Justin, Orion and Xander playing homemade instruments Also find me at recyclemaui.com. See my other videos for more homemade instruments. Info for this fun and talented trio can be found at bcbcsb.com I repeat, check em out at BCBCSB.COM

This video was picked at random through an automated function of Creative-Music.org. I am a big fan of creativity and I love it when people have the ambition to create their own instruments. I thought using an automated function would be a great way to showcase lots of different kinds of instruments without my own influences showing through too much. Hopefully I have set up the filters well enough that the videos chosen by the process will be fitting for this blog. If in the odd chance that this video does not fit the purpose of the blog, I apologize!

I have to admit that by nature I am a very logical thinker.  It is my natural tendency to look at things in a very straightforward black and white way, and to take things literally for what they are.   That makes it hard for me sometimes to understand certain kinds of art, as well as certain kinds of poetry and other kinds of writing.

When it comes to music, I really want to be able to stretch  myself to be more creative, and because of my nature sometimes I have to really force that.  I don’t think that’s a problem, though.  I certainly don’t let that hold me back.  In fact, I think part of the fun of being creative is pushing your own boundaries when it comes to the way you think.

A great way to push those boundaries is to try to look at every day things a little bit differently.

Look at a picture or a painting that you have in your house that you’ve probably seen hundreds if not thousands of times.

Now try to look at it differently.

Try to pick out some things about that painting or picture that you’ve never noticed before.  What kinds of things are happening?  What kinds of things are going on in the background?

What kinds of feeling does the color create?  Is it bright and cheerful?  Is it deep and thoughtful?

Here’s the tough part… if you were going to create a piece of music that represented those things that were happening in the picture, or those feelings that were created, how would that music sound?  What kinds of instruments would be used?  What kinds of rhythms would be played?

That may sound weird to you, but give it a try.  See if you can train your brain to find musical inspiration out of a picture or a painting.  If you can’t, move on to a different one.  Even if you can, move on to a different one.   Exercise your ability to find inspiration in odd places.