The project seeks to investigate how the psychological flow state achieved during musical performances of non-idiomatic music composed in real time (so called “free improvised music”) can be ensured, induced, prolonged and applied in the different phases of preparatory and performative practices, both at individual and collective levels. Furthermore, the project aims to explore how embodied knowledge and skills, for example compositional concepts and instrumental abilities, can be developed, expanded and elaborated on to better inform the split-second decision making made in flow state during performances.
Dag Magnus Narvesen is a drummer and composer who is mainly working in the field of improvised and contemporary music. Emerging from the diverse and renowned jazz scene of Norway, his musical endeavours among others include close collaborations with Aki Takase, Conny Bauer, Tobias Delius, Harri Sjöström and Alexander von Schlippenbach.
The psychological state of Flow, often also referred to as optimal experience, is a highly enjoyable state to find oneself in during any task solving or decision-making process. When performing in settings of improvised music, or real-time composition, I often experience this altered state of mind, when most of the socio-musical and personal parameters are balanced, regulated and negotiated within the ecology of the co-creating moment. Not only is this enjoyable, - it is also enabling deeper creative processes and computing skills, both externally and internally.
Externally, I experience a heightened sense of anticipation, an expanded ability of actively listening for what my colleagues are playing and how my own initiatives are fitting in and driving the musical momentum forward.
Internally, I am able to access my bank of embodied knowledge and acquired instrumental and processing skills in ways where combinations of new and forgotten skills become possible in an instant, spiking my creativity and the potential of novel inventions and combinations.
In this presentation, I will attempt to invite the audience into some of my processes and experiences during performance, and otherwise share and discuss some of the aspects discovered through my PhD project named “Flowing Decisions”. This project seeks to investigate how the psychological flow state achieved during musical performances of non-idiomatic music composed in real time (so called “free improvised music”) can be ensured, induced, prolonged and applied in the different phases of preparatory and performative practices. Furthermore, the project aims to explore how embodied knowledge and skills, for example compositional concepts and instrumental abilities, can be developed, expanded and elaborated on to better inform the split second decision making made in flow state during performances.
Narvesen will present some of his key findings and aspects in his project so far:
- How long-term and short-term preparatory practices can help facilitating entering a Flow State during performances.
- What distractions are more common and how to attempt to overcome them?
- What aspects can serve as catalysts for facilitating Flow State during performances?
- Processing benefits of performing in Flow State and other relevant aspects.