From August 24 to 30, the creative seminar “Create to Connect” was held in Slovak towns of Kopčany and Stupava. Mariia had the opportunity to be part of the project and now wants to share how it went!
The journey to the venue was long and challenging, but it was definitely worth it! The project brought me many wonderful discoveries about the world of music and the people who are part of it, and showed me that even “non-creative” person can open up and find something for themselves with the right approach.
I especially loved creating composition with our team using a looper. We even used the “whistle” made by blowing across the neck of a glass bottle, as well as tapping on the most unexpected surfaces. The whole process, and especially the moment of performing it, felt like a kind of meditation – you become one with the music and stop thinking about everything else.
I also want to mention the workshop where we made shakers from flexible branches of threes or stemes of nettle, small stones and shells. At some point, it reminded me of my childhood, when we tried to make music out of anything we could find around us.
After the project, I felt very grounded, inspired, open to creativity, and much more confident. For the first time, I had the experience of creating a musical instrument with my own hands. I thought it was something far beyond my strength, but, surprisingly, it turned out really well and the process itself was fascinating as well
The project also partly brought back my love for playing the guitar and singing, because it was hard not to feel inspired there – there was always someone playing something, humming, singing or talking about music. Mistakes were an inevitable part of the process and were completely accepted, which felt quite therapeutic after the reality of a strict post-soviet music school mentality
The dynamic between the participants also contributed to the learning process: everyone was incredibly friendly and patient. More experienced participants supported those who needed it and shared their knowledge.
I loved our bike rides to the place where we had lunch and dinner. A small village, hardly any cars, pleasant paved roads, tidy streets and warm conversations with the other participants. Unexpectedly, I even got to visit the Czech Republic. During our free time, we cycled a few kilometres and found ourselves sitting on the riverbank in another country, finishing our musical shakers made from nettle.
If you are hesitating or afraid to go – try it with the fear, and you will learn everything on the way!
