Occupying Space With Your Opponent

Heard an interesting remark from an aikido master a couple of years ago that I've been able to successfully apply to my situation with cancer the past year. When asked by a student how to get up to the next level in proficiency, the master said, "You'll never get to the next level until you learn to enjoy occupying the same space as your opponent."

2/6/10

Learned something about myself last night. Something about going back into the past.

Several years ago, I wrote a block of songs about a life experience of mine (throat cancer). Maybe 5 years ago, I had an opportunity to record those songs in Tokyo. After I released the CD, we performed those songs throughout Japan for about a year. By that time, I just didn't want to have anymore to do with those songs.

Was informed a couple of weeks ago that I would need to do those songs for a gig last  because we were being video taped for TV in Japan. I felt kind of irritated for 2 weeks about the gig. Didn't want to rehearse the band. Haha..even lost the music (my copy) 2 days before the gig. Got to the club last for the soundcheck/rehearsal. Wow...talking about avoidance!

My point is I don't like to go backward. I want to live now, experiencing this moment and creating something based off of the experience.

August 4

Lightning in a Bottle: Creating, Presenting, and Preserving Jazz

A great performance by Odean Pope and his Trio followed by an hour of discussion about the creative process and improvisation. Odean makes some special comments about inspiration and the role that plays in his improvisations and compositions.

Philoctetes

"The Philoctetes Center for the Multidisciplinary Study of the Imagination was established to promote an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of creativity and the imaginative process."

Philoctetes - Home

At 1:34:00, Shoenberg and Pope talking about the composition process.
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Listening to Pope's band, I'm reminded of my experiences teaching at summer jazz camps and/or beginning improvisation classes. Over the years, I noticed time and time again young students of improvisation become paralyzed and unable to play because of their fear of chord changes. Some of the most successful ensembles I've had were started by playing "free." I might have the bass player play a pedal note or ask the drummer to start playing some kind of a groove. It's always amazing to see/hear how creative these young people are. I want them to get a taste of creating, to get the experience (without limitations) of improvising. It's possible later to slowly introduce songs that incorporate chord changes/scales and more complex harmonic language.

That being said, I often play with musicians who've been playing for years and dislike or feel uncomfortable with "free" improvised music or "free jazz." I think that is part of the reason that young players are afraid to enter the world of improvisation. The "educational system" in the world of improvisation seems to throw a lot of rules and complex ideas at young people that don't have a clue. The result: fear.

Recently, taught an ensemble of young players. They are a few years into the "indoctrination process of chords/scales and learning the bebop language. I happened to have a book of some of M.C. Escher's works in my horn case. We spent a few minutes looking at some of Escher's work and I asked them to improvise one of his designs. They seemed a little apprehensive. So, I asked them to imagine that we are in the studio and doing a soundtrack for a documentary on Escher's life and work. We have been handed a copy of this design and the producers want us to come up with some music to put behind this scene....NOW. It was amazing how creative this ensemble became. I was in shock. In that class we played some standard jazz and funk tunes but, when they created this free improvisation of a design by Escher, it was by far the most beautiful and sensitive playing they had done in weeks!

August 2

The Power of Nightmares
(parts 1-3)

Another documentary presenting more ideas on the process in which "the system" has guided our thinking and perceptions of society and the world around us. With this constant attack on our senses and thinking, I wonder how the growth of creativity is stunted and/or limited?




http://www.archive.org/details/ThePowerOfNightmares

June 10

Over the years, I've enjoyed time and time again referring back to Tom Wujec's two great books, "Pumping Ions" and Five Star Mind." I have probably spent a lot more time in "Five Star Mind" than "Pumping Ions." "Five Star Mind" just gives a great perspective on the "creative process." As a teacher, I've been able to use so much of the material in the book in lessons, classes and even with ensembles. "Pumping Ions" is REALLY a book of games and exercises to flex the mind! Both are tremendously valuable books.

"Five Star Mind" contents:

Creative Kitchen

food for thought
the creative urge

appetite
hunger for ideas

gather
collect ideas

cut
analyze ideas

mix
combine ideas

cook
concentrate on ideas

spice
season ideas

taste
evaluate ideas

digest
assimilate ideas

in the stew
creative tension

Design
New issue of EDGE (Adobe's monthly e-newsletter) arrived today. Always a treat to see what they're are working on at Adobe. I've included a link if you want to see the June newsletter.
EDGE - June Newsletter


Also received "creativeprose"today, a great weekly newsletter full of creative tips and techniques.

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