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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Day 9: I'm only just starting to learn the Mass Setting. Here is the Spanish for the Kyrie, trying to decide which octave to sing in. :-) I need to sit down with the composer and see what he envisions, too
Day 11: I'm beginning the basic work now; hopefully we can begin working together in April (we're in Portland, OR, in March for a piano mentorship in which Thurmond was chosen to participate). We'll plan for a fall recording date if all goes according to plan.