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The Beauty of Creative Cross-Inspiration

August 20, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

crossinspirationHey guys!

So, a couple of weeks ago, I talked about trying on other creative roles, suggesting that we often identify ourselves in a certain way and it can sometimes keep us in a box so it can behoove us, if you will, to try something new to inspire us and to see things from a different angle.

Today I’d like to talk about being inspired by art forms other than those in which we currently engage.

As a musician, for example, I am often inspired by the music I hear, by the elegant poetry of the lyrics, the unexpected chord progressions or the effective production of the recording. And, while I would never attempt to take from another’s work, it is only natural for a person to learn from the work of others in their field.

But I can also learn and grow as a musician from things that are not music related. My musical inspiration can come from many places, and by that I do not mean seeing daily events as thematic material for my work. There’s more to it than that.

Sometimes dancing can make me think of music. Sometimes a scene in a movie can bring melodic motifs into my head. These are obvious pairings as most dance is performed to music and there is a musical score behind most films.

But it’s not even about these art forms working together in an expected way.

When I was directing a musical earlier this year, there was a character in the show who was a refined and, yet, passionate man of Russian background. I suggested to the actor portraying him that he view videos of the amazing figure skater, Victor Petrenko. I gave him this homework because I wanted him to sing and act like Petrenko skated, with that technical perfection infused with emotion that was both moving and mesmerizing to watch.

When you watch a great new film or one of your existing favorites, notice the pacing of the action of the dialog. Notice the setting. Can you use any of the stylistic or linguistic techniques to enhance your own work? What would the bold colours of a film from the 1960’s look like as a musical piece? Does a brush stroke in a painting make you think of a haunting cello line? Does that small statue of a little girl in the museum inspire a poem or, perhaps, an entire novel telling her story?

This is all about creating a kind of artistic synesthesia, if you will, whereby the different art forms inspire and fuel each other. More about synesthesia in a future blog post.

 

In Swimming Tigress Music news, I am excited to announce our that I have just finished the last track for the Ladybug Crossings album! The lyric video for Mr. Willywallywolowitz will be out shortly and I’m expecting the album to be released at the end of September!

Speaking of September, it is almost the start of the new lesson season. So, if you or anyone you know is looking to experience the joy of learning to sing, I am currently accepting students in person and via Skype for the upcoming year. You can find more information on the Music Lessons page on this site and then contact me through the Contact page if you have any questions.

Well, that’s all for now. Have a fabulous day!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, canadian composer, canadian compsoers, canadian music, composer blogs, creative inspiration, creative living, cross inspiration, inspiration, ladybug crossings, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tools to create

Who Are You Talking To? Knowing Your Audience

August 12, 2015 by tprochera Leave a Comment

who are you talking to rainbow pngHey guys!

Some time ago, I posted a blog called “Who are you as an artist?” which looked at what we want to represent as an artists and the message we wish to send.

Today, I would like to add to that conversation by asking the question, who are you talking to when you create? What type of person you are looking to reach with your artistic expression? The answer to this question will affect the way you create your art as well as the way you market it and release it into the world.

Of course, who we are talking to , or our “demographic”, may change from year to year or from project to project as we are constantly seeking growth and new experiences, which can also mean trying on new methods of creative expression. The point is, a performer of children’s music who decides they want to try their hand at writing a book for young adults will likely approach the work in an entirely different way.

You may not always have an anticipated audience in mind at first. When you first conceive of a book, you may simply have a vision of a character or a situation and not be quite clear as to how the story will evolve.

However, over time, you will hopefully recognize the story that you are trying to tell and have some concept of who that story is for, whether it be adults, teens, or children. You might also want to look at the specific type of adult, teen or child who will benefit from your work. Is it directed at a particular type of person – say, someone interested in sports or someone interested in spirituality? We can often be be inclined to think big and say our book or our music will appeal to everyone so as to cover all the bases and gain the widest possible audience but you are really doing yourself and the work a disservice and run the risk of the work being unfocused and, ultimately, not appealing to anyone.

Knowing who your audience is can clarify the language you use, the themes presented, the complexity of the work and much more so once you’ve got that figured out you may want to go back and make some adjustments.

This is not to suggest that you need to squelch your creativity or that you have to cater to anyone, per se. Rather, it is an understanding that certain language may not be appropriate for, or understood by, young readers or a song with many key changes may be complicated for younger ears. Or realizing that a certain demographic will appreciate subtle nuances, subtext and plot twists whereas another might be completely baffled.

It’s not giving in or selling out. It is creating something that people will enjoy and find meaningful. And that’s the goal after all, isn’t it?

As a singer and composer, I have a rather diverse musical background and I have enjoyed it all. But I have to remember that my style of writing in an operatic aria will be different in many ways from my style of writing of a pop song or a children’s song. The chord progressions will be different. The melodic lines will be different. I have had family members listen to a pop song I had recorded and tell me there is just “too much” in there – too many words, too much going on musically. It took some time for me to realize that, while some unique twists are fun and interesting, I was writing a song, not a symphony.

And I have found myself using a somewhat different singing voice with my children’s work. I feel young ears will relate to a sweeter sound rather than a big, booming opera voice. Not that the styles never influence each other but singing Doodley Doo with an operatic tone? I’m not sure how that would fly. 🙂

Similarly, if you are an artist who has been asked to create paintings to hang on the walls of a fine dining restaurant, the subject matter you explore might be different than if you were working on painting for a children’s hospital. You are setting the tone for that space and must be cognisant of how that space is being used and by whom.

If this is not a work for hire, which would already have a pre-determined home, once the project is complete it is a matter of knowing how to reach those people for whom your work is intended. An entire book could be devoted to the topic of marketing alone, of course, and certainly that has been done. But for the purposes of this discussion, I would like to suggest that if you have, for example, written a book on spirituality, you may find that there are many other ways to reach your audience outside of libraries and bookstores.

When you know who your work is for, then you can find creative ways to get your work out into the world. Does your audience use social media? Does your audience go to farmers markets? Does your audience attend Com-Con every year?

So, as you work on your next song, story, painting etc., think about who you want to reach and see if that changes anything. When you know who you’re talking to, they’re more likely to listen!

 

In Swimming Tigress news, I’ve just put up what will be the last lyric video from Ladybug Crossings for Loud! So much fun! I hope you enjoy it!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, canadian composer, canadian music, composer blogs, creative living, know your audience, ladybug crossings, lyric video, manitoba music, market your art, market your music, marketing, music blog, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists

Busting Out Of The Box – Trying On New Creative Roles

July 20, 2015 by tprochera 3 Comments

Hey guys!

So, I just finished working on a theatrical production currently running at our local Fringe Festival. Yay! This show has been such a journey and such a learning experience for me as it was the first time I have taken on the role of stage director.

And that’s what I want to talk about today.

Sometimes we can have the tendency to put ourselves in a box. When people ask us what we do we say, “I’m a writer” or “I’m an actor” or “I’m a country singer”. There may be a few items on that list if you consider yourself a multi-disciplinary person but many of us are very quick to declare what we do and what we don’t do and where our skills actually lie. And it certainly simplifies things to define ourselves for others in that way.

But a part of being creative, what can fuel us, is trying on new roles, expanding our horizons, flexing muscles we’ve never used before.

Here’s the thing. You don’t have to be great at it. It doesn’t have to signal a career change. In reading Creativity, Inc. – a book about the rise of Pixar Animation, which I have raved about in a previous post – we learn that Pixar encourages every employee, no matter what their role,  to take a class in using their proprietary animation software. They don’t do this because they want everyone to become great animators. The rationale is that, by being exposed to animation and drawing, employees will be encouraged to use their brains in ways they may not have been used to, helping them to approach their jobs and the world around them differently.

Whether it’s exploring a new area of your field or trying something completely different, you will undoubtedly be inspired and hopefully carry that knowledge into your area of expertise.

When I went to study music at university, the focus was on contemporary classical music, a genre I was somewhat unfamiliar with. As a composer, the idea of writing a piece that was not in any key or that used symbols and pictures instead of musical notes was a completely foreign concept to me. But what my education taught me more than anything was to conceive of sound in a different way, that it was not only the familiar structures and formations that could be considered beautiful. It was truly eye-opening for me and I had a blast in the process!

Yes, I have somewhat gone back to writing in more popular styles but the works are so much more dynamic because of my studies and what I’ve been exposed to. I have used my education to add some unexpected twists to what I already do.

So, even if you are a painter who has professed to have two left feet, why not try a dance class on for size? You’ll have fun, get some exercise, and connect more with your body and see what it’s capable of. If you are a dancer who swears they can’t draw stick figures, take an art class. You might find you can relate the stroke of a brush across the canvas to your feet gliding across the stage. If you are a die hard country singer, why not experiment with some classical or jazz or hip hop, even if it’s just on your own at home? You might even come up with an entirely new genre of music. You never know!

Who’s to say if I will ever get the opportunity to direct again or if I will ever chose to take on that role again? But I know that I have grown and learned so much from the experience – about leadership, about teamwork, about storytelling – and have had the opportunity to connect with some lovely, talented people whom I likely would not have met otherwise had I not taken the chance to try something new!

Speaking of new – in STM news, I have just released a new lyric video for Thanks from Ladybug Crossings. It’s a song all about showing gratitude. Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blogs about music, composer blogs, creative inspiration, creative living, creativity inc. book, ladybug crossings, manitoba music, music blog, swimming tigress music, tiffany prochera, tips for artists, tofaru, tools to create

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

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