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This crossed my desk and is at the intersection of 2 of my interests, brain science and music. A couple quotes that resonated with me: The musicians who were experiencing flow while performing showed reduced activity in parts of their frontal lobes, which are known to be involved in executive function or cognitive control. In other words, flow was associated with relaxing conscious control or supervision over other parts of the brain.
For example, knowledgeable but relatively inexperienced computer programmers may have to reason their way through every line of code. Veteran coders, however, tapping their specialized brain network for computer programming, may just start writing code fluently without overthinking it until they complete – perhaps in one sitting – a first-draft program.I'd be interested in hearing from veteran musicians that have experienced "flow" and how it aligns or doesn't align with this article. Musicians and Creative Flow
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2024 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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As a computer programmer and a musician, I have experienced is crossing over from "still learning to do it" into "performing with little effort". I assume anyone who drives a car or rides a bike has the same experience. For example, when I'm playing a piano part that I haven't completely internalized, I'll have think about what I'm doing. When I reach for a specific interval of notes, I need to double-check that my fingers have landed at the expected anchor points, and the stretch of my fingers matches the interval. It's hard because I'm still learning it as I'm playing, and learning takes a lot of work. In contrast, when I've internalized all that, it takes far less mental effort - I can just reach for the interval, confident that the I'll hit the mark. Of course, sometimes that confidence is misplaced.  Because I'm not a great player, I'm always ready to strip complexity from my playing in order to maintain that groove. If I'm coming up to something that I won't be able to execute at the full level of complexity, I'll figure out how much it needs to be pared down so that I can keep the groove.
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As a computer programmer and a musician, I have experienced is crossing over from "still learning to do it" into "performing with little effort". I assume anyone who drives a car or rides a bike has the same experience. My experience is similar but a tad different. There is perhaps just one song that I can play along to on the bass where a) I have it so memorized and that I have such "relaxed conscious control or supervision" that it's as if I'm on some kind of auto-pilot and b) where I experience a state of near-euphoria. This song is Song on the Radio by Al Stewart. Others may call this "being in the zone". It's more than just locking in with the drums, it's like riding a wave of vocals, keyboard and sax with your fingers knowing you won't fall off the surf board. Maybe another way to express this is being part of a "larger truth"; that is, the band. I am able to improvise on this song but only a little bit; my bass skills hold me back from fully improvising without error. The funny thing is that I have yet to reach this "zone" with any of the stuff I've actually composed and recorded. Likewise, over my career there were times where I'd be in a similar "zone" while writing code or working a tough engineering problem late at night when only the janitors were around. But I can't say that I reach a similar zone while riding a bike, driving a car, or speaking/writing English. Perhaps, the "danger" of messing up or a real sense of accomplishment needs to be present. Or maybe joy has something to do with it. Riding a bike or speaking is so easy there's no danger, joy or sense of accomplishment involved. Perhaps this isn't about intensive hyperfocus on a task or relaxing one’s focus but rather some combination of the two. In any event, this is a fascinating subject.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2024 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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I have always told my students learn scales and music theory but don't let it get in your way when playing. After you play you can analyze what you did via music theory. Learning scales and music theory gives one the background and confidence to jam or improvise with authority. Music is the one thing where you learn the rules so you can break them!
Having such a background allows me to jam with confidence with Bob and others. My own compositions usually start with a chord progression and a BiaB style that I play over. Once I have a melody down I can improvise with it. That is the same as when I play songs out of a fake book; the first pass I play the melody, the second pass I improvise, then back to the melody. This is a jazz thing and why BiaB calls a chorus one pass through a song.
Like David at times I have to think and check my fingerings while play something new and difficult. That is part of the learning process. Now with arthritis attacking my fingers sometimes what was easy is now harder to do, if at all possible, so I do as David does then also.
Music is a wonderful universal language.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I definitely agree with MarioD. Learn the fundamentals until they are under your fingers. Scales, arpeggios, and as you progress, more complicated things (depends on your instrument).
But you need to get to the place where you can turn off the cognitive part of your brain.
I've been playing music on stage for a long time, and I don't know how it happens. But when I'm singing, playing, and improvising, I get into that place where there is no space, no time, and no me, just the music that feels like it's flowing through me instead of from me.
Now in the parts that are memorized, it's easy to analyze, but I leave room for an improvised solo in most of our songs. How does that happen? It's almost like I'm listening to someone else play the solo, and on rare occasions, I even surprise myself by playing something really superb and unusual.
I guess it's the zone, flow, or whatever else you want to call it. But being in that place is the best part about being a musician. And I'm lucky enough to be able to make my living that way.
Also, I've noticed that if I get distracted and then have to think about what I'm doing, the magic is broken, I have to think about what I'm doing, and it's still good, but not creative.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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.............................................
Now in the parts that are memorized, it's easy to analyze, but I leave room for an improvised solo in most of our songs. How does that happen? It's almost like I'm listening to someone else play the solo, and on rare occasions, I even surprise myself by playing something really superb and unusual.
.................................
Also, I've noticed that if I get distracted and then have to think about what I'm doing, the magic is broken, I have to think about what I'm doing, and it's still good, but not creative.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫ That is exactly how I ran my wedding bands. Improvising solos kept the band fresh (and happy:}) and surprising ourselves took us to another level. Our customers never knew that we were just improvising. However you need the right personal in the band to accomplish it. Yes, the creative magic is gone if you must think about it while you are on stage. However thinking about it during practices and/or using BiaB can lead to those magical moments.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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So where do you come down on what a state of flow is?
Intensive hyperfocus on the music or relaxing one’s focus?
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2024 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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So is the objective to suggest an operational definition of “creative flow?” Sans that folks can run all over the map with experiences that may or may not have a thread of commonality.
Bud
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If you have to think, it isn't flow. Flow leads itself to where the moment is. Thinking is programming yourself and referring to some mental "lick library" you have. Copy band players do that because it is their vision quest to sound EXACTLY like the record. Like a little robotic jukebox. When you are truly into flow, just close your eyes and watch the little black dots go by in your mind as your soul takes the music where it wants to go.
ANY flow starts with learning how to play an instrument. Maybe try that.
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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........................
ANY flow starts with learning how to play an instrument. Maybe try that. Bingo! We have a winner! Spot on!
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up.
Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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So is the objective to suggest an operational definition of “creative flow?” Sans that folks can run all over the map with experiences that may or may not have a thread of commonality. I think some degree of commonality is being observed from brain imaging data. "The musicians who were experiencing flow while performing showed reduced activity in parts of their frontal lobes, which are known to be involved in executive function or cognitive control. In other words, flow was associated with relaxing conscious control or supervision over other parts of the brain."
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2024 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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ANY flow starts with learning how to play an instrument. Maybe try that. Eddie, is this directed at me? If so, I am learning an instrument, actually more than one; view the Showcase for examples. I don't see any examples of you on the Showcase. Can you play an instrument? I'd be interested in hearing from veteran musicians that have experienced "flow" and how it aligns or doesn't align with this article.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2024 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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Flow happens, if I am performing and can't get to the 'Flow' aspect, it's a bad night.
However, as mentioned, practice does indeed help make the 'Flow' possible, but to me that went without saying.
A musician knows how to play their instrument (or 2 or 3 or 4)
A musician getting into the 'Flow' was the article, and yes, it happens. You know the music well enough that you are not in the 'reading/thinking/computing' state of mind (learning), but more in the feel/groove state, which is always a much better place to be.
Music flows out of you that you never would have anticipated sometimes.
Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
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A few excerpts:
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