Finales and Full Hearts

If you are a long time reader of our newsletter, you may know that I am a classically trained musician. I was a music performance major at CU here in Boulder, before I went on to get my fashion design degree at FIDM in Los Angeles. I still have a passion for classical music, and attending a live performance is one of my great creative energizers.

Last Friday was the season finale of the Colorado Music Festival at the Chautauqua auditorium, which is at the base of our scenic Flatirons here in Boulder. I have a connection to the festival because the founding conductor (Giora Bernstein) was my conductor in the CU orchestra.

Anyway, here's what I wanted to share:
There is a magic moment, toward the end of the last piece of a concert, on the final performance at the end of the season, when the musicians hearts are full, and they play with such emotion and passion, that it hangs in the air like a thunder cloud that is ready to release a lightning bolt.

Being a musician, I like to be part of that moment. Often the center front seat in front of the conductor is actually a cheaper seat, and it's as close as you can get to being in the orchestra during the performance. So last night I saw their eyes become moist, I saw the bittersweet smiles and glances exchanged as they entered the last dramatic section of Beethoven's 5th. At the end, as the audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation for the whole season, I saw the musicians embrace and say good-bye and good luck in the next year.

Over the years, living in LA, Hong Kong and NYC… and for many years now in Boulder….I've had musician friends whose craft requires a heart full of soul and passion, which is expressed through their art. Sound familiar? Often they help me to see things from another point of view, or their artistic passions inspire me to create in my own medium.

Many of you use music in your studio or workspace to motivate and inspire, but I have to share that experiencing a live performance, when possible, casts a golden creative glow that lasts for a long time. (and it is extended when I play a CD of the same inspiring music)

When I was a young designer, some of my greatest inspiration came from the street musicians playing down in the New York subway platforms…their improvised music echoing through the tubular acoustics of the underground chambers. Those were bittersweet moments too – seeing such talent being expressed by a lonely musician on a sweltering train platform.

Try adding some music to your creative process – live music or perhaps some unusual world music CDs – and see what happens!