How To Handle Creative Frustration

Forcing never works. Period. If you try to make something happen, you are guaranteed to be frustrated. This is the root of all creative blocks. My answer - walk away and come back later. It is my belief that trying hard is counterproductive to the creative process. Believe it or not, music should come easily. If it doesn't something is wrong and do you know what that something is? It's your ego telling you that you have to make something happen.

Art only happens when you're not trying. When you're in flow. When everything comes together of its own accord. I haven't felt like playing piano for a while now - a few weeks. So what! When I sit down to play, it feels horrible so what do I do? I don't try to come up with something, I understand that there is a time for everything and those who tell you that you should sit down every day and practice and play till your fingers hurt are sadistic and really don't know too much about the creative process.

Michelle Cassou, author of Paint, Power and Passion says that there are no creative blocks. That the problem is that we are trying to control the creative force. And of course, this cannot be controlled. So my answer on how to handle creative frustration or blocks - walk away and come back later.

Author By: Edward Weiss

The Secret To Successful Practicing

I never practice. Why? Because I don't believe in it. I don't believe in it because it's boring and because it's self-defeating. Why spend hours playing scales when you could be improvising your heart out. The improvising itself will give you all the practice, all the skill you need to master technical difficulties. Your intuition will come up with unique fingering solutions that a teacher could never give you. This happens in the moment when you are not thinking but letting intuition lead you.

Here's a true story. A violin player complained to Beethoven that he couldn't play the notes he had written down for him. Beethoven replied "Bah. Do you think I care about the notes and your puny fiddle when the spirit moves me." I think he meant that the notes were secondary to the creative inspiration.

The secret to successful practicing is to play what you like when you like it. If you are motivated, it is because of your love for the music and what better motivating force is there than that. This will lead you to becoming technically proficient. And technical proficiency is secondary to emotional content anyway. If you feel like you must practice scales go ahead, but it won't make you a better piano player. It may make you a better technician, but it won't help you where creative expression is concerned.

Author By: Edward Weiss