BIMM

LONDON
Vlad Dan

Student ID:
1036978

BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance

Level 6
2018/2019

Personal and Business Development LN/WP603
A2


Word Count:
3034
Introduction

Success in life comes when one has achieved the goal that an individual has set

for himself (Yilmaz, 2018, p.1278). I have certain goals in my life, both professionally

and personally. Music education research historically has centred on western

musicians. Regarding this, it is well-documented that in the excellence of musical

development, practice is the key art. It is reported by the classically trained musicians,

that to reach professional standards, one has to learn music and needs to spend their

time working on their techniques, then on the musical interpretation and finally on the

instrumental or tuition. Since I am in the last year of my course, here in this reflection, I

will critically evaluate and reflect on what I have learned during this course in order to

support my personal / professional development and to improve my business skills and

performance. Here in this reflection, I will include the analytical account of the business

development and independent personal activities that I have been undertaken recently.

Discussion

Self-assessment has a prominent role in evaluating oneself because it is the

image that an individual acquires, which can only be improve by themselves (Yan,

2016, p.335). This self-assessment helps an individual in taking responsibility for their

own personal assessment. For this, personal development is one of the prominent parts

to asses oneself. Personal development planning is the process that is designed to

think and plan personal, career, and academic development (Chlebikova et al., 2015,

p.249).

SMART Objectives

One of the best ways for following the successful path is to set out goals for my

own self. This is important for keeping myself on track and get to the point of fulfilment

(Bjerke et al., 2017, p.125). SMART objectives formulated in this regard comprise of

specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely goals. Throughout my last year at

BIMM, I used SMART goals to help me do well academically. I would set a goal (like

learning a song or lyrics), and I would use smart goals to help me achieve it, and also

used smart goals for the release of my single on Spotify.

Specific

To release my own song on Spotify.

Measurable

Considering my goal is to release my own song on Spotify, I know that it would

take months, as, I believe that financial strength always plays a significant role in this

regard and concerning this factor, I started saving money from the start of my module.

Now, by the end of the module, I believe I have enough money to record my own song.

Since I had good vocals, musical skills and contacts in various music studios, my ideas

were encouraged and it was easy for me to release my song. For the release, I also

used to-do lists, which helped me keep track of my progress.

Attainable

These objectives fit the strategic priorities of my recording song as I am

practising 30 minutes a day and learning one new song per week; writing lyrics and

discarding it, then again writing it down so that I am finally able to write a song with

perfect lyrics.

Relevant

Being the student of music and business, this goal is highly relevant to

understand business and this would help me in achieving the set goal.

Time-Bound

To achieve this objective, it will take 3 months to write, compose and record my

song as I will be recording my own song on Spotify. I have decided to work with an open

mind and work on my learning skills during these days so that its implications could be

observed in the recording of the song.

To-do list

To-do lists also helped me to keep track of my different routines such as live

performance workshops, techniques and pedagogy, breaking up modules every day for

each module.

Month 1

1. Learn song and lyrics 3. Start Saving Money

 2. Learning Music techniques 4. Learning Music Pedagogy

Month 2

1. Writing song and lyrics 3. Saving Money

2. Attending different musical 4. Learning to compose the songs

workshops

Month 3

1. Composed my song 3. Recording of my song

2. Releasing it on Spotify

SWOT analysis

In order to be successful in this world, it is essential for an individual to identify

the weaknesses and strengths of oneself, along with the threats and opportunities

(Phadermrod et al., 2019, p.194). It is essential to have an awareness of these aspects

as it will give me an advantage if a person is able to understand and identify their

opportunities and strengths, an individual would be able to deal with the situation

confidentially. However, if one realises the threats and weakness posed to them, it is

possible for an individual to give their focus on those areas where improvement is

needed and overcome those obstacles that are caused by the threats.
Strengths

During this module, my personal strengths involved the ability to be creative and

innovative. These parts have enabled me to be more effective and efficient in the

understanding of music. At the start of the module, I already had good communication

skills but never used it for business purposes. This module made my communication

stronger as I was able to communicate with the recording studios effectively, now when

I am in the final year, I have acquired better time management skills as well as

performance skills when it comes to singing. I have also developed determination,

resilience and good support system, which help me in talking to other people in the

industry. Music Techniques are one of the biggest strengths of mine as I have enough

knowledge regarding the chords and the use of vocals while playing or singing for

different genres. Furthermore, at the start of this course, I liked western classical

songs, but till the end of this course, I am always open to listening different genres. This

helped me to stay adaptive, learn new chords and music for my songs or while

composing different songs. Furthermore, having good resources is helpful towards

success, and I have a prominent personal resource that is my experience and education

in the field of music and business, which helped me to apply my knowledge practically,

especially while recording the song. Furthermore, this will also help me to continue my

studies; and get training to become a music therapist; it will also give me the confidence

and opportunity to perform around the UK and release an EP in the near future.

Weaknesses

In an organisation, weakness can be known as the “the drawbacks that hinder an

organization in executing strategies in pursuit of its mission” (Williams et al., 2016,

p.877). Because of my ambitious nature, there were times when I pushed myself hard to

perform at my best, and I was very demanding. Furthermore, my time management

skills were lacking prominently in managing my music and classes; I used to

procrastinate. I was not able to get enough time to manage my education and I was also

struggling with attending Live Performance Workshops when this module started due to

timings. Moreover, I was also not able to put in extra hours. Furthermore, at the start of

the course, I was stressed, unorganised and had a very hard time to memorise my

lyrics, but with time and practice, I have tried to overcome this problem.

Threats

Threats are viewed as anything that might stand in the way of accomplishing the

goals, and that would affect the ability to compete with others (Hay and Castilla, 2006,

p. 4). The biggest threat for me is time. Due to the busy schedules of classes, I was not

able to manage my time to overcome my weakness. Thus, time became one of the

biggest threat to my career as it is moving fast and I need to do a lot of work.

Furthermore, I always had a dream to launch my own song, but unfortunately I was not

strong financially, which was the also a threat to me at the start of the module. I knew

that if I was not able to save money, I would not be able to realize my dream of

recording a song. I am focused on making some strategies to cope up with the changing

industry of music, incorporating new techniques and style of music in my songs, as I

have to change my composition with time as the changing industry is a big threat to my

future and I have to keep myself updated.

Opportunities

In search of success in my career, a number of opportunities are present to me.

Most of them can be created by myself. Since, my communication skills are strong, I am

able to talk to people present in the industry, which will benefit me to establish my PR.

This would further help me to talk or have conversation to the people that are working in

the music industry, and to release music on Spotify.

Kolbs learning style

Kolb’s learning theory works on two different levels: it is a four-stage learning

cycle and have four learning styles. The theory of Kolb’s is concerned with cognitive

processes. It is stated by Kolb that learning is involved by the abstract concepts

acquisition and it can be flexibly applied to a number of situations. In this theory, the

development impetus of new and various different concept provides new experiences. It

explains “Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the

transformation of experience” (Vizeshfar, and Torabizadeh, 2018, p.103).

The Experiential Learning Cycle

Kolb's experiential learning style theory that is based on 4 stages are:

• Concrete Experience- a new situation or new experience is a reinterpretation of

existing experience.

• The new experience of Reflective observation- having particular inconsistencies

between understanding and experience.

• Abstract conceptualization- giving rise to an idea by the help of reflection or an

existing concept modification, learning from experience.

 • Active Experimentation- the ideas of the learner to the world to see what is

happening.

These four different learning styles represents the combination of two preferred

styles which is related to the four-stage cycle:

1. Diverging (CE/RO)

2. Assimilating (AC/RO)

3. Converging (AC/AE)

4. Accommodating (CE/AE)

For my own personal and business development, I have used the Accommodating style

throughout my BIMM course. As per Vizeshfar and Torabizadeh (2018, p.103)

individuals that prefer to be harmonious or accommodating typically while dealing with

conflict are more oriented towards feelings rather than thinking. They tend to be

extroverted and perceivers rather than being the judge.

I had an Accommodating style. This helped me filter information out and tailor my

learning to suit my needs. This feeling lets me deal with my problems and disputes with

emotional reaction; this made me more emphatic rather than being self-oriented until I

become angry or hurt. This made me stronger in active Experimentation and Concrete

Experience. Accommodator are doers; hence, I love enjoying and performing to carry

out my plans in real, to read my own song and release it on Spotify or to establish my

own EP band. This learning style also helped me in becoming risk-taker as I started

thinking on my feet and changed my plans spontaneously with the new information. This

accommodating style made me sacrifice, low assertiveness and selflessness as I used

to encourage the ideas of others. In order to preserve the ideas regarding the music,

this learning style made me welcome new ideas and to bring improvement in my music.

In my music; this flourished my music techniques. This technique will further benefit me

while managing the individuals that will come to me once I am done with my musical

therapist degree. Furthermore, this will also help if I will be miserably outmatched in

power to release my EP. Welcoming new ideas will result in launching my EP more

easily so that I could live my dream and tour around the UK.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of need

In 1943, the hierarchy need was developed by Abraham Maslow, which was

based on five different needs (Hale et al., 2019, p.109). Maslow postulated about

human's motivations that acted to make sure that human needs can be satisfied. Once,

the lower needs are fulfilled, then the individuals are motivated to meet the need

present at a higher level. Maslow’s hierarchy is classified as the need of an individual to

survive, which is first and foremost needs. These needs are then followed by security

need, such as personal safety and job security. This includes recognition, competence

and self-actualization development and growth present around these needs (Stoyanov,

2017).

This Maslow Theory of needs and motivation helped me to prioritise my needs,

which helped me lead a better life both personally and academically. The most basic

need related to food and shelter is already fulfilled. Along with this, security regarding

my future was provided by my degree as I believe that once I am graduated, I will able

to pursue my dreams and become a music therapist. This hierarchy made me realistic,

it made me realise that it would be better to work for others too by becoming a music
therapist and work with a big team and release my EP which will help me address my

professional development, my social relationships and the needs involved to increase

self- esteem.

Maslow low-level needs and motivation theory is divided into five different types

of needs, which is based on the physical and psychological needs (Stoyanov, 2017).

Once these needs are fullfilled (attending the Music Workshops), individuals move

towards the higher needs such as to become music therapist, to launch EP album and

perform on stage. In terms of my academics my graduation degree meets the basic

needs to achieve my higher-level goals by providing enough knowledge regarding

music techniques, communication skills and management which would definitely help

me to achieve my goals. However, it has also helped me in overcoming my weaknesses

and, by the end of this module I have almost overcome my weakness. Academically

and professionally BIMM has provided to fulfil my needs by delivering the music lessons

appropriately. Since I am able to fulfil the basic academic and personal needs by this

module, now I am certain that I will be able to achieve my higher-level needs by working

with a team, learning new skills, launching my own EP, studying for a music therapist

degree and to perform UK tour and show my musical skills to others.

Action plan for future

“What are my “What activities do I “What support/

future growth need to undertake to resources do I

and achieve my objectives?” need to

 development achieve my

objectives?” objectives.”

Discussions with Attend workshops.

music experts and Additionally, presenting

To make my
connecting with the viewpoints or ideas in front of
communication skills
seniors and also getting the audience and music
effective
feedback from the music experts.

industry indviduals.
.

To achieve this Taking musical

objective, I will participate therapist classes along with

in the activities that need writing and composing a song

Improve time
to be completed in a for EP will help me to manage
management skills
restricted time frame. This my time. Once I will be bound

will help me out to improve by time, I will overcome the

my time management weakness related to time

skills, critical thinking skills frame. The use of time frame

and will also speed up the on any situation will help me

process of decision guide step by step, thus would

making. To keep up with help me improve my skills.

the time, this would be Furthermore, jobs and task

 easy, in order to manage listing are needed to be done,

my work and time. Thus along with the duration of time

the completion of the task in which it is required to be

on time is important. completed, which would help

to develop the management

skills.

Improve problem-solving By taking part in the Mind maps for problem-

skills argument and debates solving will help in problem

regarding any problems visualization and it would also

among different ideas help to provide the solutions

related to music. This immediately for all problems.

would improve my skills Additionally, solving puzzles is

related to problem-solving. a way to improve problem-

solving skills and abilities.

Improve Skills related to Participation in the Participation in group

Teamwork group discussion will help activities, class and work helps

in enhancing the skills for in improving the skills of the

teamwork. Consider the

 opinions present within the team helping me and allows

team. This would help me team to work smoothly.

in recording my EP for a

world tour.

Reflection skills Self-observation is The models for

the way for learning about reflection from various

oneself. I will note my daily theorists will help in reflecting.

activities inside a diary,

which would help me to

learn when I am lacking

the skills.
References

Bjerke, M.B. and Renger, R., 2017. Being smart about writing SMART

objectives. Evaluation and program planning, 61, pp.125-127.

Chlebikova, D., Misankova, M. and Kramarova, K., 2015. Planning of personal

development and succession. Procedia Economics and Finance, 26, pp.249-253.

Hale, A.J., Ricotta, D.N., Freed, J., Smith, C.C. and Huang, G.C., 2019. Adapting

Maslow's hierarchy of needs as a framework for resident wellness. Teaching and

learning in medicine, 31(1), pp.109-118.

Hay, G.J. and Castilla, G., 2006, July. Object-based image analysis: strengths,

weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). In Proc. 1st Int. Conf. OBIA (pp.

4-5).

Phadermrod, B., Crowder, R.M. and Wills, G.B., 2019. Importance-performance

analysis based SWOT analysis. International Journal of Information

Management, 44, pp.194-203.

Stoyanov, S., 2017. A theory of human motivation. Macat Library.

Vizeshfar, F. and Torabizadeh, C., 2018. The effect of teaching based on dominant

learning style on nursing students' academic achievement. Nurse education in

practice, 28, pp.103-108.

Williams, S., Dodd, L.J., Steele, C. and Randall, R., 2016. A systematic review of

current understandings of employability. Journal of education and work, 29(8),

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