creating spark ...

One mild Spring evening last week, I found myself sitting in the second row of our Launceston theatre, watching the comings - and goings, of musicians tuning up, tuning in and arriving in their creative space.

House lights up. People being shown to seats. The crunch and wrinkle of popcorn and chocolate wrappers.

I watched people from the string section, then the woodwinds, next the percussion people and lastly the keyboard man at the back of the stage - wander in, seemingly at their leisure. Wiggle around in their chairs, pluck at their music sheets on stands at extended arms’ length (how do they SEE the notes at that distance?) and chat quietly to their fellow symphony orchestra colleagues. Arriving in their creative space.

House lights still up.

I noticed the shoes - some shiny and detailed, others scuffed and in need of a good clean. Next, I paid attention to the music makers’ clothing. Again, some shiny with bling. Interspersed with utilitarian matt black. And then I observed hair styles (ladies) and others in need of a wife’s reminder to get a haircut.

Disparate and diverse people from all walks of life, coming together to make something special happen.

House lights down.

Like my time at the museum in Brisbane in January, the music opened the door to my creative space. Yes, I enjoyed the show tunes and the amazing singers, the shiny instruments and the dad jokes offered up by conductor Guy Noble.

But even more, my body was still while my mind exploded with the possibilities for believing that I too, can be creative.