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What The Notre-Dame Fire Says About Our Values

April 22, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

The world reeled at the news of the burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris last week. And I’m not exaggerating too much when I say that. Most of the time I think it’s completely cheesy when someone claims the entire world is affected by anything. It’s like, get over yourself. But I know I wasn’t alone as I watched my social media feed be dominated by news coverage, memories, and hopes regarding the historic edifice. Having never been to Paris and not being a Catholic, I have no personal emotional connection to the building, but the loss of such a monument was saddening nonetheless.

Now, you can say what you want about all the money that was donated by wealthy tycoons to support the rebuilding. What more significant problems could they be solving with all that money? What is the Vatican doing about it? They have billions. You can interpret it how you wish – and I’m not saying your questions are not valid – but I would like to entertain another interpretation to the events following the incendiary incident.

While it is a pivotal location to the Catholic community, the people commenting on Notre-Dame are not only Catholics. The mourners cover every faith and non-faith out there. So it’s not just about religion.

Stories like Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame have brought the idea of the cathedral to the imaginations of the masses, elevating it to an almost mythical status. And visitors can’t help but be mesmerised by its beauty and power – the architecture, the stain glass windows. They are captivated by its art.

Think about that. The world is in mourning over the loss of art. Corporate moguls have donated over a billion dollars to the restoration of art

People – even those who pride themselves on their practicality and claim art is a waste of time that takes energy away from more important matters – are affected by art in ways they may not even know. Why do you think some governments over the ages have made the creation of art an illegal act? It’s not because it is a waste of resources that should be utilized elsewhere. No, art has been outlawed because it has the potential to be so powerful, so influential, that it poses a threat to their domination.

We may or may not ever become part of something on the level of Notre-Dame, as inspiring and delightful a notion as that might be. But we cannot forget that what we are doing as creators is important. It’s worth doing on some level. Even the most logical among us – those who love to tell us to get a real job or do something useful with our lives – still remember their favourite childhood story, the song that was playing when they had their first kiss. They are not immune to art’s power. They must acknowledge that someone wrote that story, composed and performed that song that became a part of their history – part of the soundtrack of their life, as I like to say.

If it is within us to do so, we have a right and a duty to contribute to the history of our and future generations with the art we create. We cannot know what will become of it. Our work may be momentarily enjoyed and forgotten. It may endure and be celebrated for hundreds or thousands of years. It is not our job to prophesy the fate of our art. It is our job to create it and share it as we are so inspired. As the reaction to Notre-Dame will attest, the world needs us to do so.

Are Your Extra-Curriculars Serving You?

April 15, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Now, before I begin, I realize that extra-curricular usually refers to those activities outside of school hours but let’s just say that, for the purposes of this discussion, I’m talking about those things that we do, other than the necessities like grocery shopping etc., that lie outside the scope of our work. Wow – that was a long sentence! But I’m kind of the run-on queen so I’m running with it. Ha! Get it?

We can begin engaging in an activity for many reasons. We think it will be fun. We can see the skills we’d learn as being useful. We have the opportunity to contribute to our communities. We like the people we’d be working with. A friend or family member thought it would be a good idea. I’ve done it for all of these reasons and probably more.

As the months and years go by, however, we need to take to the time to evaluate whether these activities are honestly advancing our lives or our work. We start something for one reason and we can stay in it for another and, if we don’t reflect periodically, we can find ourselves more involved in these other efforts than we are with our own process of creation.

I had someone challenge me recently. She asked me about the things that I really loved. And then she asked why only one of my extra-curricular activities had anything to do with those things. Why was I still engaging in activities that, while fun and beneficial in the beginning, had perhaps run their course and weren’t serving me anymore? And why wasn’t I connecting with more people and organizations that could actually help my career?

There is certainly room for diversity in life. If you are a writer, it doesn’t mean that every single club you belong to or contribution you make has to be about writing. If nothing else, we need to have a rich experience to fuel our creative inspiration.

But there are only so many hours in the day and we only have so much energy to expend so it behooves us to use that time and energy as effectively as possible.

So, I invite you to look at your extra-curriculars and decide what’s actually working for you and what isn’t and consider that it might be time to let something go. Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself.

Do I still enjoy this activity? You might just be doing it out of habit or obligation.
Does this activity assist me in my career or life purpose? Does it further what I’m here to do?
What I am I getting out of this activity? Sometimes we can continue doing something because we receive validation or we like the people even though the activity itself doesn’t appeal anymore. Is there a better way to get the benefits? If you’re in the club because you like the people, for example, you might want to just get together for coffee once in a while rather than have a structured regular event that you have to plan and prepare for.
What would I be doing with my time if I wasn’t involved with this activity? Would you be spending more time on you craft? Is there another activity you’ve been interested in that takes place at the same time that would work better for you? If you find yourself thinking, dang, if I wasn’t doing this, I would be able to do that,that might be a clue for you.

Our time is precious. As creators, we have so much to offer. We need to ensure that the way we spend our time and energy allows us to bring the best of ourselves to the world and having our attention scattered in too many directions in not in anyone’s best interest. Make no mistake, it can be scary to say no or good-bye, particularly when we’ve been a part of something for a long time. But there a saying that people (and I’m extrapolating to things and opportunities) come into our lives for a season, a reason, or a lifetime. And if you can give yourself permission to let go of the things that no longer work, you can then fill your hours with what truly delights and inspires you. You’ll only be the better for it!

Hidden Clues : The Wisdom In Your Distraction

April 8, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

You’ve probably heard people say that if you have goals you want to accomplish in your life, you need to look at those goals in relation to how you’re actually spending your time and adjust accordingly. The theory is that if you say you want to be a singer, for example, but are spending most of your time watching television rather than practicing or recording, in noticing this supposed conflict you can dispense with the distraction and redirect more energy towards pursuing your goal of singing.

This is a totally valid concept – we can certainly allow ourselves to be taken off of our path out of fear, especially when we’re talking about a potentially delicate thing like creative expression – but if you’ll indulge me for a moment, may I present another possible interpretation of such distraction?

What if you are, in fact doing exactly what you want to be doing? What if what you think you want isn’t what you actually want and, rather than resisting your “distraction”, it’s more about parlaying it into something more fulfilling?

So, let’s look at the watching TV all day thing – something many of us can fall prey to for any number of reasons. Maybe we’re searching for inspiration. Maybe we’re legit tired or overwhelmed and need a break. Maybe it is a real distraction because you’re afraid that your practicing or whatever project you’re “supposed” to be engaged in isn’t going to work out somehow. Totally been there.

But what if it’s something else? When you’re in this mode, I invite you to take a conscious approach to it to see if there might be some wisdom or insight there for you. What kinds of shows are you watching? Cop dramas? Sit coms? Cooking or baking shows? Can you pinpoint what in particular you might be attracted to about those shows? Ha! I just wrote “shoes” down by accident and if I hadn’t caught it, y’all would be, “Wait. When did she start talking about shoes?” Anyway, have a look at that. Do you love all the medical procedures and terminology in your hospital dramas? Do you love the character development? Do you love the witty dialogue in your comedy?

In being aware of your thoughts during these moments of distraction, you may discover some new things about yourself. It might be providing insight into some new elements you want to bring into your life. I love watching baking shows not only because I have a sweet tooth – believe me, I would reach into the TV and pull out those cakes if I could – but there can be such artistry and beauty to these creations. A visual feast as well as a gastronomical one. So, I don’t know if I need to become a baker necessarily, but I realized I definitely want to try my hand at cake and cookie decorating. In fact, I was on a waiting list for a class a short while back. And, in general, I think there is more of a visual component I can incorporate into what I do. Maybe you want to take a stand-up comedy class if you find yourself repeated attracted to it. Maybe you want to try writing if you love the storylines and dialogues of your favourite shows. Maybe you want to look into the medical field if you love the operating room scenes.

If you’re someone who gets overly drawn into social situations that you feel are taking you away from your work – phone calls, coffee meetings, whatever – there’s likely a reason why you’re letting it happen. If you are always the one giving advice to your friends – and are happy to do so as opposed to resenting it – perhaps you’d be great as a counsellor. Do your meetings often take place over delicious meals? Being a food critic or a chef might be right up your alley.

My point is, these distractions might be giving you clues to complimentary activities or a whole new path that might be very fulfilling for you so it’s worth some contemplation and analysis, in my humble opinion. Of course, it could totally be a psychological mechanism to protect you from potential failure or frustration, too, but I’m just saying.

Have a great day!

Finding Your Sweet Spot: Why Fame May Not Be What You Really Want

February 19, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hello all!

So, I was in New York City last week – my first time in the Big Apple – and I had a blast! Caught up with old friends, saw some shows, went to museums, had high tea at the Plaza. The whole nine yards. It was thrilling to witness “the best of every industry”, as my friend put it, that was represented in this mythical city. Seriously – since I’ve been back, it seems that every TV show and movie takes place in New York.

But that’s not my point. My point is, while watching these truly talented performs strut their stuff on the Broadway stage, I couldn’t help but wonder, would I want to be doing that?

You see, many of us are programmed to crave the spotlight. We are taught that those we see most often – the Beyoncés, the Bradley Coopers, even the J.K. Rowlings (as famous as a writer can get) – are the most important people in our society and their status is the only measure of significance and success. We are told that if we desire anything in this life, it should be to be the focus of attention in the biggest arena possible.

Now, I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing to go for fame or to want to be the front man. Some people are sincerely meant to be in that position and they inspire the world with who they are.

There are times, however, when the thirst for fame can be misguided – not because we may not be talented enough but because, if we really think about it, it’s not what we actually want. When we’re striving for anything, it behooves us to actually look into what is involved in living that life. For example, being a prima ballerina seems like a beautiful vision – and they do look lovely and strong – but if that’s what you want to be, be prepared for really sore feet, Like bleeding and blistered more often than not.

The shows that we saw on Broadway involved an incredible amount of physical activity ; not just two people sitting in chairs chatting away. And one of them, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – completely brilliant, by the way – was constructed in two parts of three hours each. That’s literally six hours a day of running around and throwing suitcases and all sorts of crazy things! Would you be up for that? Would you be willing to move to a metropolis like New York if it meant being at the top of your field? It’s a big switch if you’re used to living in a small town. What about having to be “on” when you’re not feeling well? I remember watching a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera and, while the cast sounded glorious as always, there was so much sniffling and snorting backstage because most of them were sick.

There are often ways to adjust things to better suit our inclinations. For example, you can love singing but not love performing live so you could potentially consider becoming a studio musician. Or you can do community theatre as a hobby rather than going for a full-time career as an actor and all that comes with it. Even so, however, we can still look at where our real talents and inclinations lie instead of towing the party line of fame and fortune. Well, I say that but, in many cases, it’s the ones who don’t have the fame who are actually making most of the money so I’m not really sure why they put those two words together so often. But that’s another topic of discussion.

When I was in university, I went to see a counsellor on a regular basis. Hey, we all need someone to talk to at certain points in our lives. Anyway, there was a session when I when I expressed my confusion that I would be watching these people on stage and be totally captivated them but, at the same time, wasn’t sure if that was what I should, or wanted to, be doing. I knew could sing but was insecure about my voice at times, I wasn’t sure how I felt about travelling from place to place without fully experiencing it, being isolated, and I was adaptable to a certain extent but didn’t really like being up too late most of the time. I’m usually in bed at 10:00 most nights unless there’s a special event or something. So what was it that made me want to be these “rock stars”, for lack of a better word?

And then my counsellor suggested something I’d never thought of before. He suggested that perhaps I was meant to be behind the scenes but I was attracted to something else about these people, like their confidence or level of skill. It wasn’t the fact that they were performing so much as they knew they were meant to be performing and they were damn good at it. And, to someone like me who was in a state of flux, that knowing would be incredibly attractive. He made me realize that I could be that assured and skilled as a songwriter or a producer or a director or whatever and have that same sense of self-possession and satisfaction as those “rock stars” seemed to have.

Because, really, I will follow whatever path is right for me and if being in the public eye comes with it, I’ll accept that with grace and humility. But I don’t care if people are screaming my name. I don’t need to be chased down the street by mobs trying to get my autograph. I’m more interested in being respected in my industry, being the one who those in the know whisper about as I stand in line at the grocery store. “Do you know who that is? She’s the one behind <insert life-altering, world-enhancing creative experience here>.”

So, if you desire being in the spotlight and entertaining the crowds and honestly love it and all, or most, of what it entails, go for it. Reach for your marquee dreams and good luck to you. But if you’re at all feeling a sense of disconnect with your creative path, I ask you to consider what your soul is really craving, look at your true gifts and talents and what skills you’re willing to acquire, and learn to be at peace with that.

You may be a good guitar player but maybe you’d be an even better recording engineer or producer or even artist manager. You may be a decent novelist but you’d really be a brilliant journalist or editor. There are so many parts to play in this creative world, so many roles to fill, and none is more or less important or valuable than another, no matter what celebrity mags try to tell you and no matter how some of those celebrities – I won’t name names – like to give the impression that they do everything themselves .

I’ll leave you with this. We love our lives the most when we are giving the best of our authentic selves to the world, whatever that looks like. So don’t be afraid of discovering what you’re really here to do. You’ll only be happier for it!

In Swimming Tigress news, I’ve just put up some new tracks for licensing on Pond 5 . So, if you need music for your media production, whether it’s a commercial, TV show, web video or podcast, check out all available tracks here https://www.pond5.com/artist/tprochera#1 .

Have a fabulous day!

Tiffany

Thank Your People – Showing Gratitude for Your Creative Allies

January 15, 2019 by tprochera 2 Comments

We are not islands. We do not live in bubbles.

Okay. Enough with the metaphors. Sometimes whether we like it or not, we exist in a world with other people, and those people can have fundamental impacts on our lives and careers.

I can say that my family has been largely responsible for me being who I am. Growing up, my parents not only exposed my sister and I to art forms like musical theatre but they encouraged my creativity, tolerating my banging on the piano when I made a mistake, cheering me on when I performed, and paying for lessons and whatever else was required. Before my father passed, he made sure to tell me that if I wanted to be a songwriter, I should go and be a songwriter. And when I have thought about giving up, when I have contemplated getting a regular job and leaving music behind, my mother and sister remind me that this is what I’m here to do and they’ve got my emotional, spiritual, and financial back. Or is it backs?

Anyway, I guess my point is that we don’t do this alone. Yes, we work really hard to hone our craft, pitch ideas, promote the heck out of our latest project on social media, and we’ve gotta give ourselves props for our efforts. But while we’re reaching for the stars and getting our diva on, acting like it’s all about us (not that I’ve ever been that way 😉 ) it can be all too easy to expect the support to just be there or forget all the investment that others have made in us from potentially a very early age. It behooves us to remember those who are helping us on our path. And I don’t mean in an “all the little people who helped me get here” award speech kind of way.

Family, teachers, mentors, the keyboard guru at the music store, the super helpful tech support guy – we likely wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing without them. Seriously, I am a very tech-savvy individual but if I didn’t have someone to call when things went really wrong I wouldn’t be able to function at all because my tech is how I do what I do and I’m not sure I’d want to go back to the days of wax cylinders. At any rate, we need to show our appreciation for the contribution of others to our work and our lives.

This gratitude can be expressed in different ways depending upon the relationship – I keep telling my mom that she’s getting the west wing of my mansion. Sometimes an honest, heartfelt thanks is all that is required. Sometimes a small gift is more appropriate. Just make sure you don’t let things go unsaid or treat these people like they are at your beck and call because, believe me, they have other things they can be doing with their time, money, and energy.

Now, the appreciation is its own reward – it just feels good to tell people you’re grateful – but it also allows the recipient to become even more invested in you and more willing to step up and go the extra mild in the future. Like I said, you should do it just to do it without any expectations but it could be a nice bonus. Just saying.

Tell those who have come out to your show that it was great to see them and you hoped they enjoyed it. Thank those who have agreed to proofread your writing by taking them out to lunch if you can’t out and out pay them. If you want to give the Geek Squad guy or girl a hug for replacing your hard drive without losing any data, tell them so, even if they don’t want you to actually do it.

So, that’s my message for today. Realize that you are not alone in this – even if you’re writing all your songs, performing all the instruments, and producing the tracks – and express gratitude for those who are have come along for the ride.

On that note, I feel compelled to share the song Thanks from Ladybug Crossings. You know, ‘cuz it’s about gratitude.

Have a great day and keep on creating!

Know What You Know: When you’re confused about your creative path

July 14, 2017 by tprochera Leave a Comment

So, just a warning to y’all – this post might get a little “woo woo” but, even if you’re not into that sort of thing, you might get something out of it anyway. Just saying.

In your creative life, do you have some aspects of it that you enjoy more than others? Maybe you like writing the songs but you don’t like performing them. Maybe you love the creating part but not so much the promotion. Do you sometimes wonder how it’s all going to play out? Or maybe you have so many interests and you’re struggling with figuring out what you’re supposed to do with it all.

Well, I have a story to share that might help you chillax a bit, as the kids say. J

My sister and I have a weekly catch-up phone chat on Monday afternoons, something I quite look forward to the point where I’m counting down the minutes once noon strikes.

Well, a couple of weeks I was talking about my career, which is doing well but there are things about it that have confused me for some time. I have often wondered whether performing is part of what I’m here to do or whether I should stick to the creating. Exactly what musical genre should I be working in? I’ve always done a bit of everything – classical, pop, country, children’s music – and enjoyed them all but sometimes I think I should be focusing on one style.

Well, my sister, the life coach, could sense my frustration and told me to stop. Just stop. Then she says – and this is not a direct quote but I’m gonna put it in quotes anyway – “Stop thinking about all of the things you haven’t figured out and making it more complicated than it has to be. Tell me what you know. What you know you love and what you know you want.”

And I thought about it for a minute. And then I told her, “I know I love music. I know I love writing. I know I like my voice when it’s working for me and I know I don’t like the frustration I feel when my technology isn’t working.” You see, I am a pretty tech-savvy person – I’ve been using computers almost my entire life – but when something isn’t working you don’t want to be in the room. I’m learning to relax around it and accept that things happen to everyone but it’s a process that takes time.

Anyway, my sister goes on to explain that when you focus on what you know you know, you are drawing more of that into your life and the unknowns are allowed to become clearer. When you worry about the unknowns or, worse, look backwards at the ways things didn’t work out in the past, your mind is cluttered with doubt and fear and you don’t give the Universe the chance to work its magic and do things that you didn’t imagine could be done.

So, if you’re wondering if you should change your path, if you should take on a new opportunity, try to get your mind on the things you’re sure about. Maybe you know you want to make more money. You know want a chance to work with a certain group of people. You know you want to travel more. You know you love writing. You know you love your craft but you don’t enjoy the marketing. Know this and honour this and then watch for the little clues along the way as you’re just doing what you enjoy doing. The path or decision will become clear step by step. You will be at a coffee shop – because you felt like going to a coffee shop – and start a conversation with someone who just happens to be a literary agent, someone who love supporting and promoting writers. That opportunity you thought you were interested will mysteriously disappear– because you wouldn’t have liked it anyway – but in its place is something even better that allows you to use the best of what you are and love in ways you may not have even anticipated but that are totally fun for you.

If you know what you want and what you love, if you trust that anything that doesn’t work out or doesn’t happen is not going to take you where you really want to go anyway, you will receive insight and inspiration that will show you the way to the opportunities and paths that will truly fulfill and delight you.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey!

Tiffany

The Grace and The Grind: The Benefits of Slogging it Out

June 7, 2017 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Picture it.

You are going about your day – perhaps you are on a walk, perhaps you are washing the dishes. All of a sudden, you feel The Muse touch you with her magic. A brilliant idea enters your head and you rush to your work space before the inspiration can escape. And it doesn’t stop there. Next thing you know, the poem, the song, the painting, is complete. There is not a word that needs to be changed, not a brush stroke that needs to be added.

This is what happened to me recently and, if you haven’t experienced it, it’s a beautiful thing. I was struck with an idea for a song and, in the process of writing down a potential title, the song seemed to complete itself.

When we can spend months, if not years, agonizing over the details of a creative project, it can be such a relief to have something go smoothly. We find ourselves eternally grateful for that ease that makes us believe this idea that inspired us was destined to come to pass.

But we have also often heard that it is in the challenging times that we experience the greatest personal growth and this can apply to our creative pursuits as well.

Those projects that are harder to wrap our heads around can lead to exploration, the acquisition of new skills. In theory, we would always love to be growing and evolving but there are times when we can find ourselves almost unconsciously stuck in a rut, doing the same kinds of things over and over again because it’s comfortable. Our fingers just go to those chords, those turns of phrase keep appearing over and over again. I know it happens to me from time to time.

Then an idea comes along that excites us so much we have to engage even we don’t know how it’s going to turn out. Maybe it’s in a new genre or style. Maybe you’ve been painting in watercolours but have a vision of something in oils. Maybe you have just a title but no idea whether it’s going to be a poem, a short story, or a novel. And if the idea wants to be a novel and you’ve never written one before? That’s scary stuff!

It’s scary but it can also be fun because it now presents you with an opportunity to, in this case, do research into how to write a novel – the type of structure, narrative arcs, character elements. Sure, after you’ve looked into it you can choose to abandon any precedent and recommendations but at least you will have some new tools under your belt should you want to use them.

So, enjoy the easy times when everything is in flow and be grateful for those pursuits that ask you to reach further, to dig deeper. You will be the better for it!

Agents, Managers, And Defining Yourself As An Artist

May 30, 2017 by tprochera Leave a Comment

So, more than a few years ago, I went to meet with a local talent agent to see if they might be able to me get more work as an actor.

I wasn’t too serious about it but I was open to opportunities should they arise. Where I live, it’s not a required thing to have representation – it’s easy enough to submit material to casting agents on your own – but I thought it couldn’t hurt to have somebody else in my corner.

We met at a coffee shop and I had no idea what to expect. I had never had an agent and I was a little intimidated by the imposing figure that approached me. But I would see where it led.

He took a look at my resume and immediately criticised the categorization of some of my acting jobs. Now, I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know everything and I have no problem with someone pointing out differences but I wasn’t making this stuff up. I found the term whilst doing some research online and his assumption that I was wrong and he was right and there was no in-between kind of set me off from the get-go.

Then, he pointed to a voice project I had done for a short promotional animation project and asked if the company had asked me to work for them again. I said no. He seemed to be displeased and my interpretation of his reaction was that this was an indication I wasn’t very good. This may have been true at the time, maybe not, but I wasn’t aware of all of the company’s projects. They called me to do one thing and I did it. Maybe it was the only time they had taken on such a project that required voice overs, or that required my type of voice. I didn’t know. Again, the assumption was not appreciated.

Finally, we talked about roles and such and what we felt I might be suited to. I told him I wanted to make a positive impact and preferred my roles to reflect that mission.

He then proceeded to tell me that the industry will decide what roles I would be suited for. If the industry thinks I would make a good serial killer, that’s what I get to be. I can’t remember if that was before or after I had turned down an audition to play a pedophile foster parent or some such silliness.

Needless to say, that was our one and only meeting.

Listen to me. YOU get to choose how you represent yourself in this world. I have said before that what we create goes out there and affects people. That’s why we do it. You cannot always control how what you do is interpreted or received – criticism may arise even when you have the best intentions – but YOU must define who you want to be. You may or may not get as many opportunities as you would if you had chosen a different approach but the choice must be yours. And they say that the greatest, most sustainable success comes when you are being the most true to yourself so it’s really a win/win!

You do not have to take every job that is presented to you and you do not have to be involved with something that does not align with who you are, whether it’s the project itself or the people you would be working with. I mean, you can if you want, but you don’t have to do it. You can always pick up a few extra shifts at Starbucks until a project that resonates with you, or at least a project that doesn’t make you cringe, comes along.

And, while I’m at it, you don’t have to take on an agent or manager just because they want you, meaning they think you can make them money. If you are to thrive, it’s important to connect with people who understand who you are and who you want to become and are more than eager to help you become that. They can certainly present new avenues and horizons to you – you still need to grow as an artist – but they have to have your spirit as well as your bank account in mind.

When you meet with a potential business collaborator, remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you and you have a right to decline if you don’t jive and you don’t think they can help you move towards your ultimate goals.

You want somebody in your corner who says, “I get you. I believe in you. Now, let’s rock this thing!”

Have a great day!

Ladybug Crossings Has Arrived!

April 12, 2016 by tprochera Leave a Comment

ladybugcrossings cd cover

Hey Guys!

So, usually, I will post about a book I was inspired by or offer some tips to aid in your creativity. And there’s absolutely more of that to come!

But I’m going to kind of forego that today because I have some exciting news!

Ladybug Crossings is here!!!!

I’m so excited! The album is full of songs kids can relate to with catchy melodies that will have the whole family singing along. Trust me, there are some serious earworms in there! And some songs, like Doodley Do and Mr. Willywallywolowitz, come straight from my Bad Moods and Brain Freezes collections so you can get the books and learn to sing them too!

The album is now available on all you favourite digital streaming services – iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, Apple Music and more! Feel free to take a moment to buy your copy before you continue reading… 🙂

BUY ON ITUNES BUY ON CD BABY BUY ON AMAZON

Welcome back!

So,I guess here’s a tidbit, a nugget of advice, to take away from this – other than the music, of course, which I really hope you enjoy!

A few years ago – and you may already know this story – I was at my computer and tried to type my name. I can’t remember what I was working on exactly but my fingers happened to be in the wrong position on the keyboard and Tofaru is what came out. I could have ignored it as just a blip but I looked at the combination of letters and thought, You know, that’s a cool name. If I was ever to put out a children’s album, that’s the name I would use.

Fast forward to a year or so later. It was a lovely spring day –or was it fall? I was walking along the sidewalk close to my home and I almost stepped on a ladybug– Heaven forbid! – who I can only assume was busy running her daily errands. Being a lover of ladybugs – they really have impeccable fashion sense – I was concerned for the welfare of my new friend and immediately thought to myself, You know, they should have ladybug crossings.“ It occurred to me that that concept might make for an interesting song so I kind of kept that thought in the back of my mind but didn’t really do anything about it at the time.

Then, about a year after that, I was getting out of the car in front of a movie theatre, looked down at the ground and there was a another ladybug right by my feet. Of course, ladybugs are rather ubiquitous in the appropriate season but this ladybug seemed to be telling me, in her polka-dotted fashion, to get a move on it already and start making the album.

So, I did!

And the point of telling you all of this? The moral of this story?

Don’t take any moment for granted. There is a saying that suggests there are no coincidences and I pretty much believe that’s true. If I had just ignored all of the little hints and serendipities, Ladybug Crossings would not exist.

So, be aware. If something pops into your mind, don’t toss it off. It could be the inspiration for your next film, your next novel. It came to you for a reason. And, like Elizabeth Gilbert says, if you don’t do something about it, if you don’t act on that inspiration and create, the idea will just leave you and find someone else.

I hope you enjoy Ladybug Crossings as much as I enjoyed making it! And spread the word if you like what you hear. Music is such a beautiful thing to share and, well, watching kids dance around the house is always fun, isn’t it? 

Have a fabulous day!

ladybugcrossings cd cover

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The Mozart Effect and Using Art to Heal

March 1, 2016 by tprochera Leave a Comment

mozart effect Hey all!

So, I am revisiting a book called The Mozart Effect by Don Campbell. It’s all about the power of music and sound to heal and largely follows the research of Alfred Tomatis, a French physician who discovered ways of treating everything from Alzheimer’s to autism with sound. And there’s more. Different genres and even the music of specific composers can be used to boost creativity and subconsciously reorganize the brain. As the saying goes, there’s something in it for everyone!

I actually 5 weeks one summer at a listening therapy clinic in Toronto. I was helping the therapists working with kids with autism as they were listening to recordings of their mother’s voice with the lower frequencies taken out. The intention was to recreate the sound of the voice in the womb and, hopefully, increase communication. It was a fascinating experience. I actually had a little girl take my hand and, with determination in her non-verbal little voice, lead me around the room. According to the therapist, she was trying to arrange me, put me in my proper place in her space. I was a part of her tableau! While I was a little miffed at being bossed around, I was pleased that she at least wanted me in her picture! 🙂

But I digress. So, there are so many things that are coming up for me as I continue reading this book. How can I help others heal with my work? How can I use music to help others, even if it’s not mine? How can I help improve my own life with these techniques?

Have you ever thought about how you might be able to use your art form to heal – not just through the stories you tell, but through the technical processes of your medium? There is a growing interest in art therapy – with people working in hospitals and clinics to promote recovery and wellness. To practice music therapy, you actually need to get a degree and I imagine that’s pretty common among the art forms. But if that’s quite your thing or you’re not really interested in working in a clinical environment, you might want to consider at least doing some research into the field to see what techniques or applications you might want to incorporate into your work to make it even more impactful.

Just a thought!

candle cover shadow oct 2014

And in Swimming Tigress Music Land, I am super happy to announce that we are now On The ‘Zon! I think that should be a new hashtag – #OnTheZon !

Anyway, I have finally released three Kindle ebooks on Amazon – A Candle At Both Ends, Tabitha’s Magical Voice and the original story of Mocha And The Moon – along with the paperback version of Candle.

There is a load of inspiration and fun in these reads to I invite you to check them by visiting the links below and get your copies today. And you can spread the word while you’re at it! Enjoy!