Suffering from writer's block or just don't feel like rehearsing? Perhaps it's time to rearrange your studio space. I'm very interested in Feng Shui, as it introduces the concept of energy flows. Think of a river of water flowing through your house and throughout all of the rooms – Where would eddies form and turbulence be found? Where would be the strongest flows, and in which direction? Where is the water stagnant?
If you're not blessed with your own studio, or if a room in your house shares this purpose with another function, there are still ways to make creativity more accessible. Many of us begin our musical journeys locked away for hours of practise in the bedroom. If your partner doesn't agree with using the bedroom as a rehearsal space, your talents may be relegated to another part of the house. How does your "music room" look – Is it arranged for sleeping/eating? Is it super clean, or is it just a mess? Some people work better in cluttered conditions; you have definitely got to take your personal preferences into account. The key to this, in my opinion, is useful clutter.
Define what the functions of this room are: Whether you need it for writing, rehearsing, recording, or all of the above, make these distinctions clear in your mind. If it is the bedroom, then you must also allow space for rest. If it is the office, then you must also allow space for work. If it is another room, or if you share the room with another person, then do not deny that room its other purpose.
Now that you have defined these functions, put everything else away. If there are clothes all over the floor, put them in a basket or in the closet. If there are papers everywhere, find a space for them on or in the desk. Try to be as organised and conscious as possible – Ask yourself about each item in the room (even things that seem trivial, like chairs or trinkets): What purpose does this serve? Is it necessary for it to be here? Sometimes things that have "always" been there can cause the worst blockages, because you have become used to them, and therefore unconscious to their effects. If you find yourself defining additional functions for this room as you go along, then make sure to create a space for those as well (For instance, the bedroom may need a defined area for dressing; the office may be next to the laundry room and need a space for folding clothes). Work with what you've got, define an area for each, and clear out the spaces in between.
This may leave you feeling like all of your household functions have been crammed into little bubbles, but hopefully by now you can see the paths in between them. You can now spread back out a bit: Arrange everything along these paths, making sure to keep them open. If there are certain functions that need to be separated completely in order for them to work, consider adding a screen or curtain (removeable if necessary), or rearranging the furniture so that part of the room is devoted to each. You should feel when you walk into the room that it would be easy to begin any of the tasks you have defined (whether music, resting, work, or laundry), because they are all ready and accessible.
A lot of this has been pretty general advice for the home – I suggest reading up on Feng Shui a bit more if you need help getting the arrangement right for particular rooms.
Here are some more tips purely for getting the musical "chi" flowing:
Make a space for writing/creativity:
Keep a notepad and pen nearby. Purchase a dictaphone to capture fleeting melodies and other ideas.
Surround this space with inspirational objects, pictures, or colours. This can be anything from posters of your heroes to record sleeves, art, candles, books, etc. If you can't paint the walls, add some fabric or other decorations with your favourite colours. A friend of mine even wrote a cheque to herself for $10,000 and hung it on the wall to prepare herself for the royalty cheques she will one day be receiving! Think about what really gets your creative juices flowing, and keep those things at hand.
If the thought of practising your instrument feels difficult, consider why that may be:
Do you keep your guitar inside its case, or displayed on a stand, ready to be picked up? Guitars are beautiful instruments! Let it compliment the decor of the room.
Are you getting bored of playing un-plugged because your amp is too fucking big for a residential neighbourhood? Consider buying a practise amp – They're not too pricey, easy to carry around, and most have a jack for headphones so you can keep playing after hours. Check out the Roland Micro Cube – It's a solid little amp.
If your keyboard is shoved up against a wall, try turning it around so that you can face the rest of the room while you play. You wouldn't perform to the wall on stage, would you? I keep my keyboard angled at 90º next to the desk, so that it is accessible both as a piano and as a MIDI controller. Plus it looks like a UFO control station that way, which is pretty sweet.
Keep accessories such as leads, guitar picks, extra strings, and carrying cases neat and tidy, and ready to be used. This will help both for practising at home and packing up in a hurry for gigs.
Additional reading on Feng Shui:
