{"id":7279,"date":"2018-04-09T10:56:14","date_gmt":"2018-04-09T15:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christophergronlund.com\/blog\/tjw\/?p=7279"},"modified":"2018-04-09T10:56:14","modified_gmt":"2018-04-09T15:56:14","slug":"on-repeated-success-with-creative-endeavors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.christophergronlund.com\/blog\/tjw\/2018\/04\/09\/on-repeated-success-with-creative-endeavors\/","title":{"rendered":"On Repeated Success (With Creative Endeavors)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"KentuckyI did not come pre-package with musical aptitude. In fifth grade, I joined my elementary school’s orchestra. I played violin. I practiced more than most classmates and was understanding things enough that I wanted to learn how to tune my violin.<\/p>\n

The orchestra teacher said, “No!”<\/p>\n

Not just a soft “no,” but a stern “No!” that made the entire thing seem like he loathed his job, children, and maybe even music. (I’m sure that’s not the case…I have to at least believe he liked music.)<\/p>\n

Feeling like a bother (and not liking the man at all), I handed in my violin and never played another instrument for decades.<\/p>\n

Enter the Ukulele<\/h2>\n

One day while listening to Still Untitled: the Adam Savage Project<\/a> (podcast), Mythbusters’ Adam Savage talked about how he keeps a ukulele in his office because, when he needs to think (but not actively<\/em> think), he likes strumming on a ukulele.<\/p>\n

He said something to the effect of simply playing a few chords relaxes him and helps him clear his mind. Solutions to things are often revealed in those moments…much like how ideas come to people while doing the dishes. That act of doing something else and letting the subconscious do its thing can often be all one needs.<\/p>\n

So I bought a ukulele for my birthday a few years ago…all so I could play a few chords.<\/p>\n

Of Course…<\/h2>\n

A few chords were not enough. I learned to play some songs on the ukulele. And I knew if I practiced regularly that I could play much more. Hell, I might even learn how to read music and other things that always seemed foreign to me. Why…I might even buy another<\/em> instrument and learn to play it<\/em>!<\/p>\n

To that point, I bought a mandolin a few weeks ago. I can now play a handful of chords and totally pluck away at “Dirty Old Town<\/a>” and “Crested Hens<\/a>.” Not very well, mind you, but well enough that I have played along with my wife (who plays harp and fiddle…among other instruments).<\/p>\n

This is a thing I will “get” … like writing, juggling, and other things I do.<\/p>\n

James Kochalka On Creativity<\/h2>\n

Austin Kleon<\/a> recently shared a link to this short James Kochalka<\/a>.<\/p>\n