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The “What If” Game – A Fun and Effective Tool To Spark Creativity

July 8, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

mocha_iconHi guys!

So, when you think of “what if”, your mind might drift to thoughts of doom and gloom and the ways in which people will assess all forms of potential threat to hopefully avoid catastrophe. They figure if they can anticipate every possible danger they can counter that danger and stay safe. And this is certainly one way in which the term can be applied even if, as I have found, it can cause you so much more worry than it’s worth!

But did you know that “what if” can also be an amazing tool to spark creative ideas?

A few years ago, I was writing in my journal before bed as I do most nights – unless I’m really tired and just can’t bring myself to put pen to paper!

I was writing away – about my day, about my desires and concerns – and I felt like I was sounding like a broken record, rehashing the same old things night after night – When is x going to happen? Why do I feel y all the time? And, frankly, I was getting bored with myself.

So, I decided to shake things up and play a game. I thought it would be fun to pick something, anything, in the world and make it different from how it currently was and look at the implications of that change. For example, what if the sky was yellow instead of blue? What would that mean? What else would be altered because of it?

I had no idea what was going to come up but, for some reason, the first idea that popped into my head was, what if cows really could jump over the moon? I’m not sure where the thought came from – it was likely a reference to the popular children’s poem, “Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon” – you know the one – but the poem hadn’t presented itself to me in recent memory.

Anyway, I went with it. When the question arose I immediately countered it with another question – Would they even know to try? Would a cow be aware enough to make the attempt to jump over the moon even if they were physically capable of doing it?

I immediately started writing a story about a young cow named Mocha who wondered about everything and lived her life full of grand ideas and possibilities. One day, the farm where she lives is visited by a fiddle-playing cat named Jeb heading to a nearby town. Mocha, never having left the farm, starts to ask herself where she might like to go if she could go anywhere and discovers her mission to travel to the moon – for reasons I won’t disclose because they are pretty funny so you should probably read the story!

I found this story so engaging and endearing that it eventually became my first musical for young audiences, Mocha And The Moon, which, incidentally, you can read more about on the website if you would like your theatre company to perform it.  Wink wink!

The point is, I made a conscious effort to get my head out of its hamster wheel and something wonderful and inspiring happened!

When you think outside the box, you never know what is going to arise. I just did the exercise this morning and found an entirely new world to explore – a little darker than my usual style but fascinating none the less!

So, I encourage you, when you are feeling like you are in a mental rut, to shake things up a little and see what comes pouring out. There are things you can do too – like walking in an area of town you’ve never explored before, trying a new activity. Anything that puts you in unfamiliar territory can get those creative juices flowing. You never know when inspiration is going to strike so why not give it a little room to play?

 

In Swimming Tigress news, I’ve just put up a lyric vid for the latest song from Ladybug Crossings, Bug On My Bubble! It has been a favorite in my family for years so I’m so excited to finally be sharing it with you all.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the Swimming Tigress Music YouTube channel to see the ones I’ve already posted. Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, canadian composer, children's music, composer blogs, creative inspiration, creative living, inspiration, manitoba music, mocha and the moon, music blog, musical theatre, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tools to create, what if game

The True North Strong and Freakishly Creative!

July 1, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

So, today is July 1st, Canada Day, a day to enjoy time with family and friends and celebrate the great nation into which I was born.

There are many things I love about Canada – the warm, friendly people, the variety of landscapes – no matter what natural experience you want to have, you are sure to find it here – and the cultural diversity. Every August, my city of Winnipeg hosts Folklorama, the largest and longest-running multicultural festival in the world. Always so much fun!

But one thing Canada is known for, even if the rest of the world doesn’t actually know it, is its creative people. I was thinking about this recently while watching the adorable romantic comedy, My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts, which featured songs by not only one but two Canadian songstresses, Jann Arden and Amanda Marshall.

Now, many of us claim that it’s because we need something to do during the cold winters but there is such an abundance of artists here that have taken the world by storm over the years, from musicians to actors to authors to filmmakers to comedians.

And here are just a few.

Where would we be without the brilliant Jim Carrey and Martin Short making the whole world laugh hysterically?

Remember the trinity that was Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Victoria, BC’s Nelly Furtado?

The voice of a generation, Joni Mitchell – wishing you lots of love and healing in your recovery!

The stunning Shania Twain – who remains the best-selling female country artist of all time

The Group of Seven

The authors Margaret Atwood and Lucy Maude Montgomery. Seriously, who doesn’t know and love Anne of Green Gables?

Winnipeg’s own The Guess Who

James Cameron – the film director who dreams big and does what others think is impossible

And, of course, there’s the gossip darling, Justin Bieber and his protégé, Carly Rae Jepsen? I mean, if you can get Tom Hanks to feature in your music video, you’re doing all right!

And I could go on and on.

 

What I’m saying is that a lot of amazing talent has come from this country and we need to celebrate it. We have made a global impact in every art form and that’s nothing to sneeze at. Sure, there may be something to be said for humility but it behooves us to be reminded that we have the ability to inspire and entertain people the world over and we owe it to them to do just that.

Because we rock!

Sorry…. but we do!

 

In some Swimming Tigress news, I’m excited to announce that we are finally on Pinterest! So, head on over to check out all sorts of inspirational quotes, videos, music and more! And more great stuff is being added all the time so keep coming back. So get your pinning finger ready!

Have a fabulous day!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, canada day, canadian artists, canadian composer, canadian music, carly rae jepsen, composer blogs, creative living, james cameron, jim carrey, joni mitchell, justin bieber, lucy maude montgomery, manitoba music, margaret atwood, martin short, music blog, shania twain, swimming tigress music, the guess who, tiffany prochera, tips for artists

Show Me The Money! Why Artists Need To Pay Each Other

June 4, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hi guys!

 

So, I know the idea of money and creativity is a contentious issue that has been talked about a lot in various capacities. Whether it’s dealing with the use of existing art or getting someone to work on your project, money comes up a lot and I’d like to put my two cents in. Ha! Get it?

When you’re talking collaboration of some kind, it’s a sticky wicket, for sure. On the one hand, everyone wants to be paid fairly for their work. On the other hand, you may want to start a project that requires the skills of other people that you feel you simply don’t have the money to pay.

I get it. I’ve totally been in that situation where I would love to hire a <insert creative title here> to help bring my project to life but I don’t have the funds. And it’s so tempting to say “Hey! Who’s willing to work for free?” And true, there are situations when you all decide to engage in a project together – like a band – and the money comes from those who hire you to play. That’s different.

I’m bringing this up because I go to a lot of networking events and have heard people say outright, “I’m looking for an <x> and I have no budget so I need someone to do it for free.”

And you might be thinking well, you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

But here’s the thing . It’s a slippery slope, a vicious cycle, if you will.

If I, as a musician, for example, do a bunch of work for no pay – like scoring your film – then either one of two things is the case; either 1) I need to work a regular job to make an income or 2) I have no income.

In the first scenario, if I have to spend most of my time at an unrelated job – I realize that some people prefer it that way but let’s say I want music to be my full-time gig – not only am I less likely to be giving my best to your volunteer project , which affects both my reputation and the quality of your project, but I have less time available to study and practice and get better at my craft.

In the second scenario of having no money, this means I am unable to pay others to orchestrate the score, provide copying services, design an album cover etc.. I can’t afford things like the $200 a month I would need to spend on  lessons to becoming a world-class vocalist or composer or whatever.

Do you see how it keeps coming around? You don’t pay me so I can’t pay anyone else – and by me I mean any creative person, not me specifically! And I might not have the money in my pocket to go see any other movies you might release. Ultimately, the whole industry – and, some would argue, the world – suffers when artists are unable to better themselves and dedicate themselves to their work.

So, my thing is, I get money can be tight. But, if you strongly believe in your project, there may be ways, whether through grants or friends and family or other benefactors, to allow you to provide financial compensation to those who are working with you. Try not to immediately jump to the donation of services until you have exhausted all other possibilities.

Trust me – your project and the creative industry as a whole will be richer for it!

 

So, now to some Swimming Tigress Music News.

Ladybug Crossings is coming along swimmingly and I know I’ve put up a few lyric videos.

But I wanted to share something with you that you can take anywhere – a free download of the title track!

Just click on the little Download button and away you go!

 

Enjoy! And don’t forget to come back or visit www.tiffanyprochera.com for more updates!

 

Have a fabulous day!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: artists and money, blogs about music, canadian composer, composer blogs, creative career, creative collaboration, creative living, download music for singers, making money as an artist, manitoba music, singing, swimming tigress music, tips for artists

Imaginations Running Wild! Re-imagining The Tools We Use To Create

April 22, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

PleiadesGreetings all!

I would like to talk to you about imagination and the tools we use in the creative process.

I’ve been thinking about it lately and it seems to me that it actually works on both sides.

Sometimes we are struck by a brilliant idea – like the first time they put Peter Pan on the stage and wanted him to fly – and then you try to find a way to make it happen. You look at all of the technology and tools at your disposal and say, what will I/we need to do to actually make that happen? How can we make Peter Pan actually fly?

So you try this and you try that, configuring and reconfiguring your hydraulics, wiring, pully systems and whatnot, and then, next thing you know, you’ve just make a huge development in the area of theatrical technology that can be shared and used for ages to come!

This is the “necessity is the mother of invention” kind of approach and it has been responsible for some amazing things!

And on the flip side, sometimes you see a tool’s potential and you are inspired to find a place for it in your creative process.

I remember going to a Sarah Brightman concert some years back and they had this big mylar screen on stage – it was the first time I had seen such a thing and I didn’t know what it was going to be used for. But I was amazed at how the projections onto the screen placed Sarah in the middle of a pool of water, then in a garden in bloom. I was mesmerized. And then you wonder, did the producers of the show say, “Hmm… they have this technology now. How can we use it in the show?” Or were the asking, ”How can we turn Sarah Brightman into a mermaid?”

A real chicken or the egg kind of thing, isn’t it?

So, that being said, I invite you to be creative with your creativity from both sides. Think about what you might like to achieve – whether it’s a new art project or a new way of connecting with your students – have a look around and see what tools you might already have to assist you. Then, explore all the tools and technology that exist in and out of your field and let you imagination run wild with ways you might be able to apply it to your craft.

You never know what you can come up with!

On that note, I would like to share with you an amazing video by Enra – Motion Picture Performing Arts – you can check out their Youtube channel here. This dance number called Pleiades by Saya Watatani and Maki Yokoyama will blow you away as it makes use of cutting edge technology and has the dancers interacting with objects of light on the screen behind them. Chicken or egg? Who knows? But the results are stunning!

Enjoy!

&nsbp;

 

And if you would like to add your two cents or a nickel to the conversation and let us know how you’ve found some new tools to use in your craft or discovered a new way to use the tools already in your repertoire don’t hesitate to comment below! It would be great to hear from you!

Have a great day everyone!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, canadian composer, canadian music, composer blogs, creative living, enra, imagination, maki yokoyama, music education, mylar screen, saya watatani, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tools to create

The Importance of Choir – An Interview With John Rutter

April 14, 2015 by tprochera 1 Comment

John_RutterHey guys!

 

Have you ever been part of a choir, be it through a church, your school or a maybe you joined a community group?

I have been in a number of choirs throughout the years. I joined my first choir, a youth community group, when I was six and always participated in the school choirs even into university.  In recent years, I have been privileged to be a member of a women’s choir that will soon be heading off to an international conference with world renowned groups. So this topic has been on my mind!

There is something about the experience of choral music, especially as a participant but even as a listener, that creates this sense of connection to the other singers and to the world as a whole. If you’ve ever been singing in a group and allowed yourself to truly be in the experience – trying not to think about what you’re going to make for dinner when the rehearsal is over, etc. – you’ll know what a magical thing it can be. The harmonies take you to another place and you almost wish you could stop singing to absorb it all but you also know that your vibrations mingling with those of the others is part of that magic.

I would like to share with you an interview with the acclaimed British composer, John Rutter, on The Importance of Choir, originally posted on the J.W. Pepper website. In it, he explains the significance choral music has for the individual and society at large.

Enjoy!

So, if you’ve never been in a choir before, you might want to try it and, if it has been a while and you’ve been thinking about singing again, look around and see what groups are in your community and have fun!

And, remember, if you want to add your two cents or a nickel to this topic, post your comments below! I’d love to hear what you think!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: choir, choral singing, composer blogs, j.w. pepper, john rutter, jw pepper, manitoba music, music and the brain, music blog, performance, singing, swimming tigress music

Healing Through Singing

April 8, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

singing for health“From the honk of a car horn to kids playing at the park, from the sizzle of an egg cooking to the reports on the daily news, from the myriad radio stations to, perhaps, your own music-making, sound vibrations and frequencies make up our entire world and have from the beginning of time. Even the creation of the universe is thought to have been the result of sound, according to many creation stories and the Big Bang theory.

What effect are all these sounds having on our body, though, and how can we use sound to aid our healing journey?”

I just get chills reading this! Don’t you just want to learn more?

Music is sound. Sound is energy. And energy can heal.

This is the idea behind the brilliant blog post from Angela Winter entitled Singing For Your Health originally posted on the TheCleanYogi.com .  It’ s another testament to the power of music and they ways in which it can benefit our lives.

I am so pleased to be able to share this information with you and I encourage you to check out the complete blog post here  so you can learn more about how sound and vibration can be used to affect the cells in our body to promote healing.

Incredibly powerful stuff!

 

In STM news, we’ve been having fun!

On March 21, I had the pleasure of watching a young man named Nicholas perform Doodley Doo from Bad Moods and Seven Other Super Reasons to Sing a Silly Song in a trophy competition at the Winnipeg Music Festival. He did a fabulous job – he had choreography and everything – and was a runner-up for the trophy!

I’ve also created a couple more lyric videos for songs from the upcoming album, Ladybug Crossings. Check out What to Do? and Mr. Duckworth and Mrs. Bunnington – both originally from my Bad Moods collection – and the brand new Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy Day!

Enjoy!


Well, that’s about all for now!  Have a fabulous day and keep singing!

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bad moods, blogs about music, canadian composer, children's music, composer blogs, ladybug crossings, manitoba music, music for kids, swimming tigress music, tiffany, tofaru, winnipeg music festival

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