Some people count sheep, some drink warm milk (yuk).  Some take sleep aids.  I write.  I keep thinking of this gentleman I heard speak about creativity in music through improvisation yesterday.  He’s quite the thing, with degrees from the Eastman School of Music, teaching at the Hartt School of Music and now at his alma mater as faculty, along with being an active musician/performer.  Certainly makes for a great looking vitae, but what I marveled at was how he thinks, particularly how he thinks about something as complex as improvisation (at least for most of us) in such a simple way.  He was the consummate teacher, keeping a roomful of music educators active and engaged for an hour and half, AFTER we had all taught all day AND sat through another meeting before his session.  Pretty amazing.

I was challenged and slightly hacked off at myself.  Why hadn’t I spent more time studying harder, really learning my craft, keeping my voice in top shape, attending more workshops, attaining more degrees.  If he had been all full of himself, I might have overlooked all this but on top of everything else, he was a nice guy.  He just happens to be extremely passionate about what he does and pursues it the nth degree.

But, aren’t I passionate too?  I think I am. Don’t I believe in the power of music and music education for everyone?  If I really believed that, wouldn’t I too be pursuing all of these other things?  Or do I settle for knowing just enough to be dangerous or get by?  I’m not looking for reassurance or compliments or agreement, just thinking out loud.  I know my life has taken a very different path, sometimes MANY different paths at once, and some might say I’ve done pretty well, but when I have the opportunity to meet someone who really excels at what they do, I’m in awe.  What is it that these people have that others don’t?  What drives them?  How do they keep up the energy?

I watched as he gave his presentation, this man who is about my age, walking around the stage, crouching down to speak to us, (without his knees creaking I might add) sitting on the edge of the stage, then hopping up in one smooth movement to play the piano, no notes in front of him, doing his thing.  There’s just something about watching and listening to someone who is totally sold on what they do and who wants to share it with others.  He was focused and articulate, informed and again, engaging.  I want to be him when I grow up.

As I write this, I think I see that focus may be the key,  but then that means finding that singular passion, the “jackhammer” personality as author Elizabeth Gilbert labels it.  For those of us who flit from interest to interest, is there any way we could ever be that focused?  Can I be that focused?  Do I WANT to be that focused? Does being that focused keep you from just experiencing things or does it enhance how you experience things?  So many questions!

Anyway, I was inspired.  Maybe not inspired to play jazz piano, but inspired to try some new simple techniques in my classroom.  Or inspired to get in better shape.  Or maybe inspired do some music for myself for a change.  An old dog can learn new tricks.  But an old dog doesn’t function well with no sleep so hopefully the writing has helped.  If not, I guess I’ll be counting sheep. Wish me luck!