Goosing Your Muse

If you are a songwriter or composer, you really must take a moment to listen to these sound clips: Andy Trudeau on Oscar-Nominated Film Scores – NPR.org …

Andy Trudeau has been providing note-by-note analyses of each film score nominated for the Academy Awards (TV broadcast is tonight). You can hear his critiques for the past couple weeks as well, and see his list of the Top 10 all-time best.

Whether you care at all about movies or awards programs is beside the point. Listening to his detailed descriptions of melodies (or non-melodies) with and without lyrics, is very much like attending one of this country’s best music education classes.

If for nothing else, Andy Trudeau provides you an excellent example of what you should expect from anyone who is critiquing your song … whether you agree with his opinions or not.

Enjoy!

I loved this little article … and I hated it too. (Like looking too closely in a magnifying mirror.)

Sure puts a spotlight on how we get in our own way. I do ask myself why I put off doing certain things. Sometimes I think it’s actually good to let things ‘sit for a bit.’ Let those projects get some ‘air.’ Might decide later they weren’t worth pursuing after all. That’s not to be confused with procrastinating. So, you see? I can play this game as well as anybody.

I appreciate a former supervisor who suggested, when I told her I was overwhelmed with too much to do and how I “didn’t have time,” that I try instead to use the mantra, “I’ve got time.” It helped me shift my energy into a much more relaxed and productive state. I still use it. After all, time is your perception of it.

Another of her suggestions was to write a “To Done” list for a week. That means that, aside from my regular “To Do” list, I should jot down things I had actually done, daily, if not hourly. You’d be surprised at the many little things for which you don’t give yourself credit. When I get a bit stressed, I can review my accomplishments rather than the list of uncompleted tasks. Again, it refocuses my attention in a positive way and gets me going again.

Article: The Feng Shui (fung shway) of Procrastination.

For those of you who want to play guitar (or for those of you have already begun), this is a sweet site containing tidbits, including “Lesson #1.” I like that they tell you to just leave it alone for awhile, and come back later. The Zen Guitar Dojo.

[Note: Dojo = A school for training in Japanese arts of self-defense, such as judo and karate.]

Never can get enough suggestions for improving brainstorming techniques.

Here’s a good article to help you whether you’re brainstorming just for yourself, or in a group setting. It’s from Mind Tools.

Enjoy!

Some of these ideas are just downright kooky, but I love well-designed products (doesn’t everyone?) … so take a look … and maybe you can add your own to this site for designers:

www.designspotter.com/

When I saw these Flower Pens, something in me lit up.

John Braheny and I participate in several songwriters’ events all through the year … and usually we have a “booth” where people can purchase his books, schedule consultations with him, etc.

I usually put a notebook on the table for people who want to sign up for his free online newsletter … and wouldn’t you know it, no matter how many pens are on the table, they just disappear.

Maybe if I use this little trick, tying imitation flowers to pens (using florist’s tape, or masking tape), they might stick around a bit longer … a creative (and practical) idea! And cheaper than the store-bought variety too.

Last night, my friend, Ruth Rivin, told me she had been cleaning out a storage closet and came across her collection of personal journals. This caused her to ask …

“What am I going to do with all these? Who’s going to want to read all this? Do I really want other people to see all this personal stuff?”

If you’re writing your journals for your children or grandchildren to read, that’s one thing … but what about those of us who don’t have kids?

Personally, I enjoy hearing/reading other people’s stories … where they came from, what they did “back then,” and what they’ve learned in their lives. But will my personal journals be meaningful to others? It’s something to consider as you write.

Last year, I lost a very dear friend (to cancer) in Atlanta. Her family kindly mailed back to me huge boxes of letters I had written to her during the past 25 years! Many contain details of where I worked, my adventures and travels, my engagement and subsequent wedding, being a ‘young bride,’ and what my life has been like here in Los Angeles. I’m so grateful that my friend saved my letters. They contain my personal history – as it happened.

[As for personal journal blogs, I can’t believe the unnecessary minute details people choose to include, i.e., where they parked, what time it was, how long it took to drive somewhere … boring to me, unless those are essential details to their story. But, this is just my opinion. At least, people are recording their experiences.]

If you’re in doubt about the value of keeping a personal journal (other than having a relatively private place to “vent” — not on the Internet), bear in mind there are researchers lurking out there. And who knows who might find your writings perfect for their project, especially in the far-away future.

For example, see this brief article:

Nosy for a Reason: Doctoral Student Researching History of Personal Journals in America

Here’s a brief excerpt from a book review of Jeffrey Yamaguchi’s book,
52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity.

“The book is especially useful for people who want to start being creative, but don’t think of themselves as crafty or artistic people. These are projects anyone can do, and give you great ideas to get started….”

John Gabree referred this 12-question quiz from Economist.com to us. It’s slanted a bit toward authentic English, and is trickier than you think, so take your time. It’s well worth the few minutes just to sharpen up your writing skills. Oh, yes, and the answers explain everything.

Enjoy!

Hopefully, if your computer can handle it, you’ll be able to see and hear this new (quick) Honda commercial … featuring sounds provided by a choir … definitely fits my definition of “creative.”

Click: http://84.40.3.164/