Life and Music After CCT

By: Suzanne M. Clark

CCT Focus Musician and new teacher Overuse injuries and qigong Self-reflection and self-understanding

– Ira Progoff’s Journal of Self-Development– Louise Montello’s Musicians’ Wellness

Musical creativity and process Building and Sustaining Connectedness to

One’s Musical Creativity and Spirit

… CCT helped to develop six areas…

1) Harmony, Bass and Arranging

Model my own thinking and process Reflective Practice:

– Musical learning process– Musical sounds– Compositional process

Open-ended Projects:– Define intent– Identify process– Assess outcomes

2) The Creative Flame

Creativity defined Process Personality Blocks People Tools Visualization

Testing-assessment Cognitive

restructuring 10 year rule Performance anxiety Overuse injuries Creativity cards

Focus: Creative Process vs.Product

Creative Flame Final Project

A work-in-progress:– Challenges and stretches your creativity

– Meaningful to you

– Demonstrates your creative process

– Shows artistic/musical/creative application of course material

– A public presentation

– A written paper

Process and Product: 4 Examples

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Jacosa: Family montage set to her song and voice

Andrew: Photography techniques set to Leo Kottke

Adrian: Political statement set to “Us” by Regina Spektor

Maeve: Her music set to The Land of Counterpane by R. L. Stevenson

3) Playing in the Key of Chi: Qigong for Musicians

Historical context Studies on qigong Examine energetic

practices Specific application

to musicians’ needs

The Nine Phases The Seven Precious

Gestures Gentle Tiger The Vitality Method Miscellaneous

exercises

Focus: Using qigong to cope with the daily stress of a music student’s life

Sharing Research Projects

Chi of Food Asthma and Qigong Depression and

Qigong Meditation

The Chakras Reiki Chi and the

Quantum Field Chi and Vocalizing

An aspect of qigong/course material of the student’s choice– A short in-class presentation

– A reflective essay

What Do Students Think? Practicing qigong helps put me in a better place to practice

or perform and keeps me aware of issues related to playing that previously have been more of a problem.

I have also become more aware of my chi … as a physical matter rather than an abstract notion or feeling. This will greatly improve my performances in my music.

It has helped me get through many (playing) sessions this semester and has helped me balance this hectic schedule of musicianship.

I’ve also started doing some qigong with my guitar on me and it already is starting to help me with some blocks.

It is very calming. It helps my outlook on life. I think in a sense, it is helping me accept myself more.

4) The Music of The Beatles

Three stages of the Beatles’ compositions through a chronology of their work

Context:– social and musical

culture– time period– personal influences

Focus: Based on Hayes’ 10 Year Rule

Harmonic and melodic structure

Song form Rhythmic layers Bass structure Arranging techniques Lyrical structure

And in the End …

What can you do to demonstrate your experience of The Beatles?– Creative experimentation with Beatle

techniques:• Composition• Arranging• Lyric-writing• Recording - technological

– Research-based project• What excites you?• What else do you want to know?

And in the End… the Students Paul is Dead Rumor Covers of Beatle tunes George and Indian Influences Musical Re-creations Beatles and Maharishi Many, many compositions:

–Maya: Jazz composer turned rock –Jenna: Arrangement of Yesterday–Kat: String quartet/vocals/pop–John: Meter/phrase, harmony–Maria: Lyrical journey, harmony–Joe: Bluegrass Taxman

5) Seminar in Creativity

Online summer course for CCT Examines:

– Creative Fundamentals– Creative Blocks– Finding Creative Ground

Relies heavily on creative artists What my musical life brings to CCT

6) Professional Development

A study involving creativity and the music of popular, rock and jazz genres– Creative influences– Creative process– Creative blocks– Creative evaluation