and the more confident you become.
14. Seek out opportunities for workshops and master classes. Being coached by a different person can lend you an entirely new perspective on your piece.
15. Do something outside of your comfort zone. Of course, not every time and place will be appropriate for this, but there are instances where it is good and necessary to stretch yourself. Take a dramatic risk. Work on a piece that's a bit difficult for you or different from what you normally excel at (with the blessing of your teacher, of course!).
16. Resolve to have a good (or better) attitude. It's important to be positive and professional even when things don't go your way. Stay optimistic and focused on your goal(s), even in the face of rejection. Avoid cynicism, "drama," and negative self-talk. If this means removing yourself from a toxic situation or from the company of toxic people, then do it, and don't apologize for it.
This list is just a starting place, but hopefully it's given you some ideas. Remember: start with a small, attainable goal that you can fit into your daily or weekly routine! Stay focused and positive, and keep on creating!
