Change Your Environment
QUICK TIPS
Ideas to Put into Practice Now!
1. Alternate Nostril Breathing
Take a big, slow inhale in through your nose while
holding your right nostril closed. Then, switch your
finger over to close your left nostril and slowly exhale
back out the nose. Repeat that drill a few times over
and feel the tension go away. The oxygen alternating
between your nostrils focuses your brain power on
a very simple yet specific task, relieving your worries
about the performance.
2. Write & Hang with Other Artists
Teresa Cirillo suggests changing up your process
and collaborating to inspire new ideas and beat the
creative blockage.
3. Try Yoga
Down-regulatory exercise like yin-yoga calms the ner-
vous system, resets the body and mind, and allows us
to focus with clarity and get back to being productive.
Jay Bowcott
If you want to
change your out-
come, change your
environment in search of a
spark. “If you are in the city,
try heading to the country. If
you play guitar, try writing on
the piano. If you usually write
rock music, try stepping into
another genre like R&B or
country,” Black suggests.
The process is also
something an artist needs to
consider. It can be tedious
work. With that in mind, I
reached out to Jay Bowcott,
a household name on the
Western Canadian touring
circuit, and asked him what
strategies he uses in order
to keep the creative process
flowing.
“I switch up what I’m
working on,” he begins. “I go from exercises on guitar to rehearsing songs to
writing and then throw a little drawing in there. The ticket is organizing your
time into sections and making each of those things productive. For example,
a half-hour of scales, half-hour of applying said scales to songs, half-hour
of lyric memorization, and half-hour of guitar part rehearsal. Songwriting is
interspersed in there whenever I randomly get inspired. Drawing is for when
my ears get tired.”
Teresa Cirillo
I hope you were able to take something away from this read, and if so, reach
out and let me know what’s up.
Until next time, stay sweet.
Mike Schwartz (Ba, HLC, PTS, Pn) is a Certified Personal Trainer,
holistic lifestyle coach, nutrition coach, author, musician, and the
lifestyle tech of the music industry. Hailing from Calgary, AB, his
passion to improve the quality of life of others has led him to found
MusicFit Collective, an online service that provides every musician
with access to a network of professionals and the knowledge and
support to help alleviate common lifestyle issues. When he’s not
coaching, you can find Mike playing drums, producing music,
cycling, running his dog Darwin along the river, or sipping a smooth
Americano. Reach out to Mike at [email protected].
Black suggests to “borrow,
without stealing, ideas from
other artists’ songs – maybe
a chord progression or a spe-
cific bass line. Lots of music,
especially in this climate, is
directly inspired by other mu-
sic. It’s not ‘stealing’ to listen to
music and find inspiration.”
I totally agree, so naturally,
I wanted to find some artists
that could speak to this and
came across Calgary singer/
songwriter Hayden McHugh.
He ensures he gets out to
other shows to fuel the inspi-
ration in his own music and
suggests other artists do the
same. That’s a solid reason to
get out and support your local
scene if you ask me.
4. Pick Up An(other) Instrument
Teresa Cirillo suggests challenging yourself by learning
a new skill to break through writer’s block.
5. Take a Walk
Andre Kaden Black likes to bust through creative
blocks by going for a quick walk outside and surround-
ing himself with nature. Rather stay inside? There are
plenty of ways to get your body moving for the better
indoors.
6. Drink Water
Stay hydrated with two to three litres every day. Carry
a water bottle around with you with three elastic
bands on it. Each time you re-fill the bottle, remove
an elastic band. Also, squeeze some fresh lemon in
your water to increase alkalinity and support nutrient
absorption!
7. Meditate
A great way to refocus and reenergize. Don’t know
where to start? There’s an app for that. Check out the
one I use called Headspace for easy, guided medita-
tion and soothing sleep aides.
8. Journal
There’s an app for that, too. Pick up Daylio or, if
you’re old school like me and prefer handwriting your
thoughts, I actually have a journal available called
“Start With U: 21-Day Self-Love Challenge” Get your
personalized copy at Musicfit.ca when you claim your
all-access pass!
9. Borrow & B uild on Other Music
As Andre Kaden Black says, it’s the highest form of
flattery and a great way to generate new ideas and
inspire new directions.
10. Unplug
Reduce your screen time and watch your productivity
and creativity increase. Delete the most common
time-wasting apps on your phone and stay off of social
media for a week. You’ll live, trust me.
11. Draw, Build, Create
Put yourself outside of your comfort zone to spur cre-
ative growth. Try a new art form and don’t be afraid to
fail. Your confidence will grow every time you try some-
thing that makes you uncomfortable. Give it a shot. Do
something awesome!
C ANADIAN MUSICIAN • 41