Kate's Voice

“Practice.  If you don’t, someone else will!”  This is attributed to Igor Stravinsky and is a great reminder that there are always other people out there whose dreams and aspirations are not terribly different from your own.  At the same time, practicing is more than just something you do to keep up; it is something you do to get better or to keep your hand in the game.

Recently, I was reminded of the power of practicing.  I am preparing to perform a piece that I did last about 12 years ago.  It is a theater piecem written by my dear friend and very talented composer, Edward Barnes.   It requires a great deal of movement as well as singing and acting, as I play five different characters.  I performed it a lot for about 10 years, and the movements, staged by the very talented Kimi Okada,  as well as the music, have come back to me very easily..surprisingly so!  But I also have a different perspective of the characters now that I am older.  And the movements require me to get myself in shape.  The great news is that with some daily practice it is all falling into place nicely.

One thing I have learned is that many people do not know HOW to practice.  So here is a guide to help with that part of getting ready for a performance, whether it be a musical or spoken presentation…or perhaps you just want to learn how to ride a bike!!!

1.  Set a goal for yourself.  Perhaps it’s to be ready for your presentation, or a date by which you want to be able to be able to use a skill you are working on.  Maybe you want to ride your bike to work.  Seat a goal.

2.  Idnetify the steps you need to take to reach that goal:  Perhaps you need to have the piece memorized, or to perform it without getting out of breath (my particular goal this time.  lol).  What are the three things you need to do to accomplish your goal?

3.  Set aside time daily to work on those three things.  You may identify steps within your steps as you begin to learn what you are attempting to learn.  Set goals for them as well.  For example, by Tuesday I will get up on my bike and balance

4.  Finally, reward yourself for your accomplishments.  Find time each week to evaluate how far you’ve come and the progress you’ve made.

That’s it for now.  Have a great weekend!

This morning, I read a post on “Motivate Thyself,” about being happy.  There were no secrets revealed or any revelatory information, but there was a reminder that happiness has more to do with what we do for others than what the world does for us.  Which led me to reflect on what it takes to be a great voice for a good cause.  Here’s what I have learned:

1. Everyone has something they are passionate about.  When you find it, you can speak about it to others.  So find something that does good for others AND that you are passionate about. You will be able to speak about it and be a great voice for that cause.

2. Passion is contagious. Get worked up about your cause. Persuasive speech always involves emotion. And find something that others can get emotional about to aid you in your pitch.

3.  Be sure to ask others to join you in helping.

We’ll be talking more about being persuasive for a cause.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.