arrange • compose • conduct
Posts discussing creativity, both in and outside of music
“I finished most of an arrangement today.” “Oh, did it turn out well?” “No idea! I only wrote it!” I truly believe this is the best attitude to have when creating new artistic works. Even as I try to use my best discernment as I create, I simultaneously try to […]
Tonight, I said to my son, “My studio setup should work just fine. Logic is right there. Go ahead – you can’t break it.” The fear that something might break is major stifling force in creativity. Especially in new creators, and young people, the safety rules, the strongly imposed caution, […]
I love a mix of recipes I know by heart and recipes I’ve never made before. I have so many things in my weekly repertoire whose recipes I don’t even look at anymore – I bake and cook from memory many times a week. But life gets stale if you’re […]
I regularly solve crossword and other word-based puzzles – it’s one of my favorite distractions for downtime. And at least three times in the last few months, I’ve solved them by turning to a spreadsheet. I’ve rearranged the puzzle as a spreadsheet, organized my thoughts, or just compiled information. In […]
I love the comfort of a habit. My daily practices form the core of my day, and they help me move forward creatively and successfully. But I need room for spontaneity. Put another way…I love the joy of spontaneity. My best ideas come when I have the space to let […]
One of the reasons I like to stay consistent in my work is I never have to ask myself, do I know how to do this? I think that question is at the heart of writer’s block – answer that question “No” enough times and you will find yourself blocked. […]
Don’t you worry about repeating yourself? That’s a question that might be lobbed at a prolific blogger or author or composer. I certainly used to worry about it with regards to my posts here, or even with my composition and arranging – I felt I should always seek to say […]
I love to read and hear about individual’s creative process. (A beloved read was Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey.) I regularly listen to podcasts by Tim Ferriss, Adam Grant, and Debbie Millman because they involve deep dives into the daily habits of creative people. But in my […]
William Shakespeare is celebrated less for creating original stories – many of his best plays were adaptations of earlier works – than for the piercing language he used to tell the stories. The specific scenes, interactions, and dialogue he used are what make him the most celebrate English-language author. I […]
It has been my great good fortune to spend some time with Alice Parker over the last few years: she is as remarkable as you think, and each opportunity to chat with her is a treasure to me. I’m offline this week and visiting once again with Alice; I highly […]