A recurring theme in MUS 1 is the notion that creativity can be and needs to be fostered and nurtured. Our goals in this regard are to apply the insights provided for us in this catalogue of the traits of creativity:

* WONDER, BE CURIOUS
* BE OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCE, SEE THE FAMILIAR FROM AN UNFAMILIAR POINT OF VIEW
* CONFRONT COMPLEXITY AND AMBIGUITY WITH INTEREST
* TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ACCIDENTAL EVENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE DESIRABLE BUT UNSOUGHT DISCOVERIES (CALLED SERENDIPITY)
* MAKE ONE THING OUT OF ANOTHER BY SHIFTING ITS FUNCTIONS
* GENERALIZE IN ORDER TO SEE UNIVERSAL APPLICATIONS OF IDEAS
* SYNTHESIZE AND INTEGRATE, FIND ORDER IN DISORDER *BE INTENSELY CONSCIOUS YET IN TOUCH WITH UNCONSCIOUS SOURCES
* VISUALIZE OR IMAGINE NEW POSSIBILITIES
* BE ANALYTICAL AND CRITICAL
* KNOW ONESELF, AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE ONESELF IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION
* BE PERSISTENT, WORK HARD FOR LONG PERIODS, IN PURSUIT OF A GOAL, WITHOUT GUARANTEED RESULTS
(from Art Creates Us Creates Art, Duane Preble, Canfield Press, San Francisco, 1976, p.10)