February 12th, 2008
Composerly goofing off and “Hello?”
I don’t think composers can really write constantly without taking breaks. To a person on the outside, these breaks might look like “goofing off” but we composers know that you have to recharge your batteries.
Swallow.
Take big breaths.
Stretch.
Take a nap.
Have a meal or a snack.
Take a walk.
Run an errand.
Surf the web.
Putter in the garden.
Make a phone call.
Take a shower/bath/hot tub.
Exercise.
DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
That way, when you come back, you are refreshed and able to carry on from where you left off.
Another common composerly ailment is the “Hello?” syndrome. During one of my composerly “breaks” I’m hearing the passage I’m working on playing over and over, or I’m stuck and I keep taking long musical jumps in my mind to get into the next phrase, when all of a sudden, whoever you are with appears in your face and says “Hello? Roger, anyone home? Where’s Roger?” I snap back into “reality” realizing how far away I was.
Our occasional compositional obsessions and absent-mindedness are usually harmless. With any luck a composer has a good mate who knows this side of their lover. Debussy once said “music is a jealous mistress” and I know that to be true. I have advised my students in my so-called “commercials:”
“…if your boy or girlfriend ever gives you an ultimatum like “it’s either me or your music” always take the music. Don’t spend your life with someone who doesn’t love what you do and who you are.”
[Photo: “Revelation” by Roger Bourland.]
February 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Agree—but I would expand to include virtually all really creative activities, including many not specifically in the arts.
But certainly not all activity within a category is equally creative.
I know that when I am asked to do something in my field of electronics, I lack motivation if I can’t find at least some scope for creativity. This can be frustrating for the client, who hired me because I’m already supposed to know all the answers. One client confided to a friend of mine (so much for confidences btw), who works for him, that he imagined I had a big binder of circuits, and every so often I’d take out a page and copy it, and bill him for a bunch of money.
But that would not only be wrong, it would be very boring.
I’ve had a bit of a break for the past couple of weeks from immediately remunerative work, and it has been enjoyable aside from the latent fear factor (has business dried up?). I’ve used the time to do more speculative designs, mostly at the simulation level, and it’s proven to have been an amazingly creative and productive period. However, I have had those moments where I can tell I’ve been driving at it a bit too hard, and realized that one does indeed need to switch gears, take a break, lest Jack become a dull boy.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Good points! I think all businesses should offer sabbaticals, like colleges do for long term breaks and major battery recharging. I’m not gonna hold my breath.