Lately I have been trying to set up my daily schedule so that I do very specific things at specific times, so that the habit gets locked in. For example one new habit is the Sunset Chicken Visit. Every day close to sunset my husband takes the dog for a walk. I use that as my cue to drop whatever I’m doing and head out to the chicken coop to deliver their food, water and snacks. This has been working really well because it’s a small enough task that I can jump up and take care of it. We’re not talking clean the entire coop — just a quick delivery!
I was trying to think of a similar habit to encourage making music every day. I really enjoy sitting at the piano while having my morning coffee (being very careful not to get coffee on the piano!!!); I enjoy playing random melodies and figuring out chords to accompany them. But since my music notation skills are still weak, when I scratch stuff down, it’s by spelling the chords out. On one sheet of notebook paper there’s the melody, the chord symbols, the chord voicing spelled out, and maybe some noteheads to indicate a rhythm. It’s hard to read.
What would be pleasant to write on? Easier to read?
When I was in elementary school, I always liked using the giant paper that had room for a drawing at the top and writing at the bottom.
Like this paper, found here:
https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/language/writing-grammar/red-baseline-jumbo-picture-story-newsprint/p/TA2694/
So I got myself some fancy graph paper. The sheets are huge (11 x 17) and are bound to a stiff cardboard backing. The paper is blank on the back, and is solid enough that it stands up to lots of erasing. It sits beautifully on the piano’s music ledge. I also got some 3-ring binders that are 11 x 17 and open sideways (landscape orientation).
I’m not going to be taping my art to the refrigerator, so I thought this might be a good way to make a ritual out of it. Look, look! Another sheet in the special binder!
My goal is to fill a page with ideas every morning. Noodling. Remember I write really big, like a second grader, so “filling a page” is not a lot. Yesterday’s page took two hours and today’s took an hour and 15 minutes.
I remember reading Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way; she talks about making a habit of morning writing
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*–they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow.
https://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/
So I will be doing Morning Noodle Pages!
