Creativity

Recently two different websites I looked at referred to this lecture from 1991 by John Cleese about creativity. I took 30 minutes yesterday to watch it, and, although I probably knew most of the information he talked about, it's always good to be reminded to play, make time to be creative, allow creativity to work over a long time span, and don't be afraid of making a mistake.

I have been trying to think of a piece to write for recorder ensemble to send in to a contest - due Feb. 1, 2013. I want to write an original piece, and I have started a few different times, but this talk inspired me to keep at it, and I put in time yesterday working on a piece.

Cleese also talked about how to inspire creativity in the people who work for you, which in my case would be my students. I realize this occasionally that I give more opportunity to my students to improvise (I wish I could see them more than 30 minutes a week). I will go back and look at the notes from the Orff workshop I attended in September and see what I can incorporate when school resumes in January.