Slump Recovery Project

Compositions, Computer Music Practice, ,

I was unable to complete a single composition over the summer despite multiple attempts. Such unproductivity led to a chain of negative thoughts on the impact and relevance of my work and effort. I lost the will to create by July. The slump phase is not new for me or any creatives, but getting over it is never easy. To recover, I tried methods that worked in the past, but also did something new.

The usual remedy for a slump for me is working on related projects in small bites. My main project is music composition, and related projects are any other music activities. I focused on relearning and appreciating fundamental musicianship. 

  • I reread books that inspired me. When reading became tiring, I listened to audiobooks. 
  • I wrote blogs on the electronic music practice. It helped me to organize and reflect. 
  • I listened to all and any music. Summer is a great time to catch up on listening. I heard new things in old songs, and rediscovered time-tested techniques in new music. 
  • I practiced bass guitar, an instrument I wanted to play but did not have time to learn. You know, every other electroacoustic musician plays bass.

Engaging in musical activities kept me from completely letting go of being a musician. Unfortunately, this was not enough for me to get back to composing. I had to make a specific plan and task to get back to a creative routine.  

  • Write a 1-2-minute piece with the most familiar tool. In my case, it would be SuperCollider.
  • Start and finish a piece in one sitting. The goal is to remind myself of the joy and necessity of completing a piece.
  • Quality does not matter. Do not evaluate or self-critize the piece. 
  • Pieces do not have to have a new idea. An old idea presented in a different context is good enough.

This attempt worked, kind of. I finished a piece on July 22, but was not able to produce another piece until July 28. But from that day, I completed a 1-1.5-minute piece every day until July 31. It was a small win with an impact. Now, I am comfortable sitting on a computer for a few hours per day,  enduring the tedious or negative side of the creative process. 

As a record of this summer’s slump and post-slump, I share Slump Recovery Project, a 6-minute piece in 5 sections.

Lastly, here’s the log of my composition failures and successes in May-July 2025.

  • 5/19 Stopped working on a duet for plastic tube sqeakers and computer after two weeks. A simulation of the performance was disappointing, so I stopped.
  • 7/10 Attempted to write a new laptop ensemble piece. Again, a simulation of the performance sounded too much like a piece I wrote a few weeks ago.
  • 7/13 Jotted an idea for a no-input mixer duet. I thought writing for my favorite instrument would motivate me. It didn’t. I got more discouraged. 
  • 7/16-21 I could not do anything
  • 7/22 (check date): Made a 1.5-minute piece on SuperCollider titled I-IV-V-vi
  • 7/28 Made a 1.5-minute piece on SuperCollider and Logic Pro titled A Note of Happy
  • 7/29 Made a 1.5-minute piece on SuperCollider titled Decrescendo Revisited
  • 7/30 Made a 1-minute piece on SuperCollider and Logic Pro titled Riff
  • 7/31 Made a 50-second piece on SuperCollider and Logic Pro titled Elastic Drum