In an attempt to hack their creativity and artistic output, Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt created a deck of cards they called the Oblique Strategies. Whenever they came up against a creative dilemma--and especially while under a moment of pressure or … [Read more...]
Songwriting Challenges – Where Do I Begin?
One of the most common challenges I hear about songwriting is not knowing where to begin. With the lyrics? With the music? Or something completely different? It's a rather simple challenge to find a solution to, really. Start with a single note or … [Read more...]
Hacking Your Musical Strategies Day 5: Composing Strategies
Find another musician or composer -- and with their permission -- elicit the strategy they use to choose what to compose or the strategy they are using to compose a current piece of music. Use their strategy to decide what you are going to compose or … [Read more...]
Hacking Your Musical Strategies Day 4: Comparing Strategies
Elicit from another musician their strategy for choosing what to practice each day. Make sure that you have a detailed sequence and make sure that it is a very different strategy from yours (if it isn't, choose someone else). Use their strategy for … [Read more...]
Hacking Your Musical Strategies Day 3: Learning Strategies
Access a learning state fully. Remember a specific time when you were a virtual learning machine. What can you tell about your learning strategy? How do you know when it is time to learn something new? What internal steps do you take to ensure that … [Read more...]
Hacking Your Musical Strategies Day 2: Motivation Strategies
Elicit your motivational strategy for dong something that's not necessarily fun, like practicing scales. Next, elicit your motivational strategy for doing something you love, like jamming with your friends. Are these strategies the same or different? … [Read more...]
Hacking Your Musical Strategies Day 1: Decision Strategies
While practicing your instrument today, notice your decision strategy for choosing what you are going to practice. Slow the decision process way down and write down each step of your strategy. Identify the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic components … [Read more...]