what creativity looks like before it’s finished I have a habit of playing far too many notes when I first sit down to create something at the piano. They spill from my fingers, float up into the air, fall into my lap like crumbs, threatening to flow out of the Read more…
why learning to recover from mistakes builds creative confidence We’ve been watching the Olympic ice skating. Comfortable couch, peppermint tea, watching with awe as they glide, twirl, jump, pirouette, spin…and fall. When they fall we scream and cover our eyes. But they’re usually up again, often with the next breath, Read more…
When too many ideas trip the switch In our house, turning on the microwave and the kettle equals darkness. And we forget every time. The same thing happens with creative work. It’s not easy admitting when I’m heading towards overload. Not when my inclination is to keep going. And not Read more…
How one tiny change can transform not just how we do something but how we feel about it, too Your first singing lesson with me? I’m likely to ask you to lie on the floor. New students always look at me as if I’m crazy. We don’t really know each Read more…
Why formal knowledge isn’t a prerequisite for creativity You don’t need to be able to name the notes to make beautiful music. You don’t need to understand colour theory to paint. And you don’t need to know a plié from a pirouette to dance in your kitchen. I’m an expert Read more…
or how a simple tool can make all the difference to how we negotiate creating something A year ago I had a brainwave 🧠 I needed something to help my music students learn how to be strategic when practicing, how to focus on what needed the work instead of just Read more…
…and how to listen Little kids, it turns out, are able to recognise distinct emotions such as fear in music. So, what if music could offer us grownups the same unique track to emotional recognition that apparently works with little kids? And what if it could help us bypass our Read more…
How spontaneous dancing is a creative gift to yourself When my daughter was three her she’d dance wildly on the rug in our living room. Clutching a bear in each hand, aa spare stuffed down the front of her tutu, she’d jump up and down, arms (and bears) waving. I’d Read more…
And how doing something else can help unlock creativity When I was a kid we had one of those ping pong tables that folded up so you could play by yourself.Exactly the kind of relaxed and unfocused activity that gives your brain a rest while sneakily opening the door to Read more…
and why it’s not just for kids My first piano lesson, my father and I rocked up to the local Catholic convent to meet my teacher. One hundred years old, at least! Long black habit. Ruler in hand to rap my knuckles every time I made a mistake…you get the Read more…
