Like anyone, when I get impatient, and before I have a solid idea, I might rush straight for an instrument, hoping to stumble upon something that will lead the way. From the piano to an iPad—I can turn my brain off and just play something. That’s fun sometimes, but remember that a menu of drum loops is far more limited than your imagination. Here’s my suggestion to musicians: When you’re about to reach for whatever musical tools you use, virtual or real, guitar or computer, ask yourself if you’re doing so to save time or because you don’t feel like straining your brain. Or, more important, ask
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