I'd like to recommend a book (the artists way)

[Martyn]

Count me in the "Meh" category, didn't do anything for me. Hope it helps others though.

Yeah, me too, kind of. I did the morning pages for a few months but realised that all that was coming out was a reflection of normal internal dialog. I've done a bit of meditation on and off over the years and find it fairly easy to recognise it and focus away from that stuff, a bit.

It was an interesting experiment for sure, but it didn't stimulate my creativity at all. Maybe I just didn't give it enough time.

The creative block that I was trying to break just stopped naturally in the end, these things happen to creative people I guess.

Good luck with it though, you might find it really works for you.

[Khazul]

My problem isnt lack of ideas etc - its the friggin computer that get in the way of them - by the time you have messed about with the damn thing - you loose the plot - something about the logical side of you thats needed to work with a computer overriding the creative side?

Ableton live does help in there being less in the way than with most apps, but I still hate computers for music creation.

[amigo]

I still hate computers for music creation.

Why not invest in some hardware for music creation.

I will probably get slated for this but maybe consider some kind of groovebox that allows you to get your ideas down quickly and the hands on thing with the knobs etc. might help too.

[jamief]

I,m gonna go buy that book ! thanks

take alook at this

Interview: Herbie Hancock

Any advice to aspiring musicians?
My viewpoint, Buddhism, includes a portion of what l learned from Miles [Davis]—Miles always said work on things, explore, think outside the box. And what Buddhism teaches is no matter what happens to you, no matter what you might experience in life there is always a way to find something positive, something that can move you forward. No matter what it is. Whether it is something that is painful or tragic, or whether it is something that is lovely and exhilarating. There is always a viewpoint that you can find that can have a positive effect on your life. So practicing really builds up the fundamental essence of your life. From the standpoint that there are really an infinite number of ways to look at things, and that is what I believe. Because of that I believe that there are an infinite number of ways I can find to express myself in music. An, infinite number of ways I can come up with projects. That’s why every record I’ve done over the last ten years or so has been different from anything I’ve done before. And different from what anybody else is doing, I specifically look for that. I look for a way to do what I’ve not already done. Promoting that is a way of being what you believe in.

Buddhism talks about that too. It’s your responsibility to turn that into action and be that—and have it be an integral part of your life. Consequently I’ve found ways. One way of looking at what I’m talking about in music is captured called “reinventing”. Madonna’s done that several times. Miles Davis did that several times. That’s how he was able to stay viable through several decades in music, and have such an influence on pop and rock.

full interview

http://sfist.com/2008/09/19/interview_h ... ancock.php

[Patch]

My problem isnt lack of ideas etc - its the friggin computer that get in the way of them - by the time you have messed about with the damn thing - you loose the plot - something about the logical side of you thats needed to work with a computer overriding the creative side?

That's a really good point. I'm so obsessed with getting all the software/hardware to allow me to make the music that is in my head, that I don't actually create much at all.

Getting my DVS system down to 2ms latency has taken me ages - and it's kept me from scratching. (Well, not scratching completely, but scratching using the DVS systems...)

I think the way forward will be to minimise my liveset, minimise my hardware set-up, and work within the limits of what I have, not try to expand the limits before I even have anything to show for it...

[Khazul]

I still hate computers for music creation.

Why not invest in some hardware for music creation.

I will probably get slated for this but maybe consider some kind of groovebox that allows you to get your ideas down quickly and the hands on thing with the knobs etc. might help too.

I do allready - I have an Akai MPC2500 and MD that I often use to sequence when I cant be bothered with the computer.

[FlightPlan]

Some inspiration from an unexpected quarter:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008 ... t_gladwell

In comparing creative archetypes as represented by Cezanne & Picasso , describes very well the idea of late bloomers versus the general conception that true genius expresses itself very early in life.

So even if you haven't had your moment of greatness - don't let up!

[Tarekith]

I still hate computers for music creation.

Why not invest in some hardware for music creation.

I will probably get slated for this but maybe consider some kind of groovebox that allows you to get your ideas down quickly and the hands on thing with the knobs etc. might help too.

That's exactly what I did too, picked up a Korg EMX-1 for thos days I really don't want to stare at a computer screen. Works great, love it for this.

[OvertoneZero]

Some inspiration from an unexpected quarter:

Hey FlightPlan, great article, thanks for posting it! Carpe diem


Edit: until i got to the last page, haha.. who wants to be my patron? I may suck now, but in 20 years, I might be really awesome.

[FlightPlan]

A letter came later about the 'Late Bloomer' article which was from a psychotherapist (hey, free therapy, no charge!)

"The concept of genius as precocity affirms the defeating psychology of embracing underachievement in adulthood. If we hold the belief that genius reveals itself only early in life, we excuse ourselves from the need to persevere."

"[The article] encourages each of us to question whether we have simply not yet arrived at our individual point of greatness. If we choose to believe his hypothese, we open ourselves to a life forever full of the possibility of greater satisfaction, regardless of whether the final product is one of genius."

[Geezus]

the biggest lie about creative genius is that it is only inherit in a small number of people. The truth is that genius is simply the result of more practice than most people

[Nick the Zombie]

Count me in the "Meh" category, didn't do anything for me. Hope it helps others though.

I started out loving it, but moved into the "meh" category about 2 weeks later. I decided to embrace the "force yourself to sit down and go" philosophy instead. It just fits me better.

- Nick

[smutek]

JohnisFaster - how are you making out with the artists way?

Are you still working through it?

If so, what are you doing for your morning pages? Are you writing or making music?

Or both?

I just bought the book, basically on your recommendation in this thread, and am getting ready to start working through it.

I totally understand the concept of brain dumping, and working in graphic design I've heard suggestions of doing just that, except with a sketch pad / Given that, I considered doing some sketch/doodle pages every morning as my morning pages.

But I'm not sure if I want to do that or write, or both. Or if writing is supposed to provide some specific release that other outlets (such as sketching) would not provide.

Just curious how you, or anyone else here, has applied the "morning pages" to your art, and how it has been working out for you.

[Pitch Black]

I did morning pages solidly for about 3 years. (oh... the things in there... ) I found it really useful, just writing. Even when I had nothing to write about, I wrote about that. I think the whole point is to get to the end of 3 pages without self-censoring. Just letting what comes out, come out. I'm convinced it helped me "excavate my creativity" as the book says - it's hard to say exactly how in a concrete manner though. It's important not to go back and read them for a long time - It's not even supposed to be good writing, it's an exercise to free up your subconcious and put it in touch with your concious.

When I go back and read them now, there's some gems in there, a lot of shite, but I always felt good after doing them. I'd recommend it highly.

I think it's important that it's writing though, instead of music or sketching. It's the best way to express thoughts, which is the whole idea - you get through the clutter and get down to the good stuff. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard. But the act of just keeping going, to fill 3 pages with longhand puts you in touch with your personal truths... eventually.

IMHO expressing your personal truths in the most compelling way possible is what good art is all about. (To put it very baldly!)

I was deeply disappointed with her follow-up book The Vein Of Gold, though. Too airy-fairy and New Agey for me.

[djdalecooper]

I did The Artist's Way about 4 years ago, and still do the morning pages (mostly) every day. I would highly recommend it, altho I am sure it is not 4 everybody.

Glad 2 hear you are thinking positively!!!

Whoever posted the bit about the "Exquisite Corpse", that's outta sight!! I recently downloaded a dashboard widget thing that works like Brian Eno's cards called "Oblique Strategies". That is a lot of fun as well.