Bob Reynolds

Saxophonist. Composer. Melody Architect.

How My Practice Journal from 20 Years Ago Led to Performing with Joshua Redman

by Bob Reynolds Get exclusive music

My goal book when I was 16 years old.
My goal journal when I was 16 years old.

Last week I spent my birthday performing with Joshua Redman. He even played an entire gig on my saxophone. It was incredible.

Post by Bob Reynolds.

What made it more powerful was it happened 20 years—almost to the week!—after writing down goals to learn Josh’s solos.

Joshua Redman performs with Bob Reynolds' saxophone
20 years to the week after the goal of transcribing a few Redman solos, I was performing with the man himself. Oh, and he played MY horn on the gig!!

A quick story about goals

I encourage everyone who studies with me to get a notebook and keep a goal journal. It’s advice I received from saxophonist Jim Snidero, 20 years ago at a Jamey Aebersold camp.

Jim suggested getting a composition book and writing down my “5-10 year, 1 year, 3 month, 1 month, and weekly goals.”

My 5-10 year, long-term goals. (And the Monk Competition application as incentive to practice!)
My 5-10 year goals. (And the Monk Competition application as incentive to practice!)

At the time 5-10 years seemed an eternity (I was sixteen). But I’m glad I followed his advice. In the two years that followed I had some of the most focused and productive practicing I ever achieved.

I’m sharing a few pages from that book with you in the hopes of inspiring you to start your own goal journal. Today. I promise, it will be fun to look back on in 20 years.

1 year goals.
1 year goals.
3-month goals.
3-month goals.
Weekly goals.
Weekly goals.
Frustrated with my (lack of) progress.
Frustrated with my (lack of) progress.
Transcribing as much Joshua Redman as possible.
October 1994. Transcribing as much Joshua Redman as possible. “Sunny Side of the Street”, “I Feel Good”, and “Blues on Sunday” from his debut album.

If you’re a member of my Virtual Studio, I’d encourage you to post your goals in our private forum, here: Share Your Practice Goals | Virtual Studio Community

About Bob Reynolds

Bob Reynolds is a jazz saxophonist and 3x GRAMMY Award-winning member of the instrumental supergroup Snarky Puppy. He's toured and recorded with John Mayer and released 11 albums as a solo artist. Bob teaches jazz improvisation and saxophone lessons through his Virtual Studio and an annual retreat for saxophonists.

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Comments

  1. Mark Foster says

    This post, maaaaaan…¨Thanks¨ doesn´t really communicate how this one hit me, but I don´t have any other words…

  4. Adrian says

    Wow. This is AMAZING, Bob. 101% inspirational. Managing your goals, keeping them in check, staying focused, etc. Thank you.

  5. Tolbert Pitman says

    Great post and thanks for sharing. I’ve trying to restart my goal listing and otherwise getting my stuff together for 2016 and beyond. Really needed this.

    • Bob Reynolds says

      Thanks, Tolbert. Quick tip for getting over the procrastination of writing down goals: grab closest pen/paper and write down JUST 1 right now. That’s it. Build from there. 🙂