Noticing that there is a major distinction between creating ideas and doing the necessary execution to bring the idea into reality.
I'm wondering if there could be a right-brain left-brain connection problem. People that are great creating ideas seem to have trouble sometimes with the step by step methodical execution of the idea/plan. The "grunt" work involved in making the idea into a real thing appears to be boring for some.
There's really nothing creative about sitting in a room [for hours, days, weeks, months, years] and practicing scales/chords and technical studies. That is a very left-brain kind of activity. However, it's quite necessary if one has any hope of being able to do the execution required to bring out that idea that's floating around in the inner ear.
Showing posts with label the creative process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the creative process. Show all posts
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
August 15
Recently, heard about the trumpet player Florent Brique. Been checking out his band. Here is a nice groove they did at the Vienna Jazz Festival.
Really creative project.
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 13
Am currently involved in "Japan Music Week" and the Jinnan Jazz Festival. Already, the creative juices are starting to flow. Feels good!
Search for Japan Music Week on FACEBOOK for more info.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
August 4
Lightning in a Bottle: Creating, Presenting, and Preserving Jazz
Philoctetes
Philoctetes - Home
At 1:34:00, Shoenberg and Pope talking about the composition process.
__________________________________________________________
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!
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.
__________________________________________________________
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!
Monday, August 3, 2009
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
(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
Friday, July 31, 2009
July 30
New Experiences
When I talk with students about creativity, I like to emphasize that it is so important to try new things and have new experiences. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant or expensive. While I've been in Karuizawa, I've been trying some new food, going for walks, and taking photos. Today, I even tried a couple of local beers.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June 8
Fun gig tonight at Kamome!
"The painter passes through states of fullness and of emptying. That is the whole secret of art. I take a walk in the forest of Fontainebleau. There I get an indigestion of greenness, I must empty this sensation into a picture. Green dominates in it. The painter paints as if in urgent need to discharge himself of his sensations and his visions."
Conversation with Picasso - "The Creative Process"........pg. 59
Playing that gig tonight gave me the chance "empty" a lot of things that have been building inside. Amazing how playing the horn is like therapy for me.
Had some moments tonight (I really feel is a result of doing meditation everyday) in the middle of solos when the time really seemed to slow down, even when we were playing fast tempos. I know I was having to make split-second decisions about how to proceed in the solo but, time was moving so slowly and I felt like all of these options were lined-up in front of me and that I had so much time to decide where I wanted to go in the solo. Great feeling!
"The painter passes through states of fullness and of emptying. That is the whole secret of art. I take a walk in the forest of Fontainebleau. There I get an indigestion of greenness, I must empty this sensation into a picture. Green dominates in it. The painter paints as if in urgent need to discharge himself of his sensations and his visions."
Conversation with Picasso - "The Creative Process"........pg. 59
Playing that gig tonight gave me the chance "empty" a lot of things that have been building inside. Amazing how playing the horn is like therapy for me.
Had some moments tonight (I really feel is a result of doing meditation everyday) in the middle of solos when the time really seemed to slow down, even when we were playing fast tempos. I know I was having to make split-second decisions about how to proceed in the solo but, time was moving so slowly and I felt like all of these options were lined-up in front of me and that I had so much time to decide where I wanted to go in the solo. Great feeling!
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