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8 ( More ) Ideas for Creativity & Resilience
By Kerilie McDowall
Do you feel stuck from not performing as often ? If you are a prolific musician who likes to constantly create , record , and perform , COVID-19 may have thrown a curveball at you . Dwindling finances may be negatively affecting your desire to play your instrument and create . Lately , your self-care practices may have been getting second priority . You already know that creativity – and making time for it – is necessary for your best mental health as a performing artist . So , how can a creative artist stay resilient ?
In the July / August 2021 issue , I shared seven ideas to help give you a boost . Those were : 1 ) Staying stable ; 2 ) a creative holiday ; 3 ) remaining present ; 4 ) connecting with your natural environment ; 5 ) enjoy your favourite things ; 6 ) brainstorming ; and 7 ) journaling . Here are my final eight tips …
8 . A Healthy Lifestyle Wellness and centredness should focus on maximizing emotional , spiritual , and physical health ; including exercise , maximized sleep ( 8-10 hours ), rest time , balanced nutrition , immune support , and focusing on activities that bring you joy .
Crucial to your health and immune support are sufficient nutrients from a well-balanced diet , which may require vitamin supplementation . Vitamins for the immune system to consider include vitamin C , zinc , magnesium , selenium , vitamin D , and B vitamins like B-100 and B-12 for stress . Other herbs like echinacea are known to provide immune support . Staying up-to-date on developments in the news and following reputable natural health experts can inform your preventative health options .
9 . Goal-Setting with a Vision Board When considering going forward into the future , it ’ s a great idea to create a vision board . What is it ? It ’ s a visual art project made from cutouts of your favorite magazines , text , photos , and images on canvas . The vision board placed strategically in your home based on Feng Shui can assist you with goal-setting for both home , spiritual , physical , financial , relationship , and family goals going forward . Setting an intention and visualizing positively in this way works self-actualization magic . You will be surprised at what you can dream into your life .
10 . Exploring Silence Meeting John Cage at Darmstadt , I realized there is no such thing as silence . Even the barren Canadian Arctic is immersed in sound . Great artists like Cage ( his infamous “ 4:33 ”), and Miles Davis ( check out the 1964 Philharmonic Hall performance of “ Stella by Starlight ”) have emphasized the crucial importance of considering the silence in a musical phrase or when considering form within composition / improvisation .
Give yourself space and power to reflect and experiment with the silence within the rhythmic structures of your musical work and how you are using it in your writing . This is a handy compositional exercise that can generate productive new ideas .
Meditation is helpful for mindfulness practice and stress relief . Deep breathing exercises , yoga , and visualization techniques can be powerful rejuvenators .
11 . Peer Inspiration The creative world has limitless potential . One idea or pursuit can lead to another or a new sonic adventure . The exploratory soundscapes and creations from recording artists during COVID-19 show us how much we truly need and value creative artists who help keep us inspired and thinking forward . Learning from your music mentors and peers can be a constant source of happy inspiration and motivation .
12 . Borrowing from other Art Forms Generating fresh creative processes can be a fun , ceaseless exploration for some artists . In a past interview , one of the globe ’ s most interesting creative artists , France ’ s Benoît Delbecq , explained that he experiments with French and English literature or poetry ( Spanish and German , too ), fusing it with rhythmic techniques on his piano to generate fresh music phrasing ideas . As Delbecq demonstrates , the possibilities for generating ideas can be drawn from other artistic mediums , which for Delbecq is also architecture . Other musicians are inspired to push extended music notation fusing it with the visual arts or writing for multi-media with their creations . Additionally , the best artists never shy away from collaboration .
13 . Technology Have you heard of JackTrip ? Brand new technologies are assisting musicians with live music-making and collaborating online . Recordings are still taking place despite COVID-19 . A technology like JackTrip that solves the audio latency issues online should be placed on every future Microsoft or Apple computer at this point , don ’ t you think ?
14 . A Positive Mindset A hopeful person should never say that something is impossible to realize . Ever-changing circumstances always evolve , permitting possibilities and exploration .
A combination of staying true-to-your-vision and embracing new possibilities seems like a winning combination during a pandemic . Staying positive with “ gratitude journaling ” will help emphasize and define the beauty in your life . This may be a new time of self-development for you . It may be time to re-imagine and make financial and creative plans for your next steps .
15 . Re-invention For the musician , re-invention is a continuous process . Do not get discouraged due to COVID-19 . Resilience means staying flexible , brave , and creative .
Know a producer ? A solo or multi-tracking project may be a great future plan or the releasing of your special past recordings . Many are considering self-realization strategies at this new stage of re-invention .
Kerilie McDowall is a British Columbia- based music writer and publicist and also a former professional jazz guitarist , instructor , and composer . She also coaches artists , teaches guitar , and is a Polaris Music Prize juror . Contact Kerilie at keriliemcdowall @ gmail . com .
58 CANADIAN MUSICIAN