TakeLessons Shares Fool-Proof Methods to Avoid a Creative Slump

Online, February 6, 2012 (Newswire.com) - OK Go are known for their creative music videos, and their most recent release is definitely on par. In their newest video, the band members use a car with retractable arms to play over 1,000 instruments installed on the side of a desert track.

Musicians are usually creative by nature. But sometimes - especially if music is set on the backburner instead of a career - it can be all too easy to get caught up with the routine of life. TakeLessons (http://takelessons.com), the nation's fastest growing music lessons provider, took the opportunity to shares some ideas for avoiding the inevitable creative slump when music isn't placed as a top priority.

The following is an excerpt from the TakeLessons blog post:

"1. Surround yourself with creative people. Hang out with writers, musicians, poets and artists. Often, just being in a creative environment will inspire you and refresh your creative mind.
2. Start somewhere. Whether it's creative writing in Word or sheet music, the brain will eventually loosen up and it will be easier to break through the barrier and come up with ideas.
3. Expose yourself. Expose yourself to new art - books, music, paintings - all the time. If you're a rocker, listen to funk. If you're a crime writer, read fantasy. If you're a productivity writer, read something about slacking off.
4. Do something new. Play chess. Read a book if you usually watch television and watch television if you read. Go outside. Sing in the shower.
5. Meet new people from different walks of life. Gain insight into their perspectives on life. Strike up a conversation on the bus.
6. Shut out the world. Instead of sucking in new information, sit quietly, go to sleep or meditate. Stop thinking and clear your mind so that the clutter doesn't get in the way of your thoughts.
7. Don't be a workaholic - take breaks. Your mind needs a chance to wind down so it doesn't overheat and crash.
8. Experiment randomly. What does a flanger sound like on a vocal track? Like Lenny Kravitz, of course.
9. Exercise every day, before you sit down to be creative. If you exercise afterward, you'll get the creative burst - just too late.
10. Spend time with your children. Or someone else's."

By sharing the tips with blog readers, TakeLessons hopes to continue engaging current students and help with any musical goals they may have. Readers are invited to share their thoughts by commenting on the TakeLessons blog, where they can also read about the causes of stage fright, and comments are also welcomed on Facebook (http://facebook.com/takelessons).