The Creative Train Podcast

Ah, recital season, which also means "audition season"...

Are you prepared, are you ready for the self-doubt, the anxiety and the woulda-shoulda-coulda after thoughts?

Well, artsie, maybe you can find some solace in my words.

I've see the best and worst of folks when presentation gets confused with competition. 

Art is not a competition. Expression is not a race.

Creativity is not something to be seen as a goal post or something to exceed.

You create because you must; and if you honour precedes your delivery,  you may claim success! 

Another true story from my life as a music teacher, but the message easily applies in any discipline.

What happens when you raise the bar, you know, raise your expectations, up your game?

Sometimes we exceed our goals, sometimes we feel like we're going backward. 

It's a good thing to do this, but there can be some really tough moments when we hold ourselves to a new and higher standard. 

I did a video for this episode which can be found on my YouTube page @resound7

As always, please feel free to comment, let's have a conversation!

This episode is about accountability, not just to an instructor or mentor- but to YOU, especially YOU!

As both a teacher and a student, I constantly check-in with myself to see if my lessons are clear, thoughtful and appropriate for each student as well as understandable, and relatable from a student's perspective.

Here are a few things you can do today and into the future to help keep you and your students accountable, but also loving the creative journey along the way!

A recent experience in the music biz left me in a familiar feeling place; one of being somewhat overlooked, or relegated to a "space filler", and because this is unfortunately common, I'm used to it.

I'm Not Bitter, Just A Little Tart!

A timely follow-up to episode 71. 

In this episode I'm shining a light into a dark corner of being a teacher of any sort- the student who thinks they have outsmarted everyone, including you! 

What to do, how to handle and how to come to understand your place in someone's very particular learning process.

If you can relate, leave a comment, let's have a conversation. 

What do you expect from a teacher? What do you expect from a student?

Even if these things remain unsaid in the class/workshop, there is an understanding that something is promised aside from fees being paid. What is it that is promised?

I outline my approach as a music teacher, but I really believe this extends into all fields and for both the teacher and the student.

This is not solely about angry artists, but rather those who seem to be crazed in their focus, determination and might look "crazy" or "weird" to those around them. 

Here are some words of inspiration and a reminder about how and why you create. If you're just in it for the likes and social media presence- there are words for you as well! 

I'm happy to welcome two good friends on to this episode to tell us about some of the "blue" moments working in the arts. 

From performance, to the behind the scenes tech, it seems we artsies have all been "through it"

This episode explores the funny, the nasty, the awkward and the bizarre stuff we encounter when we work in the artistic/creative community. 

If you're new to a career in the arts, this can open your eyes pretty quick, but IYKYK, and you might appreciate some of our creative fellow's stories from the road and the studio. 

I'll call this episode 68.5, as I'm wrangling some guests in for the next big one, episode 69 (*smirk) in which we're going to tell stories, some "blue" some weird, but all are going to be about the strange things we encounter during performances, sessions or in teaching environments. 

Should be some fun conversations for your listening pleasure! Stay tuned!

This episode has sat on the backburner for a while now, I was hesitant to release it until I saw a bit of a swell in this same sentiment among fellow creatives. 

This is not meant to assign shame or blame on anybody in particular, but rather shine a light on the question of why the biggest supporters of our artistic endeavours seem to be strangers and not our closest "inner circle". 

It's a very real question that every single artist or creator has asked themselves at some point.