{"id":1766,"date":"2025-04-04T11:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativityhelm.com\/?p=1766"},"modified":"2025-04-04T11:56:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:56:10","slug":"stretch-your-creative-limits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativityhelm.com\/?p=1766","title":{"rendered":"Stretch your creative limits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How extending your range can boost your creative and musical confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I was a kid my brother and I were allowed to roller-skate in the very tiny church hall behind our house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019d strap skates to our sneakers and tear around on the wooden floor, bashing into furniture and walls (the only way to stop as far as we knew), and generally having a very good time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward to the first time I went to a proper rink and there I was, fingers curled around the barrier because I knew\u2014I just knew!\u2014that were I to let go and skate out in to the middle I would crash and burn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I did let go, dear reader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while my knees did pay the price, I also remember that feeling of euphoria when I realised I could do an entire loop, and then do it again and again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little bit of that feeling and the confidence that came with it stayed with me the next time I skated in the church hall. I felt invincible, like a giant, careening from table to chair to windowsill to doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Music and creativity <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to music and all things creative, it can be very easy to stick with what we know. I see it with some of my singing students who are\u2014until I get my hands on them\u2014too afraid to try singing notes lower or higher than those that match their speaking voice, because what if they can\u2019t do it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It feels much easier to stick to safe territory instead of pushing the boundaries. Throw in the fact that the first time they do try it doesn\u2019t always sound very good, and it\u2019s a done deal, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as soon as we do start (gently) moving up a bit higher and a bit lower, very soon there\u2019s an incredible transformation. Sure, their range starts to increase, but it\u2019s how it affects their approach to singing and music in general that\u2019s so amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My students feel much more confident in what they can already do because now they know they have a buffer zone, and those few notes they were singing are right in the middle. But not only, because now there are also new notes to play around with, and perhaps even more to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also feel much less afraid of trying something new. It\u2019s so empowering to try something you were afraid of and come out on the other side wanting to do it again, to keep testing the waters without feeling like you\u2019re drowning, and to be open to new possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to practice stretching\u00a0your<\/em>\u00a0creative limits?\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few easy ways for you to experiment with s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g your range. Make sure you do these in the spirit of \u2018giving them a go and seeing what happens\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it\u2019s not about being good, it\u2019s about experimenting and moving (just a little) outside your comfort zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n