S2 Bonus - Linda McIntyre on Music, Healing, and Community
04/10/24 • 62 min
At the heart of every challenge lies the potential for innovation, unity, and profound personal growth. Music, with its boundless capacity to express, heal, and unite, offers a unique vantage point on life's challenges.
This week I have the privilege to be joined by Linda McIntyre, a composer, conductor, and pioneer at the forefront of using music as a transformative force to bring light to the shadows of Parkinson's disease. Her work with the New Voice Choir not only showcases the transformative power of music but also the strength found in community and shared experiences.
In this episode, we uncover the layers of Linda's mission, diving into the relationship between music and wellness, the communal strength born from shared vulnerability, and the transformative journey of turning adversity into art. We explore the nuances of creating a safe, nurturing space where music serves as both a bridge and a destination, inviting us to consider the broader implications of artistic expression as a form of therapy and celebration.
Join us as we tune into the melodies of resilience, exploring how creativity, when fueled by love and resilience, can transcend personal challenges, and inspire collective healing and joy.
Topics Covered
- The interplay of music and healing in Parkinson's management
- Building community and support through choir participation
- Harnessing personal challenges as fuel for creative expression
- The transformative journey from individual struggle to collective strength
- The role of creativity in enhancing physical and mental well-being
- Adapting artistic practices for inclusivity and accessibility
- The importance and value of routine in sustaining creative projects
- Navigating the challenges of leadership and inspiration in therapeutic settings
- Music as a bridge between personal experience and communal healing
- The impact of collaborative art on overcoming societal stigmas
Transcript
You can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Linda's Bio & Resources
Linda is an award-winning composer, arranger, teacher, director, & performer – just an all-round muso, really! More recently, her PhD candidature has been added to the mix with the aim of producing a portfolio of new music based on a narrative of lived trauma.
As a composer with Parkinson’s, Linda is in a unique position to record a case study within her PhD, evaluating the impacts of Parkinson’s disease on her deepest levels of mathematical creativity across a period of years. Some surprising reverse developments have already come to light within this process!
She is the co-founder & musical director of New Voice Choir (NVC), a group that celebrates people with Parkinson’s and their supporters.
The combining of music composition with Parkinson’s, teaching, and the uplifting NVC community has become an abiding passion for Linda.
- NVC’s website: www.newvoicechoir.org.au
- Video: Fighting Parkinson’s the Musical Way
Zen Habits Resources
Connect with Leo
Email: [email protected]
Credits
Music: Salem Beladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard
At the heart of every challenge lies the potential for innovation, unity, and profound personal growth. Music, with its boundless capacity to express, heal, and unite, offers a unique vantage point on life's challenges.
This week I have the privilege to be joined by Linda McIntyre, a composer, conductor, and pioneer at the forefront of using music as a transformative force to bring light to the shadows of Parkinson's disease. Her work with the New Voice Choir not only showcases the transformative power of music but also the strength found in community and shared experiences.
In this episode, we uncover the layers of Linda's mission, diving into the relationship between music and wellness, the communal strength born from shared vulnerability, and the transformative journey of turning adversity into art. We explore the nuances of creating a safe, nurturing space where music serves as both a bridge and a destination, inviting us to consider the broader implications of artistic expression as a form of therapy and celebration.
Join us as we tune into the melodies of resilience, exploring how creativity, when fueled by love and resilience, can transcend personal challenges, and inspire collective healing and joy.
Topics Covered
- The interplay of music and healing in Parkinson's management
- Building community and support through choir participation
- Harnessing personal challenges as fuel for creative expression
- The transformative journey from individual struggle to collective strength
- The role of creativity in enhancing physical and mental well-being
- Adapting artistic practices for inclusivity and accessibility
- The importance and value of routine in sustaining creative projects
- Navigating the challenges of leadership and inspiration in therapeutic settings
- Music as a bridge between personal experience and communal healing
- The impact of collaborative art on overcoming societal stigmas
Transcript
You can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Linda's Bio & Resources
Linda is an award-winning composer, arranger, teacher, director, & performer – just an all-round muso, really! More recently, her PhD candidature has been added to the mix with the aim of producing a portfolio of new music based on a narrative of lived trauma.
As a composer with Parkinson’s, Linda is in a unique position to record a case study within her PhD, evaluating the impacts of Parkinson’s disease on her deepest levels of mathematical creativity across a period of years. Some surprising reverse developments have already come to light within this process!
She is the co-founder & musical director of New Voice Choir (NVC), a group that celebrates people with Parkinson’s and their supporters.
The combining of music composition with Parkinson’s, teaching, and the uplifting NVC community has become an abiding passion for Linda.
- NVC’s website: www.newvoicechoir.org.au
- Video: Fighting Parkinson’s the Musical Way
Zen Habits Resources
Connect with Leo
Email: [email protected]
Credits
Music: Salem Beladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard
Previous Episode
S2 Ep06 - Deepening in Commitment
Questioning our commitment to a project each time we face resistance or doubt undermines the foundation of our creative practice. However, attempting to create without acknowledging and incorporating our fears into the process can result in a lack of authenticity and depth in our work. By understanding and embracing our fears, we uncover ways to forge a deeper, more resilient commitment to our projects.
In this episode, we discuss the critical role of commitment in creative work and examine the fears and doubts that challenge it. We unpack how these forces, seemingly at odds, can actually fuel our journey towards meaningful work. We explore the shadows of doubt that loom over our creative projects and unveil the strategies that help us embrace these fears, turning them into catalysts for deeper dedication and authenticity in our work.
Join me as we discover how acknowledging and working with our fears can lead to a more profound and fulfilling commitment to our creative projects.
Topics Covered
- The interplay of commitment and fear in creativity
- Identifying and overcoming creative fears
- Practical steps to cultivate commitment
- The role of scheduling and accountability
- Empowering creativity by acknowledging and addressing fears
- Embracing and managing disappointment in the creative process
- Expressing fears through creative work and finding meaning
Transcript
You can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Connect with Leo
Email: [email protected]
Resources
Credits
Music: Salem Beladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard
Next Episode
S2 Ep07 - Discovery in the Unknown & Being The Fool
As creators, we often find ourselves entangled in a web of indecision, perfectionism, and self-doubt, which prevents us from fully unlocking our creative potential. To liberate ourselves, we need to embrace the unknown, confronting and accepting the risks of failure, judgment, and feelings of inadequacy. But how can we transform our fear of the unknown into a playground of creativity and discovery?
In this episode, we explore the challenges and fears that hold us back from stepping into the unknown of our creative projects, and how adopting a stance of playful curiosity can lead us to unexpected discoveries. We examine how fear, resistance, and the quest for a "safe middle ground" affect our creative journeys and introduce the archetype of The Fool as a guiding principle in creative exploration.
Join me as we explore how the practice of stepping boldly into the unknown, armed with curiosity and a sense of adventure, can transform the creative process into a journey of self-discovery and meaningful expression.
Topics Covered
- The importance of exploring the unknown in creative projects
- Confronting and understanding the fears that prevent us from creative exploration
- The archetype of The Fool as a metaphor for embracing uncertainty and risk in creativity
- Overcoming indecision, perfectionism, and the fear of judgement
- The illusion of a "safe middle ground" in creativity and its pitfalls
- The role of curiosity, play, and adventure in transforming the creative process
- Adopting The Fool stance in creative endeavors
- Choosing a stand and stepping into the unknown with confidence and purpose
Transcript
You can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Connect with Leo
Email: [email protected]
Resources
Credits
Music: Salem Belladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard
Zen Habits Podcast - S2 Bonus - Linda McIntyre on Music, Healing, and Community
Transcript
Welcome to the Zen Habits podcast, where we dive into how to work with uncertainty, resistance, and fear around our meaningful work. This is for anyone who wants to create an impact in the world and cares deeply enough to do the work. I'm your host, Leo Babauta, creator of the Zen Habits blog.
Leo
I am honored to be here with a friend of mine, Linda McIntyre. Did I say your name right?
Linda
Yes.
Leo
I think it's an
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