The Seeds of Creativity

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Plato.

A few summer holidays ago we had a couple of beautifully sunny weeks in Winchester followed by rain in The Lakes. No surprises there then. My friend from Preston told me you need two coats for the north; one to wear, and one to be drying. I got a selfie with Eric Morecombe (‘s statue), and listened to the life story of a beachfront shopkeeper who’s been selling buckets and spades there for the last 50 years. It’s a very different world ‘int’ north. We noticed all the eager pro fell walkers with their shiny poles and puffy gaiters, but found reading and eating yummy home made cakes in the vibey cafe’s far more appealing.

It was in one of these that I came across a fascinating article about the research done by Susan Hallam, professor of education and music psychology at the University of London. She had just published a report about how music lessons really do benefit and improve the educational achievement of children. She states, ‘recent research in the study of the brain have enhanced our understanding of the way in which music can influence other activities – musical experiences actually improve the way the brain processes information’.

Apparently 8 year olds who play an instrument ‘outperform others in language tests’, and those playing rhythm instruments are helped with numeracy, with ‘most of the intellectual benefits of music coming when students learn at primary age’.

But everyone knows there has always been something powerful about music. Earlier that year we went to the Cheltenham Jazz Festival to see Lake Street Dive, a band from New York. We had front row seats, and out walks this guy as the support act. Never heard of him, and to be honest it was uncomfortably hot inside the tent (a sweltering May of all months!) and we just wanted to see the band we had paid for. But we politely sat and listened. It was a guy called Jake Isaac – just him and a guitar. Although we could only make out snippets of the lyrics, and he sang just 4 or 5 songs, it turned out to be an intensely moving experience.

This is something you cannot teach or even learn, but it is a gift. I’m sure there was a moment when he picked up the guitar for the first time, his fingers fumbling through some awkward sounding chords. But then he returned – again and again to slowly master his instrument. And now many people are benefitting from this hard work.

We learn the guitar, write stories, build lego, draw pictures, and yet no-one knows what will emerge in time from these seeds of creativeness. But with feeding, watering, cultivating, these seeds might grow into something unique and special for others to appreciate.