The Pace Quickens

Almost two years ago, I took up meditation in the belief that someone like me needed to find new strategies to help myself unclench. It has helped tremendously, although it has taken some time to really understand the benefits of the practice. Having suffered from considerable bouts of writer's block over the years (and the accompanying panic and stress of trying to write in the face of the possibility of failure), I'm really surprised at how mental training has affected my writing process.

The new strategies I talked about in my last entry are yielding results, and the switch from guitar-based songs to piano-based songs has broadened the scope of the album and guided me towards new territory. In keeping with the idea of starting a new composition every day, I now have seventeen new pieces to work on (since March 8th), three of which have made it to the collection of songs that will make up the album. The rest of them are ideas to be plundered later for other projects. It sure is nice to have a surplus of material for a change. And the new methods have kicked things up a few notches.

What I'm learning is to not censor myself so harshly from the very beginning of the composition process. Better to just let it flow and edit things later. It seems a simple idea, but one that took me a long time to learn. I am teaching myself to suspend disbelief in life and in my work. Using simple recording software like Garage Band in the initial stages of composing allows me to play with arrangements before moving over to the Logic side. The ethos of simplicity and the feeling of spontaneity I've been trying to capture are still very much alive, and the sense of adventure is heightened.

But the most important lesson I'm learning is to not be attached to the results. I trust that I'll make the right decisions and that this collection of songs will become what it's supposed to become. I can't think of how much or how little people will enjoy it. i can't think of what friends and family will think or what critics will say. That's all stuuf that is beyond my ability to control. My job at this point is to follow where the music goes. The album will be what it is.

So if you'll excuse me...