[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from almost 30 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across the globe. Your experiences may differ from mine, so do feel free to leave a comment and let's begin a conversation! A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
Many people use the turning of the year as an opportunity to reflect on the past and make plans for the future.
It’s easy to go overboard though and end up trying to become a completely different person or making unrealistic plans which will inevitably fail.
The secret is to be imaginative, but realistic. To realise that we can’t change our essential selves, but we can make small tweaks in our behaviour.
It’s an opportunity to take some time out (after the madness of any New Year parties) and to sit with yourself and reflect – not on the past or the future – but where you are right now.
See what feelings and images come up. Trust your intuition and your gut feelings.
If something feels exciting, but scary, then maybe you should go for it.
If something fills you with dread and makes you feel tired, maybe it’s time to let it go and try something new.
Here are a few posts from the past which might help you make changes in the coming year.
I provide this content free of charge, because I like to be helpful. If you have found it useful, you may like to
Chris Rowbury
website: chrisrowbury.com
blog: blog.chrisrowbury.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/ChrisRowbury
Bluesky ChrisRowbury.bsky.social
Monthly Music Round-up: ChrisRowbury.substack.com
YouTube: YouTube.com/ChrisRowbury