| p>Whether or not you're an improvising musician or | | | | the time or patience for that, play the music of |
| not, creativity is an integral part of this profession. | | | | another instrument. Get a hold of an etude book for |
| We need creativity not only to find the best ways | | | | flute, oboe, violin, piano, recorder, guitar - and do |
| to play a passage, express a cadenza, whale a bluesy | | | | some sight-reading. |
| solo, or play the most interesting chord progressions | | | | 4. Transcribe solos of another instrument. It's been |
| over a modal tune. We need creativity first and | | | | known that Miles Davis often listened to guitar |
| foremost, in my opinion, to solve problems. We need | | | | players. Dave Sanborn listened not only to Hank |
| it to adjust our intonation when blending with other | | | | Crawford, but also Stevie Wonder's harmonica playing |
| instruments, to find an effective way to master our | | | | to get his soulful sound. Greg Osby listened to and |
| scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, trills, | | | | transcribed piano solos. Expand your horizons! (You've |
| interpreting pieces and styles of music. Yes, we are | | | | heard that before, haven't you?:-)) |
| called on to be creative more often than we | | | | 5. If you're not already an avid reader, I suggest you |
| probably have ever acknowledged. | | | | take on this habit. Read! Read! Read! Read a book. |
| Here are some tips you can try to cultivate and | | | | Read a magazine. Read the music industry periodicals. |
| nurture your creativity: | | | | Read lifestyle mags, fashion mags... If you don't read |
| 1. Listen to music everyday. If you already do that, | | | | this stuff already, you can borrow them from your |
| take advantage of listening to various styles of | | | | sister, brother, mother, father, girlfriend, boyfriend, |
| music. Go to your public library and dig out archived | | | | neighbor, whatever the last guy left sitting on the |
| recordings of music you've never heard of and give | | | | seat in the bus, etc. Read stuff you've never read |
| them a listen. Please do this regularly. | | | | before. Read stuff you'd never had an interest in |
| 2. Practice something your usually don't. If you're a | | | | before (you may just be surprised). |
| jazzer, practice some classical etudes. If you're a | | | | 6. Take 15 minutes a day, or an hour or two a week |
| classical saxophonist, explore some jazz exercises | | | | and think about how or what you could improve on |
| and articulations. Nothing expands your creativity as | | | | in your present situation. Get creative! Write it down |
| much as expanding your musical horizons. | | | | and put it into action. Today! |
| 3. Learn to play another instrument. If you don't have | | | | |