Creativity: no licence required
Why you're already being creative as soon as you play, sing, or tap your first note
You’ve probably read that creativity is an essential workplace skill. That it will make you a better leader and help you come up with those big ideas to facilitate production and innovation and the bottom line in your business. That it’s all about coming up with solutions to complex problems and increasing efficiency, and, above all, that it’s an essential skill for today’s employees, employers, and entrepreneurs.
While the ability to be creative—and to harness that creativity—is a wonderful skill for anyone to have in any workplace or business setting (and one of which we’re all capable), I believe that how we think about creativity has rather been taken hostage by the business world.
It’s become a commodity, a buzzword, part of the jargon or lingo of the world of work. In the process, just about every little bit of fun and imagination and intimacy has been wrung out of it. It’s also become something much bigger than it needs to be. It’s outcome-focused and too often something we feel the need to prove we have instead of simply revelling in the quiet and private joy it can bring us, and without anyone else needing to know a thing about it.
I’m therefore declaring it time to reclaim creativity and bring it back home, and what better way to start than with music.
How music works: small steps, big leaps
Just about every single thing you do when you play music involves an element of creativity, from the notes you play or sing—whether out loud or in your head—every rhythm you tap out on your kitchen table, and the mistakes you make (and how you handle them).
Creativity doesn’t need a fanfare, to be measured against milestones, or to be a roaring success. Instead, it’s in the tiny steps and the slight shifts or tangents, whether intentional or unintentional. It could be playing around with something you’ve already sung a hundred times before or deliberately attempting something new. It’s not something you have to force because it’s already an intrinsic part of music-making; you’re doing it already.
But given the confusion and uncertainty that can be felt around what it means to be creative, it can be useful—and reassuring—to take a step back and reflect on the process. And one way to do this is to try something a little bit different.
The following exercises all involve very small actions, and at first they might seem too simple. But I want you to give yourself permission to try them and really focus on what you’re doing. Each exercise has a series of suggestions, but you don’t have to try them all.
You can repeat each exercise as often as you like and they have no specific goal other than the experience itself. You’ll also find that the more you do them the easier it is to experiment, which pretty much sums up the creative process. Creativity isn’t usually something that strikes like a bolt of lightning. Instead, it’s a series of tiny, tiny steps that can lead to bigger ideas, (or not) and there is definitely no right or wrong way to go about it.
These suggestions are also for you if, like me, you can already read music and have some experience playing or singing. In fact, you might find these more challenging to begin with. They seem deceptively simple but require you to step outside of your comfort zone of structure, technical know-how, and expertise.
Two note melodies
Sit down at a piano or keyboard or download a piano app on your phone or iPad. I use the free version of Perfect Piano, which is available for Android and Apple.
Choose two notes on the keyboard (black or white, doesn’t matter). They can be next to each other or not, although you might like to start with two notes nearer to each other at first and then try notes that are further apart.
You can experiment until you find two notes you think go well together. Or you can choose two notes that clash. Up to you!
Experiment with playing different combinations of the two notes. This can include alternating between the two, repeating notes, or playing them at the same time.
If you find a pattern you like, play it a few times and then try small variations.
Experiment with the rhythm. For example, try a mix of long and short notes.
Repeat with a new pair of notes or try three notes (or more).
Experiment with the speed. The same pattern will sound and feel different at different speeds.
Experiment with high and low notes and everything in-between. You can also sing while you do it, if you like.
Tapping the beat
Choose a song you like and tap a rhythm on a hard surface while you listen. You can start by tapping a regular beat (for example, to the count of 1234), and then try incorporating notes of different duration, for example, long and short notes.
Try matching the rhythm in a section of your chosen song. For example, tap a regular beat and then match the rhythm of the chorus.
Experiment with creating a simple rhythm of your own while listening to the song. For example, tap a regular beat and then bring your rhythm in for the chorus.
You can also forget about the song and experiment with creating a simple rhythm without music.
Try tapping the same rhythm on your leg or chest while you walk.
Sing your rhythm while you tap it. Use a simple syllable such as Da, Ba, Ta, La.
Sliding voice
For this exercise you will need a tuner app. I use Soundcorset Tuner and Metronome, which is free and available for Android and Apple. This app has a tuner, which is a way of making sure your instrument (or voice!) is tuned (matches) to the correct pitch. It also has a metronome, which provides a click at a regular interval, the speed of which is set by the user.
Click on Tuner up the top of the screen and you’ll see a gauge. Hum or sing any note and you’ll see the letter name of the note appear underneath (ABCDEFG. For this exercise, the name of the note isn’t important at all).
Hum a note again and this time experiment with going a little bit higher or lower: you’ll see the name of the note change (up or down the alphabet).
Try to keep the pitch steady and then see if you can slide up or down just slightly so the name of the note doesn’t change but the gauge moves up or down. At first it will seem impossible, but the more you try the more control you will have.
Once you feel comfortable with how the gauge works, go wild. This exercise is a a fantastic way to get to know how your voice works. See if you can jump a few notes, or try combining short slides with bigger leaps.
Remember, it doesn’t matter what note you start on or finish on. Just have a go.
Metronome madness
Use the same app as above, and this time go to the metronome by clicking on the big number in the top left corner. Once you’re on the metronome screen, hit the play button in the middle and you’ll hear a regular click. You can change the speed by using the buttons in the top left corner or the sliding button just underneath.
Find a speed you like (not too fast or too slow to start off with), and try clapping, tapping, humming, or singing along with the click. Experiment with different speeds.
Next, try clapping or tapping different rhythms while the metronome is playing. Experiment with long and short notes.
You can also try walking to the beat, or combining walking and tapping your rhythm to the metronome.
If you’re feeling brave, try humming or singing something while the metronome plays. Keep it simple at first with only one or two notes, but incorporate more when you’re ready.
Finally, consider combining singing and tapping while the metronome plays.
Enjoy!
