In the Creative Zone

I am preparing for a concert at Unity Church in San Luis Obispo, California on November 4, 2011. I spent almost 20 years there, 15 as musical director. I have endless memories of the experiences at Sunday services and concert events...they are energetically planted in the walls and the stage and the piano. Though I am no longer musical director there, due to my travel schedule, I do love to go back as special music to experience the vibration. I do that 4-5 times a year now.

I was there yesterdayto  practice with Karen and Matthew for the concert. I sat at the Kawai grand piano and started playing the songs we were rehearsing. Distracted by the focus on how it sounded as a group I did not notice my piano playing. Now, I have a piano at home...an old upright with good tone, somewhat sloppy action, and a lovely history that I have painted plum to complement the apricot walls i love in the room. But, due to travel and creating the website this year I have spent little time at it. Thus, I have not really played or practiced on any piano for over a year. One would expect that my technique and fluidity would be a bit rusty...

But that is not what i experienced at the Kawai when i played. I actually felt a bit outside of myself as my fingers supported familiar songs with new flourishes. It was intoxicating as I surrendered to allowing myself to enjoy the obvious flow. It was so gratifying and inspiring that I stayed after the others left for another 3 hours, just playing and singing and noodling and trusting the guidance that was the vehicle upon which I rode.

I have noticed this before about creativity. I have learned that there is a time of productivity and a time of incubation. I find that the period of incubation where i simply get out of the way and, under the guise of life circumstances, do not really engage much in creating anything...more doing. When i am called to return I dicover that I am actually better than when i left...better in that I am capable of more fluid playing, of more compelling ideas, of rich images, of more engaging melodies. It is as if I am being played by some loving force that breathes through me. The more I surrender the sweeter the flow and experience and results.

I learned that events have a vibration and energy that swirls around them the closer it gets to their expression. I simply reach into the creative soup and pluck out a song. It manifests as a piece that, although I have to show up and put the elements together, seems to be a perfect expression as itself. I take the first thing given, guitar or piano...whichever i reach for first. I start a rhythm and build a feel. Then i choose a key to support the content/intention. Then I play with melodies using phrases or nonsense words. At some point the elements align and I know when i have it. Adding the lyrics based on the intention completes the piece. And I, always, take the first thing and do no rewrites. To me, this further cements a bond of trust with the creative sources.

The results are all through my creations, songs that impact and open and bring tears or reflection or connection or inspiration or choice or movement or...I love the dance and have learned to greatly respect the "dry"times when i seem to be empty. I am simply filling my personal reservoir with the infinite potential we are all receptors of. Making the space allows me to have something to draw from when the time is right.It is a delightful process.

Creating does not have to be a challenge. It is, as I have discovered, an engaging dance where I am led into the fertile field full of infinite variety. In this panorama there is always something that catches my eye and ear more than any of the others. I know that that is mine for the now. I grab it and let it flow out into the physical...

Ever have these kinds of moments? Talk about your creation process. Thank you for engaging. Blessings...