How wise words from my fifth grade teacher still influence how I create When I was in grade five, my teacher Mr Jones taught us the most effective way to use coloured pencils. Start very lightly, he said, because once you’ve gone too dark you can’t go back to light Read more…
How taking time before you begin can elevate your creativity The temptation when someone asks me to play or sing something is to dive straight in. Too often I’m halfway through the first melody before realising, even as I’m playing, that it’s too fast, too loud, too something. And it’s Read more…
and what slowing down can do for music and creativity He bursts through my door, up the stairs two at a time despite my protests. ‘Kate, I practiced it slowly, just like you said, and it worked!’ We high five, do a little dance, and get on with the piano Read more…
How a love song from 1580 became a Christmas carol This time of year I’m so immersed in Christmas music with my students (be gone, Mariah Carey!), you’d think I’d run a mile from playing any myself. But I still love carols, partly because of their history and partly because Read more…
Why a complete break is worth its weight in gold After four days break by the gorgeous Lake Maggiore in southern Switzerland, I feel refreshed and ready to jump back into all my creative projects. This week’s Creativity Helm newsletter is about the creative benefits of complete breaks and why Read more…
How a little inattention can be the best thing when it comes to creativity I’m in the benign neglect camp when it comes to watering my plants. A little water when they need it, space when they don’t. And, just like my plants, your creative projects could probably benefit from Read more…
On trusting the creative process when you don’t know where it’s going I’m creating a piano piece with no plan, no vision, and no lightning bolt of inspiration. You don’t need a master plan to start creating something meaningful. It’s enough to begin with a few notes that sound great Read more…
Swan Lake reimagined Hello, I’ve only gone and reimagined a tiny, tiny snippet of the main theme of Swan Lake for piano 🦢 Is it derivative or is it original? Or does it just not matter, because, when it comes to creativity, you should be able to do what you Read more…
Why creative work feels different every time Every time I go swimming in the lake near our house it’s a different experience. The light, temperature, colour of the water, patterns on the surface, waves, ducks, people, boats, sky…It’s the same when I sing or play piano. It will never be 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…
