Inspiration Through Change

Just wanted to let you know how things were going with the changing of my work/creative space.

After getting my home office/music room set up the way I wanted, my next step is to reformat both my admin and audio computers.

I have been very busy over the last few days but now I’m at the stage in which I can start working and creating again.

Another resolution I made for 2009 was to attempt to use open source software as much as I can in my working and creative life. I’ve installed Kubuntu on my admin system and Ubuntu Studio on my audio system.

Kubuntu is working fine and I now have my computer looking like an open source version of my old Windows XP install however, what I’m most keen to have a closer look at is Ubuntu Studio.

Ubuntu Studio is a stand alone audio, graphics and video suite that is 100% open source.

It’s its own operating system with a very long list of features and programs included in the package. I promise I’ll keep you all informed on my progress, learning and using Ubuntu Studio.

The reason why I’m telling you this is because, through changing my work/creative environment and now completing the computer reistallations I’ve given myself a new lease of creativity and freedom.

I’m excited again and ready to get back into writing songs again with much gusto.

The old adage of “a change is as good as a holiday” rings very true in my life at the moment but to achieve the same effect in your songwriting process doesn’t mean you have to make any drastic changes.

In her article “Time For Change – Expanding Your Songwriting Process” Andrea Stolpe says that changing your songwriting process often is important because “keeping the ideas fresh and flowing often requires a lot of flexibility. It’s easy to suddenly find ourselves in a dead space, a plateau where all the shimmer is gone from our ideas”

Some recommendations she makes are:

If you write music first, try words first (and vice versa)
Try writing on piano instead of guitar
Let your musicality take over
Write little motifs, and songwriting ideas
Get out of your comfort zone

Just as changing my whole way of doing business and being creative (new environment/new operating system) has sparked inspiration and excitement you too can give yourself and your songwriting a fresh start just by doing something a little different.

Inspiration through change. Hmmm, has a nice ring to it.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: kubuntu, ubuntu studio, open source, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, songwriting resource, corey stewart

Be Sociable, Share!

No related posts.

Tags: audio, Corey Stewart, kubuntu, music, open source software, song, Songwriter, Songwriting, songwriting blog, songwriting idea, songwriting tip, Songwriting Zen, ubuntu studio, writing, zen

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 Corey Stewart, Songwriting Process

5 Comments to Inspiration Through Change

Stephen Cope says:

January 21, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Inspiration through change. Astute. I took a creative writing course from Neil Newell (he’s a professional creative non-fiction writer) and he gave an assignment where we were to walk or drive home a different way and to think about what ideas come up. We see different things, live in different world views, realize so much just by changing directions.

Also, good thought, going open source. Nearly everything I use is open source (or free like the Google apps). It’s like going vegan and I love it.

Great post, Corey.

- Stephen
http://songwritten.org