Ever watch a small child at play? They are constantly inventing new approaches, improvising how to fit things together, creatively weaving different realities into their actions. They can take a small box and make it into a rocket ship that will take them to the moon. They can build a structure out of blocks and have a time machine that whisks them away to faraway lands.
We all are born with a creative streak deep inside of us. We all showcase that creativeness … for awhile. Then something comes along and teaches us to put our creative juices far away and learn how to live in the modern world.
Yes, our current approach to school doesn’t cater to the true creative. All you have to do is look at where funding cuts happen most – arts, music – to understand where the emphasis is being placed.
Our modern education system is built around rationalization and memorization. We want students who will be obedient, do as they are told, and become great at STEM subject matters. The problem is that line of thinking doesn’t cut it for 100 percent of our society.
This approach develops our rational mind, without allowing the creative mind to come out to play.
And when the two are out of balance, it impedes our creativity, success, happiness and overall fulfillment with life.
Which is why it’s important to develop both sides of your mind from an early age. Ideally we can do this in a variety of ways.
Start with language
We use language to learn, to share, to communicate, and to express our ideas. Language isn’t just our words, language is also found in music, in singing, in dancing, or even in expressing ourselves through art. Studying music theory and harmony helps develop different parts of your brain. So does playing and listening to pieces by great composers.
Experiment with music
Piano playing doesn’t have to mean the same old sounds over and over again. With piano comes melody, which means even simple pieces of music will quickly resonate with the listener. Experiment with a variety of different genres – jazz, classical, R&B, pop, even rock can all add to the depth of our character. And give you the ability of expanding your horizons and build your knowledge of different cultures.
Be creative forever
There is a great Gandhi quote that sums up great living.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
Some skills you can learn early in life and keep expanding on until the day you die. Music is one of them. And playing the piano helps you bring in music theory at all levels. The more you practice, the better you become, the more challenge you seek, the more you discover … about yourself and about our world. Piano playing allows you to express your creative side. It can help you overcome challenges by putting your mind onto a different task. It can help you master not just playing the piano itself, but also how to connect different pieces of our world.
If you are looking for an activity that can help you awaken your creativity, something that can give you lifelong pleasure, look no further than the piano.
