What Lies Within

The art of creativity intrigues me.  The ability to make something that has never existed before is really a delightful prospect.  Artists do it every time they face an empty canvas.  And so do musicians, writers, singers, composers and the list goes on.

Attorneys in a court of law are creators.  They create scenes in your mind of what might or might not have happened.  Do you believe?

Last night Carolyn and I went to a jazz club here in Seattle.  Three performers – Monte Alexander-piano, Jeff Hamilton-drums, and John Clayton-bass created amazing moments as they each wove their skills in with each other.  I just have to believe, though they talk through the musical roadmap, they create a lot of space for the creative spark to come forth, and come forth it did.

Sort of reminds me of this great Ralph Waldo Emerson quote.

 Are you letting out whatever it is that lies within you?

Creativity can be found in every venture in life.  I am a people person.  I seek out creative interplay every day with every person I meet.  I don’t use the same greeting with each one.  I use variety, and it depends on my past experiences with that person and how I perceive them if they are new to me.

Find that spark that lies within.  Give birth to your own unique brand of creativity.  Show the world what you’ve got.

Michael Biggs

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student

Have Fun

Sometimes we lose sight of the ‘fun’ aspect of practicing our craft.  If it isn’t fun, then what is it all about?  And I do mean that.

I am a writer – four books published, and six blog sites on which I write every week.  One of those blog sites is A Time for Rhyme.  It is a poem site and has nonsensical, silly, and sometimes ridiculous poems that I’ve written.  It is not meant to change anyone’s life.  It is just fun.  

F U N

When is the last time you had fun with your

talent?  Perhaps you are a master craftsman on the violin, or at golf, or soccer or any other activity you pursue.  But do you have fun?  Fun is a state of mind.  It is an attitude of “I’ll do this and enjoy the journey.  I’ll make mistakes and learn, and try some new things as I go along.”

I played a bit of golf in my younger years, though I was never a great golfer.  What made it worse were some of the players with whom I played.  These guys were better at hitting the ball, had better clubs and really practiced their art of golf.  Me?  I was there for the fun of the game.  I enjoyed being outdoors, being with friends and taking a nice stroll around the golf course.  And occasionally I might even hit the ball.

You would have thought it was the Master’s Tournament they way they tried to coach me, prompt me, correct me, and when none of that worked, they resorted to mockery.  On more than one occasion I was reduced to tears as a youngster on the golf course. 

That is NOT a picture of having fun.  That is torture.

So, whatever you pursue, be sure and add the ‘fun’ element to it.  Neil Gaiman is a writer whose words I love.  He reminds us of this.

“… and don’t forget to make some art.  Write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.  And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

I LOVE that.

That gives me license to HAVE FUN!

Michael Biggs

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student

Conceiving Is Everything

What is your perception of yourself? 

What is your perception of your talent?

Do you continually stumble over a whole-tone scale?

Do you continually slice the ball to the right?

Do you ‘always’ sing flat on that hi-D?

Let’s borrow a brilliant insight from an old book – Pscyho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz.

And now … the quote:

“You will act like the sort of person

you conceive yourself to be.”

If, after every flub, misplaced note or sliced golf ball or anything else you may do that needs improving, if you talk with negative self-talk, you will continue in your faults. 

However, consider this.

Your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real and an imagined experience.  What if you added a bit of “theatre of the mind” as a part of your practice routine?  Imagine yourself performing that action or skill correctly. 

And if you make a mistake, instead of putting yourself down, say “next time I will get it right.”

Act as if!

Michael Biggs

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student

It's Called 'Steps'

A word about this blog site:  It is designed for those in pursuit of some kind of skill development, whether it be music, sports/athletics or some business pursuit.  Just thought you would like to know.

An old joke, revised:  Man on the street asks a policeman.  “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?”

His answer:  “One step at a time.”  Ain’t it so.  (The actual answer is “practice man, practice”) and that works too.

My wife teaches 40 piano students.  Her curriculum is based on the student’s abilities, obviously.  Our grandson Eliot takes lessons, and his books are so elementary compared to her older students.  They have to learn the basics first, and then grow the skill.

What steps are you taking toward your life dream?  Are you practicing every day?  Do you touch a soccer ball every day, or your flute, or read a book on law if you are an attorney, or if you write as I do, do you write every day?

That is the secret.  Do it every day.  Do it one step at a time.

Michael Biggs

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student