-
MLT Notebook, can make a difference in your life like their music
Back in the summer of 2022, I got a job offer from a former customer of mine in telecom. At the time I had a good steady job I found after I got let go from my earlier job of 30 years, and I really did not know if I should take a chance with this new job, with all the risks, forgoing my seniority at my current job, and go into a 6 months probation period etc, etc… In my journal I started writing the pros and cons of taking this new job. Magically by the end of the exercise I got my answer, I found my intuition. I took the new job, and a year and a half later, I am so glad I took the job. It is so much more rewarding than my previous job. Hand writing in a journal is powerful, if you haven’t done it, I highly recommend it. Tap into your subconcious intuition.
What does this have to do with MLT and music? Well I started transcribing MLT “When We’re Together” album song lyrics into my new MLT Notebook, and wow, I felt another dimension to MLTs songs. It gave me more insight into the songs, like “This Boy”, I see it in a new light. Some brilliant song writing. If you haven’t tried transcribing by hand MLT songs, try it in the new MLT Notebooks, I swear it makes you feel the meaning of the song even more, by letting the song lyrics flow through you, from your eyes, to your brain, to the hand, to the paper That process, as many studies have shown, some how makes those words and thoughts become a part of you. In school, hand transcribing concepts from a text book into a notebook in my own hand writing, always helped me to learn better and do better on exams. A lot of studies have shown it works to help improve memory and understanding. You somehow make those words your own when you hand write it down. It’s a great idea for one of the ways to make use of the MLT Notebook. Transcribing to notebook Orange and Why albums are next.
I also appreciate having the MLT handwritten Scribble Art Lyrics.
A few years ago, in the Ask the MLT forum post about photography, Lisa recommended some youtube photographers she follows, and one of them is Peter McKinnon, a fellow Canadian in Toronto and a very popular photographer. I enjoyed following him since then, and interestingly he started journaling, and 2 years later, the benefits he found from it is inspiring. Here is his youtube video. “I did this for 800 days and it changed my life”. Get the MLT Writers Bundle (notebook and pen).
I loved hearing Mona today in the Livestream, talk about how she journals before going to bed, to calm/relax her. Absolutely, handwriting in your journal is magic, is chicken soup for the soul. It connects you to your inner intuition, you might not find otherwise.
-
37 Replies
-
OMG Jung, this is freaky! Just a couple days ago I was pondering what I should use the MLT journal for, and I came up with the same idea! Since I have so many fountain pens to keep flowing (thanks to someone else we know :D) I thought that would be perfect. I thought I would also write more “typical” journal entries with reflections of thoughts or feelings after listening to MLT music and record what effect it has on my frame of mind and attitude. Glad you shared this. Now I feel almost like part of a collective consciousness!
-
Hi Roger,
For my Orange and Why album lyrics, I was thinking of doing each song in a different ink color. I would have to ink up more of my fountain pens with different colors. 😁 Writing my own reflections and feelings down in the notebook when I listen to an MLT song sounds like a great idea I didn’t think of, thanks. The intricate Duo Session II album artwork on the notebook cover also fosters a creative mind set.
BTW, have you noticed the hidden reference to the Orange album on the notebook cover?
-
Oh my! I hadn’t though about different colors! Now I’m going to have to buy some because I only have blacks and near-black purples. That is such a great idea! I hadn’t really explored any of the meanings of anything on the cover; I tend just to enjoy the artwork at face value rather than trying to read anything into it or derive hidden meanings that are most likely all in my imagination. In this case, everything there is clearly purposefully representing something, mostly songs. But I’ll have to take a closer look. I did notice that for the notebook cover they had to narrow it down because it isn’t square, so she chopped about 1/4 of it out on the right side and then slid the individual elements to the left, and also moved the crest/boilerplate up a bit to reveal some additional detail that was covered up on the album cover, which is kinda cool.
-
You and Jung make me smile with fond memories of school when I used almost exclusively fountain and cartridge pens for my writing exercises and classes. Then thanks to some thoughtless n’er do wells that figured it would be funny to use the pens as an ink flinging weapon the school banned their use completely. But they were such a treat to write with!
Now today I use the smooth flowing rollerball type for my music notes. But what a grand idea to chart the lyrics!!! I write down lyrics and draw out my own tabs for memorization purposes when learning new songs, but never even thought about getting more in depth with the songs meanings by doing that (duh). Once again Jung you school me with your wisdom and insight.😉
Looking forward to chatting with everyone this afternoon/evening! -
Thanks Daryl, it seems writing down anything, fosters more creativity and inspiration from inside. I’ve read Stephen King does all his writing rough draft by hand first, Hemingway too. All the great 60’s song writers like the Beatles wrote their music with pen and paper.
I’ve personally experienced how when I feel overwhelmed and frustrated with obscurity with thoughts and stress pulling me in a dozen different directions, I start hand writing in my work or personal journal, and it immediately calms me and gives me insight and perspective I otherwise would not have found, and I work my way through things. It’s saved me so many times.
MLT with their music, merch, and everything they do are such a positive and brilliant force.
My friend who is about 10 years older than me said when he started school in the 50/60s, the desks had ink well holders still for dip pens, and he was introduced to fountain pens in school. Unfortunately by the time I started school, the BIC crystal was king, and at first we were only allowed to use pencils, and only in the later grades we could use BICs. In grade 4, I had a friend who was adamant it would only be fountain pens with him, even with inky fingers and all. That always stood out in my mind, going against the flow with something just because you know it’s better.
-
Not saying I’m ancient or anything, but there were ink wells in the desks when I started school! That was September of ’63 and they were still there when we moved to another town in ’66. More modern desks in that new to me school, no lift-up tops, ink wells or under-seat racks for books or such. Which makes me wonder, do they even have chalkboards in rooms anymore? I haven’t been in a classroom in over 30 years haha. I see white boards in the lobby of the school where we teach martial arts so I reckon they have gone the way of the dodo bird in the rooms long ago. But then we had milk and soda dispensing machines too. Among many other common practices that are forbidden now…(sigh).
-
ROFL Daryl! I don’t know if the pun was intended, but people flinging ink are indeed ne’er-do-wells. At least they made sure no one in that school could bring their wells any more.
-
This reply was modified 9 months, 2 weeks ago by Roger Penn.
-
This reply was modified 9 months, 2 weeks ago by
-
I have a few fountain pens that would easily second as an effective ink squirt gun. Couple could probably send a splash of ink a few meters. I am just trying to imagine the aftermath of an ink fight in class in the day among some young teenagers. HAHAHA.
I would think these days in school, overhead projectors, big high def LED screens with electronic white boards are everywhere. I can’t see the chalk board going away altogether though, as I think math just wouldn’t be the same without the teacher writing up formulas in chalkboard and quickly erasing numbers as they balance equations. There is a tactility and intuition to it that would be lost doing math on keyboard.
-
Haha roger, I never even thought that! My dad used to say he and some of the other boys got in lots of trouble at school for dipping girl’s pony tails in the ink wells. Some people’s kids…🤣
-
This reply was modified 9 months, 2 weeks ago by Daryl Jones.
-
This reply was modified 9 months, 2 weeks ago by
-
From a record I used to listen to when I was a little kid:
Sitting in our seats, we’re such good boys and girls,
When Johnny ties an ink well on Mary Jo’s curls.
Mary turns her head, and the bottle goes splat.
Teacher turns around and says, “Who did that?”
-
-
Another tidbit for using the MLT Notebook.
-
Funny. For me recently, since I’ve been trying to get back to a nice cursive rather than my own brand of hybrid writing (well, not rather than, but in addition to), I find the writing stressful and anxiety-producing, because I still can’t make it come out the way I’d like it to, and I keep having to “stutter” in my writing while I think about the next letter because my brain still hasn’t fully automated the flow. But it’ll get there.
-
Roger
It is interesting to see how they reconfigured the album artwork from the square space of the CD cover to the rectangular portrait configuration of the notebook. I hadn’t noticed but yeah, they did some creative reconfiguring. It’s actually nice to see two slightly different artwork versions in the CD cover and notebook. Yeah, there are some great fountain pen ink colours out there, like Diamine Oxblood, that is supposed to have the shade of dried blood. People like it, it is very popular. I have seen people who journal, that use different colour ink for each day, to contrast one day from another. Sometimes, alternating between just two pens with different ink colour works, like black ink one day, and red another. It is helpful in keeping each days thoughts and ideas separate and distinct and stand out. I find it even works using two different ink colour within the same day journal entry or a letter, to contrast out the body of the letter from closing thoughts for example. Or highlighting out the most important ideas from the rest. Doing different colors for each different MLT song I think would be great. Maybe even think of a particular color that might match the mood or feel of the song. I will have to put more thought into it.
In my later teens I abandoned cursive all together in favour of printing, because printing always seemed to look neater than my cursive. So through my adulthood, I pretty much lost cursive. About 10 years ago I picked up cursive again, just because flex writing with fountain pen works better in cursive than print. It took a couple years to get cursive back, and like you I stuttered in cursive, but after doing it again for a while, it has become more natural. There’s a lot written about the mental benefits of cursive with it’s smoother flowing nature of getting thoughts out over the more broken out form of printing.
-
The Oxblood is on the top of my list, along with the Diamine Sherwood Green. I also like that the Diamine has 30ml bottles because they’re cheaper and I won’t be using colors all that much. I just can’t afford that kind of thing right now until I get a job, and sample bottles are too small to complete a whole entry with. But I probably won’t get started with the writing until after Christmas anyway, and probably not until I find work, so by that time I can probably order some.
-
-
I just started journalling again about 6 months ago. It really is good for the soul!! I have the MLT journal and am afraid to do anything with it for fear of not giving it the honor it deserves (small chuckle). I tend to switch between writing styles (cursive, all upper case or all lower case block printing and using different colored inks) so a look back is always interesting. Reflection is a powerful thing. Thanks ladies for the notebook and the scribbles!!!
-
Hi Dave
Yeah I know what you mean about being a little afraid of wasting any of those precious MLT notebook pages. When I first got the notebooks, I really didn’t write anything in it for a couple weeks as I kept thinking what would be the best way to use these. I certainly don’t want to scribble just anything in these highly valuable pages. I think anything that will foster your imagination is what these notebooks are for.
-
-
That McKinnon video was excellent. Fired me up and gave me a couple ideas for my own writing. I use to have Field Notes that I used primarily for work. I never got comfortable with the smaller format (I tried journalling in one a few years back) but I may give it another try. Thx for sharing your thoughts and the 2 videos.
-
Hi Dave,
I’m glad you like the Peter McKinnon video. It is really inspiring. Notebooks are for the creatives.
-
-
Dave, Roger
Here is the original Peter McKinnon video about handwriting with notebook benefits from 2 years ago that precedes the one I posted, that it refers back to. This started Peter’s handwriting with notebook passion.
Some valuable inspiration in this video too I think.
-
“When there’s so many things that need to get done, I’d just rather do none of them instead of doing any of them.” THAT’S ME!!!
But to me, journaling and productivity management are two entirely different things. I do write down my tasks and goals on paper (they’re spot-on about the phone) in a similar way, but just on a notepad on my desk. I save the [often expensive] journals for the creative process.
-
-
I read one of my journals from 8 years ago, going back to 2015. Knowing now what I know, reading that journal felt like seeing a younger self, that I wish I could go back and whisper some wisdom to. Seeing how I was thinking 8 years ago and how I changed and evolved gives some insight into how I should proceed with life now into the future, a little wiser. It gives some interesting perspective and intuition.
Only a journal from the past gives all the details and nuances of your life, feelings and thoughts that memory alone will never capture. In that sense, old journals from the past are priceless.
“My mom is sleeping right now. She gave me a smile this morning which was really nice” Saturday March 21 2015.
-
For all who ordered the MLT Notebook:
-
Here are some more ideas for using your Groovy MLT Notebook.
Committing to the act of creating, is an interesting little video (highly recommended to me)
-scribble all the time to access your words…
-
Nice video. I have been trying to journal for the last year and it is always been hit or miss. I might write 5 days in a row and then go 5 days whithout writing. My block is not feeling creative enough. This video reminds me that in order to do something consistently well I must practice continually.
-
Hi Dave
Thanks for checking out the video! I know what you mean, it is not always easy for me to journal consistently every day. Over the years I found writing everything down at work in my work journal, has saved me many times just for the record I made of a conversation or meeting. Sometimes I get half way through something, and then I remind myself I should write things down. Then alter when I am under pressure to finish something, I go back to my notebook and so many details are right there saving me so much time etc….addresses, names, phone numbers, dates, what someone said, what I said or thought at the time….. God is in the details.
-
-
Some more ideas for the MLT Notebook: Start a Common Place Book.
So I’ve kept personal journals and work notebooks for over 15 years now, and one of the things I’ve started doing naturally a while ago is collecting quotes and inspirational phrases and ideas from others books, movies, documentaries, youtube etc…., as well as from my own self-reflection. I started carrying over these quotes/ideas to every new journal. I have a section in the back of each journal that is now 10 pages long of quotes and inspirational ideas.
I learned recently this is a thing, called “Common Place Books”, and something many great thinkers and artists have been doing over the ages, going back to Aristotles time.
Great thinkers and creative geniuses like “Aristotle, Leonardo Da Vinci, Picasso, Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain……etc all kept some form of notebook that helped them reflect on certain ideas, and helped them in their creative pursuits.” If you do a search in youtube for example, you will find a rich resource on “Common Place Books”.
A Common Place Book is a collection of quotations or passages, and a place to reflect upon them, where you make that knowledge your own, where you actually think about the ideas that resonated with you.
Commonplace book: A book in which commonplaces or passages important for reference are collected, usually under general heads; hence, a book in which one records passages or matters to be especially remembered or referred to with our without arrangement. – Oxford English Dictionary
How A Commonplace Book Boosts Your Creativity:
I know I digress, but hope this is helpful to someone and gives an idea of one way to utilize these wonderful MLT Notebooks.
NOTES & IDEAS
And now it’s up to my imagination
What it is I’m making of it allHere are my 15 years of journals.
-
Here is an interesting fun fact: What does Elvis, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Bob Dylan have in common?
-
Elvis Presley: He was known to have a collection of Montblanc pens and was particularly fond of fountain pens.
-
John Lennon: He was a known enthusiast of handwriting and calligraphy. He appreciated different types of pens and was passionate about his handwriting.
-
Paul McCartney: Like Lennon, McCartney had an interest in calligraphy and handwriting. He valued the art of writing and was known for his handwritten lyrics.
-
Neil Gaiman: While primarily a writer, Gaiman, known for his work in comics and novels, has a fondness for fountain pens and has mentioned using them for writing.
-
Bob Dylan: Dylan is known for his love of writing and has been associated with using quality pens for his songwriting and personal correspondence.
These artists may not be exclusively known for their pen and calligraphy interests, but they have expressed an appreciation for these aspects of writing.
-
I really wish there was a “like” button for these posts…(hint)😉
-
Hi Daryl, I was quite fascinated when I learned of this. Our music heroes are into handwriting, calligraphy, nice pens etc… goes along with MLT Studio Scribbles, hand written lyrics, notebook, pens….
-
I tried once to study Japanese calligraphy, but found it very involved. Without a mentor close by I got discouraged and gave up. Not something I am predisposed to do. I have learned to brush/scribe some names and some notable characters that have personal meaning, but that’s all.
I did a fair amount of writing when I was young, even had a couple shorts published in magazines some years back. I thought of joining an editor friend in a moto magazine endeavor, but the distances required and time away from home put the lid on that real quick. There is a “gypsy” in my soul, but there’s reality in life too so.
The musicians and “heroes” we have that write things down are in a different category I think. It goes hand in hand with what they do and feeds their creative efforts. -
Hi Daryl
I think you make a good point, there is a common thread amongst the great music legends and their attraction to handwriting things down on paper that fosters their creativity in the process.
Back in 1989 I started my career in my new job at a telephone company. My older sister gifted me a congratulatory gold filled Cross ballpoint pen for completing telcom school and getting my new job. I worked in a telecom plant office where I had to climb up on to wiring racks where we connected different equipment to complete a data circuit for customer’s. Each tech usually had a screwdriver, wire punch down tool, a clipboard/notepad and a pencil. Well I needed to be different and did my writing down with that fancy gold pen. I don’t know what it was, it just made it feel more special to do my job climbing those bays/racks, slowing down to carefully write something with this nice pen, taking care not to damage or lose it. Maybe this extra attention to detail and care, made me slow down and do things right and not be sloppy in my job. 30 years later on my last day in 2020 at the same job/company, I still had that gold Cross pen (well the 3rd iteration as I lost it a couple times over the decades, but replaced it each time with an identical one). It accompanied me for 30 years, that tradition, and always reminded me along the way in my job what excellence is, as these fine pens are made of the highest craftsmanship and attention to detail. That’s why I guess I like special pens and using them.
-
Jung,
That is interesting!
I do have a copy of Lennon’s books titled “In His Own Write,” and “A Spaniard in the Works,” (ha-ha!) I’ll have to read them again after so many years. Writing today for kids is becoming a lost art, which is not a good trend!
I visited the British Museum in London twice. They have copies of some of Beethoven & Mozart’s actual original compositions. AND, some handwritten Beatle Music with lyrics, and believe the guitar chords too! They also have the original Magna Carta, which was the first document to limit the powers of the King & uphold the rights of the individual. (WE need more of that today for the rights of ALL people.) I had an ancestor that was a signer of the Magna Carta!
— Bud
-
Hi Bud
Thanks for sharing that. That Lennon book sounds like an interesting read. Will have to look it up and see if I can get one. I think it’s awesome they have the original handwritten compositions of great people like Beethoven and Mozart and others. When it is handwritten by them physically, I think a part of them is in those pages, and that’s what make it special. Just like original signed autographs. I have an old check with my mom’s handwritten signature that is very special, and my dad’s old business card with his handwriting on it. Items I will always cherish, because it was written by their hand.
-
-
Hi Jung,
I found diary excerpts from two musicians that you might like 😁:
Beethoven
Beethoven kept a diary from autumn 1812 to 1818. He confides feelings, thoughts and plans to him, but also notes down quotes and general wisdom. The entries do not record memories, they are more like self-talk. Here is an excerpt from 1815, a time of crisis and disorientation:
(The translation of Beethoven’s diary excerpt is a little bit difficult: he wrote in a very old-fashioned style and uses terms whose meaning in the English language I don’t know exactly. I let googletrans do most of the job. I hope the whole thing makes sense. His handwriting: see photo below )
„Let everything that is called life be sacrificed to the sublime and a sanctuary of art! Let me live, even with aids; if they can be found.
If possible, bring the ear machines (note: hearing aid) to maturity and then travel. You owe this to yourself, to people and to him, the Almighty. This is the only way you can develop everything that needs to remain closed within you.
A small courtyard - a small chapel - the song written by me in it, performed in honor of the Almighty, the Eternal, the Infinite. So may the last days pass - and of future humanity. Handel, Bach, Gluck, Mozart, Haydn's portraits in my room - they can help me claim toleration.
My decree: just stay in the country. (…) Easily rented an apartment from a farmer, certainly cheap at this time [in winter]. Sweet silence of the forest! The wind, which comes on the second beautiful day, cannot keep me in Vienna because it is my enemy.“
(Source reference: Bayerischer Rundfunk Klassik - Emerich Kastner, Julius Kapp (Hg.) Ludwig van Beethovens sämtliche Briefe. Leipzig 1923)Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach: The secret diaries of the Thomaskantor in Leipzig
The diaries, which were recently discovered in the Bach Archive Leipzig, shed new light on Bach’s time in Leipzig. They not only cover his musical activities, but also provide insight into his personal life, thoughts and feelings.
In the diaries, Bach describes in detail his work as St. Thomas cantor and the challenges he had to face. He reports on the rehearsals with the St. Thomas Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra, on the performances of his works and the audience’s reactions. It is fascinating to read how Bach composed his music and how he dealt with the musical trends and currents of his time.
But it’s not just the musical aspects that are highlighted in the diaries. Bach also provides insight into his family life and his relationships with his children and wife. It becomes clear that Bach was not only a brilliant composer, but also a loving father and husband.
The diaries also shed new light on Bach’s personality. They show a man who worked hard but also struggled with self-doubt and insecurities. Bach describes his fears and worries, but also his joys and successes. It’s an intimate look into the inner life of one of the greatest composers of all time.
The Bach Archive Leipzig is planning an exhibition in which the diaries will be presented to the public. It will be a unique opportunity to experience the great composer’s thoughts and feelings up close and gain a deeper insight into his life.
(Source: MUSIK HEUTE KLASSIK-NEWS-JOURNAL, September 2023)
-
Jurgen,
Thank you for posting this information about Beethoven & Bach! They were two of our greatest composers in the World, & their styles set Musical trends that last to this day! It’s almost like hearing them talk. It was such a different World back then, but reading Beethoven’s words gives us more insights into this great man. — Thanks again! — Bud
-
Hi Jurgen
Wow that is just great, thank you for posting these.
I am really impressed and even moved that Beethoven kept portraits of his influences, Bach, Handel, Hayden, Mozart, Gluck on his wall. Creativity most certainly doesn’t exist in a vacuum, but from sources of Beethoven’s inspiration. He took all his inspiration and created something original and new, all his own, that changed music forever, elevating it to the stature of the other arts, and even eclipsing them, and influencing all musicians, composers and artists that would come after him for all time. He is the greatest Maestro of all time! What a treasure trove to have Beethoven’s journal, and to witness his thoughts. Would be so wonderful to have a full translated version of Beethoven’s journal.
Bach was an amazing penman, and in his early days he did fantastic anigrams and beautiful transcriptions and hand written art. Seeing his handwriting sample from his journal, I can’t make out a word of it being in German, but his script is so beautiful, with near perfect slant and consistency throughout. Just looking at his handwriting, it’s like his music, so beautiful, symmetric, patterned perfection.
While on the topic of Bach, I will leave you with what is considered Bach’s greatest solo violin piece, a monumental work. I like this and MLTs instrumental strings section in Why? Both so magnificent!
-
Hi Jung,
the attached photo in the last chat shows a handwritten note by Beethoven. I would like to copy the text for you and translate it, but: Beethoven has a very nice handwriting, but I can’t read it either 😀.
The script is written in old German. I can decipher individual words, others remain a mystery to me. My grandparents learned this while they were still at school, my parents could also read it, but my generation has already lost this knowledge. The Old German script emerged sometime in the Middle Ages and continued to develop until modern times. The last version that my grandparents also learned was the so-called Sütterlin script. I once attached the Sütterlindeutsch script as a picture below.
I wasn’t able to find out exactly what language and script Bach used (in a short time). According to his place of birth and the time in which he lived, he must have spoken East Middle High German. Perhaps he also used Latin in his speech and writing, or at least a mixture of Latin and High German. This was common in educated circles at the time. However, I would probably have had difficulty understanding him and I wouldn’t have been able to read his handwritten notes. But I understand his music and that’s enough for me. Music as a universal language. This still works today and across cultures. I have attached a handwritten note from Bach. If I find any additional material as part of the planned exhibition in Leipzig, I can send it gladly to you.
Bud, thanks for the feedback. I also find it very exciting to find out who the people were that we otherwise only know as famous composers. Beethoven’s hearing loss had probably already progressed when he wrote his diaries. I imagine he was already suffering from depression and probably felt very lonely, isolated and bitter.
-
Log in to reply.
