Assignment - Week 01
Design Two Weekly Habits
Due
Sunday, February 1, 2026 @ 11:59 PM
Overview
This week you’ll design the two habits that will guide your practice throughout the semester. Choose thoughtfully—these habits will shape your growth and become the foundation of your Final Project.
Deliverables
Submit to Canvas:
1. Habit Design Document (Written)
For each of your two habits, provide:
Habit Statement (fill in the blanks): “I will [SPECIFIC ACTION] for [TIME/AMOUNT] [WHEN/HOW OFTEN].”
Skill Area: (Production, Creative, or Technical)
Why this habit? (2-3 sentences)
- Why did you choose this habit?
- How does it connect to your goals as a musician?
What does success look like?
- How will you know you completed the habit?
- What evidence will you create?
Potential obstacles:
- What might get in the way?
- How will you address these challenges?
2. Baseline Documentation
For each habit, document your current skill level:
- Screenshots, audio recordings, or video showing where you are now
- This becomes your “before” evidence for the Final Project
- Be honest—the point is to show growth over time!
3. Habit Tracker Setup
Show how you’ll track your habits:
- Spreadsheet, calendar, app screenshot, photos, etc.
- Include your planned schedule
Rubric
| Criteria | Excellent (4) | Good (3) | Adequate (2) | Needs Work (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habit Design | Specific, measurable habits with clear timing; thoughtful rationale | Clear habits with good rationale | Habits are somewhat vague; basic rationale | Vague or missing habit statements |
| Baseline Documentation | Clear, honest documentation of current skill level | Adequate baseline shown | Minimal baseline documentation | Missing or unclear baseline |
| Planning | Detailed tracker setup; obstacles identified with solutions | Good planning shown | Basic planning | Little evidence of planning |
Example
Here’s a complete example of what a strong submission looks like:
Habit Statement: “I will recreate one 8-bar drum pattern from my favorite artist’s discography every Saturday morning.”
Skill Area: Production
Why this habit? I want to develop the skill to synthesize and program my own drum and percussion patterns similar to those used by (artist). Understanding how these patterns are constructed will help me develop my own signature sound.
What does success look like?
- A short video each week showing the original sample followed by my recreation
- A document tracking time spent identifying elements, transcribing patterns, and recreating sounds
- A list of resources and techniques used
- Saved presets for each sound I create
Potential obstacles:
- Finding time on busy weekends → I’ll do it first thing Saturday before other commitments
- Getting stuck on complex sounds → I’ll set a 2-hour limit and document what I couldn’t figure out
Baseline Documentation: A video of my current attempt at recreating a simple 4-bar pattern, showing my starting point for comparison at semester’s end.
Evaluation criteria:
- How quickly can I identify individual sounds and transcribe patterns?
- How quickly can I recreate each sound?
- How similar does my recreation sound to the original?
Tips for Success
- Be specific: “Practice mixing for 20 minutes” not “Get better at mixing”
- Start small: You can always increase later
- Be honest: Your baseline doesn’t need to impress—it needs to be accurate
- Choose what excites you: You’ll be doing these habits all semester
Submission Checklist
Before you submit, make sure you have:
- Two complete habit designs (statement, skill area, rationale, success criteria, obstacles)
- Baseline documentation for each habit (screenshots, audio, or video)
- Habit tracker setup with your planned schedule
- Reviewed the 00.04-Habits-Framework for additional guidance
Resources
Questions?
Ask in the Canvas discussion or during office hours before the deadline.