Getting the creative juices flowing
For the past 30 years I have worked as a music arranger, drill writer, show designer, and show consultant. Because of these varied skills, my yearly work schedule has had seasons. From December to May I write arrangements (and plan shows,) from June to September I write drill, and in the Fall I do live clinics and consult on shows that are happening.
One of the phenomenon that I’ve had to get used to is that I have to stop and remember how to do each part each time. So in December or January, I pull my old Casio keyboard out, plug it into my computer, and then I have to remember how to write music and use Finale. Each May it takes me a day or two to remember how to write drill and use Pyware. And even the first live clinic of the year reminds me of the best ways to be effective in front of a group of students.
Here are some things I have learned through this process that I hope are helpful to you.
1) Don’t panic! Each time I start a new work season of my year, I have to remind myself not to panic. I always remember how to do the work, but it can take some time to get the particular skill up and running. AND I have to allow for time to get the creative juices flowing. I have to remember to trust that it always starts to flow and I always remember how to do things.
2) Start with a simpler project first. Some shows just flow easier than others. For music arranging, either it’s a genre of music that I’m more familiar with, or something I’ve worked with before and know I can do well. This year I was inspired by a show idea, but when I sat down to start writing I found it to be really challenging. There were some pieces of the puzzle that I had to work out. So I stopped, made a bunch of notes, and pivoted to a different show. This second show had ideas that were flowing better and turned out to be a better way to start my writing season. Once I have the success and confidence of this first show, and remind myself that I DO know how to do this, I will return to the more challenging show and figure it out!
For drill writing, I try to start with a group I’m very familiar with, or a smaller group with a clear show idea that I am comfortable with. This allows me to write that first drill and get the creative juices flowing, and remind myself that I DO in fact know how to write drill and use Pyware!
3) If I’m stuck getting started and am not sure how to proceed, I pull out a DVD and watch a show. This happens every summer. I start the writing season and I feel like I don’t remember how to write drill. How do I figure out what to do next? How to I get started? Then I pull out a DVD of a drum corps show I like and within 90 seconds something flashes in my mind and I’m reminded “Oh yeah, I know how to do this!” That’s all it takes.
When I watch a recording of a good show, I’m watching someone else solve a problem with a show idea, and it reminds my brain of the process. This is true for music arranging or drill. Even a good arrangement of a stands tune can remind me “Oh yeah, this is how someone else has solved this problem before” and I can return to my work with confidence.
4) Let the ideas germinate. MANY times I have an idea but the details of how to make it work are illusive. What I need is patience. If I put the idea into my head, with the required basic information, the answer always pops out later, always when I’m not trying to force things. I may be in the shower or walking the dog and suddenly the answer appears. So allow the process to flow and don’t try to force it.
5) The most important point is to be gentle and kind to yourself. Yes, the creative ideas WILL begin to flow again, and YES, you DO know how to do this work. Allow time for things to start to flow, and start with something simpler or more familiar to help prime the pump.
Good luck! Be kind to yourself!
Tim Hinton
February 8, 2024
