2026 Jump Start Challenge
Designing Your Singing Year: From Goals to Applications
January 12–25
This two-week challenge is designed to help singers create a clear, actionable plan for the year ahead, one that connects technical and artistic goals directly to real opportunities to sing. Through guided reflection, a small number of intentional singing posts, and a midpoint livestream, participants will design a plan that leads toward auditions, ensemble participation, solo performances, and shareable performance materials.
The focus is not on short-term gains, but on turning intention into application - using sound, reflection, and structure to move from goals to real opportunities. By the end of two weeks, you’ll have a clear roadmap for where your voice will show up in the world this year—and what it needs to get there.
Note: you can download/print the Singing Plan Worksheet to use as off-line guidance.
WEEK 1: CLARITY, BASELINES & DIRECTION
(January 12–18)
Day 1 – January 12 | Singing Baseline (Post #1)
Post:
Share a 30–60 second recording of repertoire you know well.
Reflect:
What feels reliable?
What would need to change for this to feel audition- or performance-ready?
Day 2 – January 13 | Defining Success
Reflect:
What would a successful singing year look like in action?
Examples:
Auditioning for or joining a choir
Singing a solo in a concert or service
Submitting performance videos
Preparing repertoire for a specific opportunity
Describe outcomes someone else could observe.
Day 3 – January 14 | Technical Priorities
Reflect:
Identify one technical goal that would most support your ability to audition, perform, or record this year.
How would improvement be noticeable?
Day 4 – January 15 | Artistic Focus
Reflect:
Identify one artistic goal (text, language, style, communication).
How would this strengthen your performances or recordings?
Day 5 – January 16 | Applications
Reflect:
List 1–3 concrete applications for your singing this year:
Auditions
Joining or returning to a choir
Solo performances
Posting performance videos
Recording projects
Attach at least one technical and artistic goal to each.
Day 6 – January 17 | Measuring Readiness
Reflect:
How will you know when you’re ready to apply, audition, or perform?
What markers will you use?
Day 7 – January 18 | Week 1 Synthesis
Reflect:
Which application feels most important this year?
Which goals support it directly?
Bring one question to the livestream.
🎥 MIDPOINT LIVESTREAM – JANUARY 21
From Goals to Action: Planning a Singing Year
This live tonebase Voice livestream helps translate goals into timelines and applications.
We’ll:
Align technical and artistic goals with auditions and performances
Discuss realistic preparation timelines
Clarify what “performance-ready” means
Help you prioritize opportunities without overload
Come prepared with:
Your baseline recording
At least one target application
Draft goals
WEEK 2: PLANNING, TIMELINES & COMMITMENT
(January 19–25)
Day 8 – January 19 | Goal Draft
Reflect:
Draft 3 primary yearlong goals:
1 technical
1 artistic
1 application-based (audition, choir, solo, video)
Day 9 – January 20 | Evidence Check (Post #2)
Post:
Share a short recording connected to one application-based goal.
Reflect:
What does this tell you about where to focus your work?
Day 10 – January 21 | Livestream Day
Attend the livestream.
Afterward:
Revise one goal, application, or timeline.
Day 11 – January 22 | Benchmarks
Reflect:
For one application, define:
preparation start date
check-in point
target submission or performance date
Day 12 – January 23 | Systems & Support
Reflect:
What systems will support this plan?
(teacher, coach, ensemble, practice schedule, recording routine)
Day 13 – January 24 | Sustainability
Reflect:
What makes this plan realistic for your life this year?
Day 14 – January 25 | Commitment (Post #3 – Optional Singing)
Post (optional):
Share a short recording representing a piece you plan to prepare or perform this year.
Reflect:
Name one concrete action you will take in February (schedule an audition, contact a choir, plan a recording date, book a lesson).
🎶 Closing thoughts...
This challenge is about learning how to plan forward as a singer- using sound, reflection, and structure to move from goals to real opportunities. By the end of two weeks, you’ll have a clear roadmap for where your voice will show up in the world this year and what it needs to get there.
29 replies
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Welcome Friends!! Let's kick 2026 off with some goal setting and direction :)
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Nothing prepared to post at this time. Looking forward to getting back to singing.
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Day 2 (I'm doing these out of order!):
A successful singing year would include
- learning a small set of sacred music solos to be used throughout the liturgical year
- practicing, learning, and recording Thurmond's Bilingual Mass Setting with him (which just received approval from the USCCB)
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Day 3:
My main technical goal for this year is to work on and become more consistent with basic coordination. I think this will make my singing more consistent from week to week, and allow me to feel comfortable more quickly in different singing environments.
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Day 5:
Concrete applications -
1. Solo 'performances': twice per month on average, sing Communion meditation - goals: bring shape and beauty to the music; have consistent relaxation and breath support throughout.
2. Recording project: work with Thurmond to record his bilingual Mass setting - goals: maintain relaxation while singing with Thurmond (I tend to forget this when we sing together, as we are so very different!) and find the best way to bring out each vocal line.
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Day 4:
I really want to work on clarity this year (text clarity): I'll spend time with the diction courses on Tonebase, and continue to work on bringing out the consonants more!!
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Day 1: I don't have any repertoire ready to sing so I'll skip this entry.
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Day 2: I'd like to sing everyday and interact with the Tonebase Vocal lessons online. I need to get better habits when it comes to singing even though I'm not singing outside of my home.
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Day 3 – January 14 | Technical Priorities
I'd like to develop better breathing habits when singing. I've lost the lip trill that I have last April.
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Day 4 – January 15 | Artistic Focus
I wish I knew. Is there more info on these subjects in Tonebase?
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Day 5 – January 16 | Applications
Reflect:
List 1–3 concrete applications for your singing this year:
Returning to a choir in March (I think that's when it's coming back)
I'd like to record and play the piano. Not sure what song yet.
Work on the sound of my voice. -
Day 6 – January 17 | Measuring Readiness
Reflect:
How will you know when you’re ready to apply, audition, or perform?
What markers will you use?To sing in the choir I'd like to have more energy when singing, better breath control. Fortunately we don't have to audition, it's open to anyone who would like to sing.
The recording possibility markers are beyond my understanding at this time. Probably need a teacher to guide me through that.
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Day 6, measuring readiness: I'll be ready when I am at ease with all the technical aspects; I'll record myself to mark progress and will know I'm ready when I can sing without thinking TOO much. (i.e. everything feels relatively automatic)
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Day 7: I think recording the Mass setting (and other Mass settings as they come along) is the most important for me this year to support Thurmond's artistic life and future goals.
(I have clients during the Livestream, so wont' be able to attend. I'll let you know if I have any questions.)
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Day 8, Year-long goals:
Technical: consistency of coordination (breath, body, voice)
Artistic: language learning (German, then French)
Application-based: Record Mass settings