Many times, past structures can become fuel for new creativity. In fact, the past can bring inspiration for future endeavors when an attitude of willingness to sacrifice it in total is embraced. The key is to focus on the kernel of truth at the core of the old structure. An example of this can be seen in Stravinsky’s use of ‘classical’ disciplines from the 1700’s, bringing them into the 20th century in a new ‘neo-classical’ style. The old meeting and merging with the new created yet a third category of unique newness. Our music school in Odessa, Texas encourages students to find their creative voice in this newness.
When I am composing or creating, I find it helpful to take my original ‘seed’ concept and mull it over in my imagination until ‘springs forth’ almost of its own momentum. Then, when that section is complete, I do the same thing, going back to the beginning and playing it through in my mind, observing an idea springing forth into the next new section. In other words, the new springs forth out of the old.
“Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.” (Prov. 22. 28)
“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” (Eph. 6:2,3)
Old structures of meaning are not the problem, per se, but rather the unwillingness to see the new, and the unwillingness to sacrifice the old for the sake of the new.
This can be seen in leadership, when a leader becomes successful over the course of his career, finally becoming old enough to hand off the reigns of the organization to a younger leader. When the seasoned and successful leader refuses to step down, or make room for the new, he inadvertently sets in motion the demise of the organization. The willingness to step aside and train/develop a younger leader to succeed takes a sacrificial mindset. We encourage our students in our music school in Odessa, Texas to learn leadership concepts such as these.
In this way of sacrifice, the old becomes fuel for the new.
“There is no disagreement as to what audiences want; they want what they already know, or something that sounds like it.” (Aaron Copeland)
Embracing and honoring the old, yet being open to, and sacrificing toward the new, is the path forward.
In order to move forward into new creativity, it requires faith – a faith that is willing to step out into the uncertainty of the future. It is not always comfortable. There are not always clear boundaries or direction. Many times, when I am writing a song, the lyrics don’t make sense to me until the song is completed. When I am penning the words, each is put down, step by step, moment by moment, in intuitive obedience, trusting that it will end up being a successful thought.
Many times in life and in art, we must put one step after another, not necessarily knowing how the big picture will turn out. We train students in our music school in Odessa, Texas to focus on the process rather than the big event.
One interesting correlation that John Maxwell wrote about in his book, “Today Matters,” is to order each day in the priority of what you want your life to look like. When each day contains the components of what matters, it becomes a microcosm of your life’s mission. This is similar to DNA, one cell contains the plan for the entire body, and in a Hologram, if shattered, each fragment contains an image of the whole, so art’s momentary creativity contains the seeds of the whole.
Another similar concept, metaphorically, is the acquiring of wealth. The Scriptural concept is ‘hand upon hand,’ or little by little, not setting your eyes on the end result of accumulated wealth, but rather on the day-to-day discipline of stewardship, hard work, and focus. In such manner, wealth accumulates over time.
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Prov. 24:3,4)
“Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but one who gathers by labor (lit. hand upon hand) increases it.” (Prov. 13:11)
During the process of creativity, making good decisions based on a deposit of wisdom and skill each moment, step by step, ends up producing the successful ‘macro’ result. When students in our music school in Odessa, Texas focus on process, they inevitably see large-scale results.
There was a time in my life that my day job was very time-consuming and I found it difficult to carve out time to create, so each night before going to sleep I would grab my manuscript paper and write music for about 5-15 minutes. I ended up, at that time, completing several successful full-fledged works by giving just a few minutes per day in creativity. We encourage our students in our music school in Odessa, Texas to carve out small bits of time in their day to create and develop their ideas.
The willingness to create when there is no one prompting you, or when there is no obvious reason to do so other than your own inner desire to bring forth something new, cannot be quantified.
Why bring beauty into the world? What value has yet another work of art? How does it affect the life of another individual? Isn’t past creativity, from a myriad of other sources, good enough? These are questions an artist ponders deeply before giving countless hours in pursuit of bringing forth new ideas, sacrificing time, energy and resources. When the work requires others’ involvement in order to bring it to full completion, there is an added element of leadership that is required. Why should the community sacrifice towards this directive? Our students in our music school in Odessa, Texas find encouragement from their teachers in their pursuit of beauty in the arts.
The barriers to creativity begin internally, as the artist asks questions of himself. “How much do I want to sacrifice? Do I have the time, talent and resources to bring this to completion?” Then, the external questions are pondered, “Does anyone want what I will bring forth? Will it be received by my audience? How can I be true to my artistic vision, while not losing my audience?”
There are many other similar internal dialogues that go on in a sincere artist’s reasonings. Ultimately, the strongest voice is the one deep inside, the one motivating him to go ahead and create regardless of the pressures he sees ahead of him.
There is no scientific quantifying Love, or Hope, or Joy. Compassion, empathy. We know these things exist. We know they are truly, and many times, deeply experienced. Honest art touches all of these, and more. Our students in our music school in Odessa, Texas learn to express themselves honestly, for the sake of their audiences, to bring forth truth and beauty into the world.
The darkness will never give light permission to shine. Nor should light seek its permission. Even though, there is never an optimal time, place, or enough resources to begin creating, and even though there are those who do not care for new creativity coming from a place outside our mundane world; and even though you can’t seem to see the end result of what will result from stepping into a creative flow, and all you can see is simply the next step: take the step!
Take the next step in your creative journey. Do not be satisfied with the creativity of yesterday. God is always doing a new thing. We are made in His image. He is a creator, therefore, we are creators. When you choose to create, you are bringing forth light.
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” (Gen. 1:3,4)