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The Creative Process In A Group Dynamic | Jonathan Whitney | TEDxDoverSalon


there we go how’s everybody doing so

there we go how’s everybody doing so we’re all gonna do some performing today

we’re all gonna do some performing today

we’re all gonna do some performing today before we start before I start yapping

before we start before I start yapping

before we start before I start yapping at you so I’ll collapse up that if you

at you so I’ll collapse up that if you

at you so I’ll collapse up that if you can clap it back so I can see you has

can clap it back so I can see you has

can clap it back so I can see you has rhythm you guys have tables you can use

rhythm you guys have tables you can use

rhythm you guys have tables you can use tables or I just don’t have anything up

tables or I just don’t have anything up

tables or I just don’t have anything up here today let’s try that again

there you go I need six volunteers to

there you go I need six volunteers to come play with me today okay come on one

come play with me today okay come on one

come play with me today okay come on one two right yep one two that’s four we

two right yep one two that’s four we

two right yep one two that’s four we have two more drums two more come on

have two more drums two more come on

have two more drums two more come on nice all right so one two any drum pick

nice all right so one two any drum pick

nice all right so one two any drum pick a drum stuff for this don’t you think

a drum stuff for this don’t you think

a drum stuff for this don’t you think this is my baby so you guys are the lab

this is my baby so you guys are the lab

this is my baby so you guys are the lab group here young so these are hand drums

group here young so these are hand drums

group here young so these are hand drums there’s two real sounds we could has

there’s two real sounds we could has

there’s two real sounds we could has anybody played it have any players young

anybody played it have any players young

anybody played it have any players young so for my new people we have two main

so for my new people we have two main

so for my new people we have two main sounds you can hit the drum in the

sounds you can hit the drum in the

sounds you can hit the drum in the center and get like a lower tone a bass

center and get like a lower tone a bass

center and get like a lower tone a bass sound or towards the edge with like more

sound or towards the edge with like more

sound or towards the edge with like more your fingers and get a higher sound so

your fingers and get a higher sound so

your fingers and get a higher sound so I’ll play some stuff you guys play back

[Music]

[Music] professional that’s what I’m talking

professional that’s what I’m talking

professional that’s what I’m talking about we get a round of applause so the

about we get a round of applause so the

about we get a round of applause so the other important thing in any drumming

other important thing in any drumming

other important thing in any drumming tradition where there’s more than one

tradition where there’s more than one

tradition where there’s more than one person is how do we stop so I use a

person is how do we stop so I use a

person is how do we stop so I use a tradition from West Africa called it the

tradition from West Africa called it the

tradition from West Africa called it the break it’s used in djembe ensembles so

break it’s used in djembe ensembles so

break it’s used in djembe ensembles so if we’re playing and jamming which we’re

if we’re playing and jamming which we’re

if we’re playing and jamming which we’re gonna do a lot of and it’s time I need

gonna do a lot of and it’s time I need

gonna do a lot of and it’s time I need everybody to stop I’m gonna play this

everybody to stop I’m gonna play this

everybody to stop I’m gonna play this rhythm pop it up pop it up pop pop and

rhythm pop it up pop it up pop pop and

rhythm pop it up pop it up pop pop and everybody just plays a singer at the

everybody just plays a singer at the

everybody just plays a singer at the game so it sound like and if we’re

game so it sound like and if we’re

game so it sound like and if we’re really into it and hey I know

really into it and hey I know

really into it and hey I know everybody’s like in the zone doing

everybody’s like in the zone doing

everybody’s like in the zone doing everything I’ll do this out for it to

everything I’ll do this out for it to

everything I’ll do this out for it to let you know we’re gonna stop soon yeah

let you know we’re gonna stop soon yeah

let you know we’re gonna stop soon yeah okay just so we all know ahead of time I

okay just so we all know ahead of time I

okay just so we all know ahead of time I know I put this thing on it I was like

know I put this thing on it I was like

know I put this thing on it I was like oh it doesn’t loosen the arm let’s play

oh it doesn’t loosen the arm let’s play

oh it doesn’t loosen the arm let’s play rhythm together so I’ll start playing

rhythm together so I’ll start playing

rhythm together so I’ll start playing the rhythm repetitively you just join in

the rhythm repetitively you just join in

the rhythm repetitively you just join in with me okay pop it up pop it up pop up

with me okay pop it up pop it up pop up

with me okay pop it up pop it up pop up right that just lets us stop so

right that just lets us stop so

right that just lets us stop so sometimes I’ll play a rhythm and I just

sometimes I’ll play a rhythm and I just

sometimes I’ll play a rhythm and I just want you to keep playing you guys keep

want you to keep playing you guys keep

want you to keep playing you guys keep playing until I play pop it up pop it up

playing until I play pop it up pop it up

playing until I play pop it up pop it up at bat and then we stop together cool

at bat and then we stop together cool

at bat and then we stop together cool let’s do it again just come right in

[Music]

[Music] play

boom so yeah you keep playing through

boom so yeah you keep playing through the break but that sort of come so part

the break but that sort of come so part

the break but that sort of come so part what I’m talk what I’m gonna my talk is

what I’m talk what I’m gonna my talk is

what I’m talk what I’m gonna my talk is about is the creative process and a

about is the creative process and a

about is the creative process and a group dynamic we’re gonna use a drum

group dynamic we’re gonna use a drum

group dynamic we’re gonna use a drum circle as a lab group but what brought

circle as a lab group but what brought

circle as a lab group but what brought all these ideas to me is I’m a jazz

all these ideas to me is I’m a jazz

all these ideas to me is I’m a jazz musician first and working in jazz

musician first and working in jazz

musician first and working in jazz quartets jazz trio stand in exchanging

quartets jazz trio stand in exchanging

quartets jazz trio stand in exchanging ideas liven in the moment I’ve done

ideas liven in the moment I’ve done

ideas liven in the moment I’ve done musicals improvised musicals and so

musicals improvised musicals and so

musicals improvised musicals and so communicating with actors how much

communicating with actors how much

communicating with actors how much percussion is there’s a piano player and

percussion is there’s a piano player and

percussion is there’s a piano player and throwing each other ideas and listening

throwing each other ideas and listening

throwing each other ideas and listening and saying alright who’s going to do

and saying alright who’s going to do

and saying alright who’s going to do what next the album and I found the same

what next the album and I found the same

what next the album and I found the same ideas as a teacher lesson planning with

ideas as a teacher lesson planning with

ideas as a teacher lesson planning with my fellow teachers the same ideas so

my fellow teachers the same ideas so

my fellow teachers the same ideas so sort of bringing all that together so

sort of bringing all that together so

sort of bringing all that together so the first thing in a group dynamic when

the first thing in a group dynamic when

the first thing in a group dynamic when you’re creating something there has to

you’re creating something there has to

you’re creating something there has to be some parameters you know and that’s

be some parameters you know and that’s

be some parameters you know and that’s what we just set up here you know we’re

what we just set up here you know we’re

what we just set up here you know we’re all playing hand drums this is how we’re

all playing hand drums this is how we’re

all playing hand drums this is how we’re going to stop slipping note we’re to

going to stop slipping note we’re to

going to stop slipping note we’re to stop playing and start playing and I’m

stop playing and start playing and I’m

stop playing and start playing and I’m gonna set up a little activity that will

gonna set up a little activity that will

gonna set up a little activity that will all have a chance to create a groove

all have a chance to create a groove

all have a chance to create a groove reacting to each other so let’s do that

reacting to each other so let’s do that

reacting to each other so let’s do that so this is what we’ll do I’m gonna start

so this is what we’ll do I’m gonna start

so this is what we’ll do I’m gonna start playing a simple groove I’m just gonna

playing a simple groove I’m just gonna

playing a simple groove I’m just gonna continue playing it what’s your name

continue playing it what’s your name

continue playing it what’s your name Adam Adam when you hear something to

Adam Adam when you hear something to

Adam Adam when you hear something to play you can join me it can be what I’m

play you can join me it can be what I’m

play you can join me it can be what I’m playing it can be something totally

playing it can be something totally

playing it can be something totally different

different

different there’s no wrong answer once Adam comes

there’s no wrong answer once Adam comes

there’s no wrong answer once Adam comes in Patrick will come in and you’ll just

in Patrick will come in and you’ll just

in Patrick will come in and you’ll just listen and then join in and let’s go

listen and then join in and let’s go

listen and then join in and let’s go right around p.m. when it’s time to stop

right around p.m. when it’s time to stop

right around p.m. when it’s time to stop I’ll play the break and we’re done cool

I’ll play the break and we’re done cool

I’ll play the break and we’re done cool so let’s do it

yeah so the parameters are set up in

yeah so the parameters are set up in this particular incidence right I said

this particular incidence right I said

this particular incidence right I said we’re gonna do an exercise I’ll start

we’re gonna do an exercise I’ll start

we’re gonna do an exercise I’ll start playing then we come in in it’s in

playing then we come in in it’s in

playing then we come in in it’s in succession right in the case of a jazz

succession right in the case of a jazz

succession right in the case of a jazz group that would be the chart that would

group that would be the chart that would

group that would be the chart that would be the truck we’re gonna play Julia from

be the truck we’re gonna play Julia from

be the truck we’re gonna play Julia from the Beatles today but let’s do it as a

the Beatles today but let’s do it as a

the Beatles today but let’s do it as a Samba as a Brazilian group now those

Samba as a Brazilian group now those

Samba as a Brazilian group now those aren’t parameters there’s a lot of

aren’t parameters there’s a lot of

aren’t parameters there’s a lot of create TV that can happen inside of that

create TV that can happen inside of that

create TV that can happen inside of that those are our parameters there in the

those are our parameters there in the

those are our parameters there in the improv group we it’s always about

improv group we it’s always about

improv group we it’s always about prompts right somebody give me now

prompts right somebody give me now

prompts right somebody give me now somebody give me an adjective oh great

somebody give me an adjective oh great

somebody give me an adjective oh great now I’ll let act like a brown bear for

now I’ll let act like a brown bear for

now I’ll let act like a brown bear for the next ten minutes the or in the case

the next ten minutes the or in the case

the next ten minutes the or in the case of a lesson right this is what I want to

of a lesson right this is what I want to

of a lesson right this is what I want to teach these kids okay and their band

teach these kids okay and their band

teach these kids okay and their band kids so I know these are the tools I

kids so I know these are the tools I

kids so I know these are the tools I have in my room all right now let’s work

have in my room all right now let’s work

have in my room all right now let’s work together to figure out what we’re gonna

together to figure out what we’re gonna

together to figure out what we’re gonna do yeah so at first it’s all about

do yeah so at first it’s all about

do yeah so at first it’s all about setting those parameters and the same

setting those parameters and the same

setting those parameters and the same thing works if you think about the

thing works if you think about the

thing works if you think about the business world I do a lot of nonprofit

business world I do a lot of nonprofit

business world I do a lot of nonprofit work and you’re talking about mark

work and you’re talking about mark

work and you’re talking about mark you’re in a marketing meeting and you’re

you’re in a marketing meeting and you’re

you’re in a marketing meeting and you’re looking at all right what’s our goal

looking at all right what’s our goal

looking at all right what’s our goal what tools we have what’s our budget do

what tools we have what’s our budget do

what tools we have what’s our budget do we have a social media account yet nope

we have a social media account yet nope

we have a social media account yet nope we need to call savvy sisters and get on

we need to call savvy sisters and get on

we need to call savvy sisters and get on that the UM or we have all this stuff

that the UM or we have all this stuff

that the UM or we have all this stuff how do we use it effectively so that’s

how do we use it effectively so that’s

how do we use it effectively so that’s the first thing let’s do the exercise

the first thing let’s do the exercise

the first thing let’s do the exercise again No

again No

again No than else out of it okay cuz he’s time

than else out of it okay cuz he’s time

than else out of it okay cuz he’s time we do it we learn a little more about

we do it we learn a little more about

we do it we learn a little more about ourselves I’m gonna do a different

ourselves I’m gonna do a different

ourselves I’m gonna do a different grooves though it’s already starting to

grooves though it’s already starting to

grooves though it’s already starting to come together isn’t it it’s already

come together isn’t it it’s already

come together isn’t it it’s already starting to come together the Elm so the

starting to come together the Elm so the

starting to come together the Elm so the next thing that happens next well to me

next thing that happens next well to me

next thing that happens next well to me the next important thing is that as a

the next important thing is that as a

the next important thing is that as a group we began to learn each other’s

group we began to learn each other’s

group we began to learn each other’s strengths and part of that is that

strengths and part of that is that

strengths and part of that is that identifying your own strengths you know

identifying your own strengths you know

identifying your own strengths you know what what what am i bringing to the

what what what am i bringing to the

what what what am i bringing to the table here you know you can already sort

table here you know you can already sort

table here you know you can already sort of hear players going you know what you

of hear players going you know what you

of hear players going you know what you took a risk there out of that time I

took a risk there out of that time I

took a risk there out of that time I heard you BA

heard you BA

heard you BA yeah you know I’m gonna go after this

yeah you know I’m gonna go after this

yeah you know I’m gonna go after this little part here this is where I feel

little part here this is where I feel

little part here this is where I feel comfortable all right

comfortable all right

comfortable all right I feel like I can play a little quicker

I feel like I can play a little quicker

I feel like I can play a little quicker I have some chops here you know in a

I have some chops here you know in a

I have some chops here you know in a jazz situation we don’t we know our

jazz situation we don’t we know our

jazz situation we don’t we know our roles drummer right keeping the time

roles drummer right keeping the time

roles drummer right keeping the time with the bass player who’s laying down

with the bass player who’s laying down

with the bass player who’s laying down the time in the harmonies piano player

the time in the harmonies piano player

the time in the harmonies piano player laying down the harmonies for us but we

laying down the harmonies for us but we

laying down the harmonies for us but we also have you know what I know this guy

also have you know what I know this guy

also have you know what I know this guy he has some chops so the piano player is

he has some chops so the piano player is

he has some chops so the piano player is gonna say I’m gonna leave some space for

gonna say I’m gonna leave some space for

gonna say I’m gonna leave some space for this drummer or the other way around man

this drummer or the other way around man

this drummer or the other way around man as a drummer I know this piano player is

as a drummer I know this piano player is

as a drummer I know this piano player is gonna play a lot of notes when he takes

gonna play a lot of notes when he takes

gonna play a lot of notes when he takes the solo and blow everybody away I’m

the solo and blow everybody away I’m

the solo and blow everybody away I’m gonna stay out of the way you know

gonna stay out of the way you know

gonna stay out of the way you know knowing your role

knowing your role

knowing your role finding a role inside the group that

finding a role inside the group that

finding a role inside the group that improv group so the the improvised

improv group so the the improvised

improv group so the the improvised musical we did we would pull out the

musical we did we would pull out the

musical we did we would pull out the prompts but as we ran shows by the

prompts but as we ran shows by the

prompts but as we ran shows by the second week

second week

second week new the actors now so I do like Oh Mike

new the actors now so I do like Oh Mike

new the actors now so I do like Oh Mike can rap so he’s gonna get a rap at some

can rap so he’s gonna get a rap at some

can rap so he’s gonna get a rap at some point because we way it would work is

point because we way it would work is

point because we way it would work is they would start a scene and then maybe

they would start a scene and then maybe

they would start a scene and then maybe the piano player would start playing

the piano player would start playing

the piano player would start playing like oh I feel a song coming on so

like oh I feel a song coming on so

like oh I feel a song coming on so that’s how musicals work anyway and then

that’s how musicals work anyway and then

that’s how musicals work anyway and then and we would throw different styles we

and we would throw different styles we

and we would throw different styles we knew who was strong here and there so

knew who was strong here and there so

knew who was strong here and there so you’ve learned everybody strengths and

you’ve learned everybody strengths and

you’ve learned everybody strengths and they also learned actors learn with us

they also learned actors learn with us

they also learned actors learn with us oh I know I can start singing and

oh I know I can start singing and

oh I know I can start singing and they’re gonna be able to catch up to me

they’re gonna be able to catch up to me

they’re gonna be able to catch up to me you know but you only learned that after

you know but you only learned that after

you know but you only learned that after you begin to attend to each other’s

you begin to attend to each other’s

you begin to attend to each other’s strengths and know your own in the

strengths and know your own in the

strengths and know your own in the classroom my coat by coab and director

classroom my coat by coab and director

classroom my coat by coab and director when i was a band director was a wind

when i was a band director was a wind

when i was a band director was a wind player i’m a percussionist if i’m having

player i’m a percussionist if i’m having

player i’m a percussionist if i’m having trouble with my wins I’m gonna go to

trouble with my wins I’m gonna go to

trouble with my wins I’m gonna go to Mary Margaret and say hey how do we work

Mary Margaret and say hey how do we work

Mary Margaret and say hey how do we work on breathing how do I fix this problem

on breathing how do I fix this problem

on breathing how do I fix this problem you know and then we’re gonna work

you know and then we’re gonna work

you know and then we’re gonna work together to come to this lesson plan why

together to come to this lesson plan why

together to come to this lesson plan why just trying to do all out of my hand

just trying to do all out of my hand

just trying to do all out of my hand when there’s somebody else in the room

when there’s somebody else in the room

when there’s somebody else in the room with that strength right so that’s the

with that strength right so that’s the

with that strength right so that’s the next thing same thing here you can hear

next thing same thing here you can hear

next thing same thing here you can hear everybody beginning to listen to each

everybody beginning to listen to each

everybody beginning to listen to each other figure out where they fit in in

other figure out where they fit in in

other figure out where they fit in in this whole scheme it still one more time

this whole scheme it still one more time

this whole scheme it still one more time I’ll switch it up again

[Applause]

[Applause] so I sort of combine these two things to

so I sort of combine these two things to

so I sort of combine these two things to finding your strengths and work and

finding your strengths and work and

finding your strengths and work and finding the strengths of the group but

finding the strengths of the group but

finding the strengths of the group but those are really what brings out the

those are really what brings out the

those are really what brings out the creative part of it now we’re in the

creative part of it now we’re in the

creative part of it now we’re in the process world I spend a lot of my time I

process world I spend a lot of my time I

process world I spend a lot of my time I call it in the weeds like thinking about

call it in the weeds like thinking about

call it in the weeds like thinking about how these processes work but after while

how these processes work but after while

how these processes work but after while you to think about the outcome – and

you to think about the outcome – and

you to think about the outcome – and that’s the other important part of any

that’s the other important part of any

that’s the other important part of any type of creative project is what’s your

type of creative project is what’s your

type of creative project is what’s your real outcome not the product but when

real outcome not the product but when

real outcome not the product but when you’re playing like oh you’re playing

you’re playing like oh you’re playing

you’re playing like oh you’re playing like I’m playing a jazz tune is it a

like I’m playing a jazz tune is it a

like I’m playing a jazz tune is it a minor and is it sad is it dark are we

minor and is it sad is it dark are we

minor and is it sad is it dark are we angry is that what I want my audience to

angry is that what I want my audience to

angry is that what I want my audience to feel or am i playing something and

feel or am i playing something and

feel or am i playing something and talking about light spring day how can I

talking about light spring day how can I

talking about light spring day how can I make it feel like that how can we work

make it feel like that how can we work

make it feel like that how can we work using our strengths let’s make it feel

using our strengths let’s make it feel

using our strengths let’s make it feel like that I play with an artist named

like that I play with an artist named

like that I play with an artist named liliane Yale she spent some time our

liliane Yale she spent some time our

liliane Yale she spent some time our last album up on nut on the wrt I had 11

last album up on nut on the wrt I had 11

last album up on nut on the wrt I had 11 jazz charts and there’s a song we play

jazz charts and there’s a song we play

jazz charts and there’s a song we play called called climb the wall it’s in

called called climb the wall it’s in

called called climb the wall it’s in this rhythm that puts together brings

this rhythm that puts together brings

this rhythm that puts together brings together rhythms from West Africa and

together rhythms from West Africa and

together rhythms from West Africa and Cuba

Cuba

Cuba it’s called afro-cuban 6/8 rhythm and

it’s called afro-cuban 6/8 rhythm and

it’s called afro-cuban 6/8 rhythm and when we play that song in concerts

when we play that song in concerts

when we play that song in concerts immediately first note she starts

immediately first note she starts

immediately first note she starts playing the guitar and I started out on

playing the guitar and I started out on

playing the guitar and I started out on Cougars before I move the drumset it’s

Cougars before I move the drumset it’s

Cougars before I move the drumset it’s that feeling of oh it’s on it’s on and

that feeling of oh it’s on it’s on and

that feeling of oh it’s on it’s on and you know every time we’re going on a

you know every time we’re going on a

you know every time we’re going on a journey and then we’re going to take the

journey and then we’re going to take the

journey and then we’re going to take the audience on this journey with us

audience on this journey with us

audience on this journey with us and it’s gonna go all over and you’re

and it’s gonna go all over and you’re

and it’s gonna go all over and you’re gonna this song’s about climbing the

gonna this song’s about climbing the

gonna this song’s about climbing the wall like climbing the walls of life

wall like climbing the walls of life

wall like climbing the walls of life getting over those hurdles

getting over those hurdles

getting over those hurdles you know climb the wall and we know

you know climb the wall and we know

you know climb the wall and we know we’re gonna take this audience on this

we’re gonna take this audience on this

we’re gonna take this audience on this journey I’m getting chills right now

journey I’m getting chills right now

journey I’m getting chills right now thinking about it but that’s that’s that

thinking about it but that’s that’s that

thinking about it but that’s that’s that feeling that happens when you’re

feeling that happens when you’re

feeling that happens when you’re collaborating and you

collaborating and you

collaborating and you get to know the people you’re working

get to know the people you’re working

get to know the people you’re working with you get to know their strengths and

with you get to know their strengths and

with you get to know their strengths and you know that when I do this I know that

you know that when I do this I know that

you know that when I do this I know that I know that that Dale is gonna do this

I know that that Dale is gonna do this

I know that that Dale is gonna do this on the organ you know when I do this I

on the organ you know when I do this I

on the organ you know when I do this I know Lily’s gonna do this on a guitar

know Lily’s gonna do this on a guitar

know Lily’s gonna do this on a guitar here it comes and we’re gonna be able to

here it comes and we’re gonna be able to

here it comes and we’re gonna be able to take this big thing and share that with

take this big thing and share that with

take this big thing and share that with our friends out there out in the crowd

our friends out there out in the crowd

our friends out there out in the crowd still one more time so this time after

still one more time so this time after

still one more time so this time after we all get settled feel free to change

we all get settled feel free to change

we all get settled feel free to change your rhythm if you feel like it it’s

your rhythm if you feel like it it’s

your rhythm if you feel like it it’s after you get settled after everybody’s

after you get settled after everybody’s

after you get settled after everybody’s in you hear somebody else came in after

in you hear somebody else came in after

in you hear somebody else came in after you’re like oh I can interact with that

you’re like oh I can interact with that

you’re like oh I can interact with that feel free to go with it there’s nothing

feel free to go with it there’s nothing

feel free to go with it there’s nothing wrong with being creative

thank you thank you guys so much for

thank you thank you guys so much for taking the risk

”

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