Week 9

Last Week:

Over the past 2 weeks I explored how I ended up unable to advance through the creative process – I was stuck. I considered my paths forward, and tried to choose something that would guarantee progress.

I committed to focusing on my Creative Output regardless of whether those Outputs were truly Unique, solved a particular Problem, had specific Intent, or reflected an Aspect of my Subject in a New Way.

This week:

I found a way to overcome my Creative Paralysis by removing these Conceptual Constraints. I discovered the Creative Output that I would like to Produce related to my Subject – Drumming and the Downy Woodpecker.

“The relentless Pursuit of Ideas… is straightforward – pursue everything, focus on Results, discard what doesn’t work, and approach the Subject again.”

Avenues Toward Creativity

🧠 ❓ 💡

_{Creative Decision-Making}

When I was faced with Creative Paralysis over the past few weeks, making a Creative Decision was particularly difficult. I have noticed over the years that setting Constraints or introducing new Stimuli related to Creativity can produce surprising and remarkable results!

That said, I learned during this recent Impasse that setting Constraints that are too Broad or Conceptual may ultimately stifle Progress in the the Creative Process.

“I have to find something new” is not an easy avenue into Creativity.

_{Pursuing Ideas}

Instead, I’m learning that the relentless Pursuit of Ideas is a more effective path towards Creativity. The structure is straightforward – pursue everything, focus on Results, discard what doesn’t work, and approach the Subject again.

Interestingly, this structure requires an Emphasis on the Creative Product (Results) as a Forcing Function on the Creative Process, separate from other Constraints the Creative Agent may Place on Themselves or Experience Organically.

_{Downy Woodpeckers – Pattern & Interval}

Woodpeckers Drum on trees in order to mark their territory. This Drumming differs from the Pecking that they use to eat, which is much softer in volume and does not follow a specific Pattern.

Scientists have observed that Woodpecker Drumming differs by species in Pattern and Interval.

Interestingly, I couldn’t find specific observational data on the pattern and interval I could expect to see for the Downy Woodpecker so I decided to observe them myself.

I reviewed a recording of the Downy Woodpecker Drumming pattern, imported the audio into Logic Studio for a closer look and logged the Strokes and Intervals throughout the pattern.

After reviewing this limited sample-size recording, it looks like the Downy Woodpecker initiates a pattern consistently with a 13 stroke roll and then completes the pattern with 19 – 27 stroke rolls, between 2 – 5 times.

Ultimately, the overall Pattern that I observed looks like this:

• 13 stroke roll
• 27 stroke roll
• 23 stroke roll
• 23 stroke roll
• 22 stroke roll
• 13 stroke roll
• 24 stroke roll
• 19 stroke roll
• 13 stroke roll
• Rolls in the 19-27 stroke range
• Re-initiation of the Pattern through a 13 stroke roll

As far as I can tell the most consistent Aspect of the Downy Woodpecker Drumming Pattern is the initiation of a Pattern through a 13 stroke roll and then rolls of 19 – 27 strokes with 22 – 24 stroke rolls being the most common.

🥁 🥁 🥁

_{Downy Woodpeckers – Drumming}

Let me start by saying that Woodpecker Drumming is an incredible feat of expertise and execution. This incredible evolutionary skill made me wonder whether I could produce similar patterns as a drummer.

I have been playing the drums for 13 years and I think that attempting to reproduce the Drumming Patterns of the Downy Woodpecker would be an extraordinary challenge to me as an instrumentalist.

Let me pause as a Drummer (again…) to admire this Pattern – THIS IS CRAZY!!! The Strokes are ‘in the pocket’ – evenly spaced – and are lengthier than any roll I have performed before.

🔈 💬 🔈

What Next?

This week I’m going to attempt to reproduce the Rolls in the Pattern that I observed the Downy Woodpecker perform on a drum or practice pad. I will record each of my daily attempts to reproduce the Rolls in the Pattern in a video and then share my progress next week.

Let me reiterate that THIS IS CRAZY!!! The Downy Woodpecker executes Extended Percussive Rolls that are Extraordinarily Technical – more technical than any drum rudiment I have learned to date.

I will also try to establish a tempo that the Downy woodpecker performs at, and the tempo that I an able to (hopefully) execute a similar performance at.

I will start by attempting to execute the 13 stroke roll, and then build on that to the extended rolls in the 20 stroke range. I imagine that the lengthier rolls may be made up of a series of extended rolls, but I will have to find out how those work.

Share any thoughts you might have about Woodpecker Drumming or this random Creative Challenge.

Otherwise, see you next week!