Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 14:42:52 -0500 From: "Douglas C Ponte" Subject: Remember that first time? :) (Re: First Time Phenomenon
Interesting topic, Jon-
Not so much as a phenomenon, as it is more of how our brains function...
but, yes...this is usually very very true (and always frustrating :). The only ways to bypass this problem is with either, recording yourself ALL the time (so, not to miss that "first" time obviously...but, I find that...for me, at this stage...recording should be as less intrusive as possible...as in, something to not think about while you play) OR, to be really, really good at remembering exactly what you played that first time!................
[begin tangent] which with complex improvisations, as close as I come sometimes, is very hard to do...and you also have to think: does my brain *make up* some notes b/c it can't *fully* recall each one?? This is like an old memory or a dream, for example...where your brain will *fill in* events, and interpretate. Most of the time, it will "fill in" randomly. Although, I think that there are times where the things that you (and your subconcious) value the least are the things (in this case, notes, melodies, phrasing, etc..) that are generally going to be subject to be *filled in*. Obviously, values change over time...but, you may notice some patterns.)) [end tangent]
That first time is usually damn good...sometimes for two reasons: one...it's probably the first time you have played it, THEREFORE, if it went relatively well, you now have created a valued *basis* for that particular tune (I say "probably", b/c much of what we *create*, we don't realize that we've heard something similar to it before...I think that the "Kevin Bacon rule" applies here sometimes ;). The brain likes to have foundations. Once again, it's easier for it to compare to in the future (e.g. when you try to re-work it "50 times", etc.). This is, once again, the brain acting as efficient as it can...whether you like it or not. Of course, this is kinda obvious as well...what I'm saying, is that the brain tends to VALUE that first time more, b/c of this. Repetition is big too...so, if you recorded it and listened to that a few times, you may tend to value that first time more.
Think of your brain as a lazy, but wise, technocrat (this may *seem* to contradict conventional wisdom, if misinterpreted). I say technocat not to be exact, but to correlate with the ideal...one who governs/leads by use of technology...which is, in this case, the brain constantly seeking "ways to make itself more efficient". The resources it uses of others (e.g. stimuli) and/or it's current wisdom (as a database is used) make this happen. Now, "technocrat" may not be the best word to use for this analogy, but, it's close enough for now.
I liked that Jon mentioned "like a child of the first time phenomenon." Because, THAT sums this up from another point of view. Obviously, we all know how children can be easily influenced since most of what they encounter is truely new to them...and that follows suit with new experiences in our adult years (although, adult brains usually *learn* -by then- to trivialize their new experiences as they attempt to assimilate them into previous experiences that may be similar in some way).
I also kinda liked this: "Notation and standard notation help us to bottle the inspiration and explain how to get there again. They help us become trained so the inspiration can occur."
Yes, we "bottle" it, or trivialize it into standard notation (not that standard notation is trivial, but, it is more so, than what we experience overall). That way we can find our way back there again...recording that first time is even better (I wasn't sure what Jon meant here...I assumed that this is mostly about improvising a part or coming up with a totally new tune the first time by everyone improvising.) In a ~way~ Jon is right about "becoming trained so the inspiration can occur", but, standard notation does not do that alone (if even at all in some cases...for instance, I don't read or write most of my music or music I listen and play to, as I haven't had an iota of time to become proficient enough at it to match what I hear in my head, etc.) You help yourself become trained for inspirations from everyday things: just listening to music anywhere (and usually it's the "new" music, the stuff that's not in your cd collection, for instance), playing around on your instrument of choice and "discovering" something new, etc...
Sometimes, I get inspried when I can't sleep and it's 4 in the morning. I get this 4, 9 or 12 piece composition running in my head and I decide it's worthy enough to get on tape while it's still very fresh and I am still using the "first time" inspiration phenomenon...I head to my living room stereo and record away (I usually have a tape setup and a mic ready) on my organ or I just hum each and every part in my head to the T so that there is no confusion when I play it on those instruments later (or, at least the ones that I have access to :) That way I don't lose a spat of inspiration as it comes. If I have to setup the damn tape and all...then, I notice a loss of inspiration....I may have the general jist, or even what was in my head exactly...BUT, I tend to lose that inspirational edge that takes your mind to the next idea....know what I mean??
I agree with Jon's last comments too...find your "inspiration point", as it will change often. It changes, of course ironically, due to the "first time phenomenon"...now that's something to take to the dinner table ;)
Doug Ponte
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I have noticed a "first time phenomenon" im music where the first time one improvises on an idea, it is brilliant. It then takes 50 more takes with notation to get where things were that first time. But then maybe you can do it all the time. I know some people are going to respond that maybe it wasn't that good the first time, but I for one, absolutely believe that inspiration exists.
On a similar vein I read that Dylan made "Blonde on Blonde" in just a few days and wrote the songs hours before recording them. (He told Bloomfield "None of that BB King sht".) Maybe the report was just adding to his myth, or maybe it's true.
I also read that Laura Nyro who wrote and sang some classic blue eyed R & B in the 60's and is revered worldwide used to tell her studio musicians "Play more yellow." "Play more green." Maybe she wasn't referring to chord progressions and notes, but maybe she was referring to inspiration.
We see improvisation prevail in every art form. In fact every act of creation amd invention is improvisation, a child of the first time phenomenom. Notation and standard notation help us to bottle the inspiration and explain how to get there again. They help us become trained so the inspiration can occur.
I beleive in devices that help us record inspiration, but without that original spark, there would be no art whatsoever. What ever it is that lights your flame, and doesn't destroy your life, perhaps that is where you should go once in awhile. Take a leap into music without numbers, chords without progressions, sounds without tunes, beginning without ends. Just don't forget to push the record button!
Jon
Jon Gindick Cross Harp Press/Harmonica Central.com Books, Tapes, Videos Teaching Blues & Country Harmonica http://www.gindick.com http://harptunes.com "Surf the harp on the web" 800-646-9245
