Have you ever been frustrated by the technology that’s supposed to be serving you? Back when I was a teenager writing music with paper and pen, it never occurred to me that technology would be an important part of my craft. Of course there is notation software. And of course there’s sound design software. But on top of all of that, there’s the need to learn website design, content creation, and how to create an online presence. In short, there’s a lot of technological skills involved in making music.
Don’t get me wrong, the power of a good notation software or a DAW’s virtual sounds is something I’m extremely grateful for. But honestly, I don’t consider myself intuitively gifted with technology. I remember last year watching a toddler crawl slowly across the ground with one leg hanging limply while the other did all the work. Upon seeing this I turned to my wife and said, “That’s how I work with technology: it’s inefficient, but I know where I want to go and eventually get there.”
Because composers use technology so much, we talk a lot about “workflow.” That basically means that you need to become familiar with your technological instruments so that you think less about your gear and more about composing. That shift takes time, just like becoming fluent in another language takes time. But even once you are fluent, technological glitches still pop up which make me want to tear my hair out.
I needed a better workflow. So I asked a friend who works with sound equipment how he approaches technology hangups. His response was practical and helpful. I thought I would share his insights here:
A lot of people try something, and if it doesn’t work, get frustrated and try the same thing over and over again. But that won’t get you anywhere.
I try to think of my job like solving puzzles. I think of potential solutions to a problem, and if it doesn’t work, I try another solution. Staying calm enough to problem solve is really the key.
And honestly, sometimes, just continuing to show up eventually pays off. There have been times I couldn’t solve a problem after 3 hours of work, and I walk away without solving the problem. Then the next day, I find the solution.
There’s also a lot of tutorials online, but sometimes you’re in over your head and you need to ask for help. That’s okay.”
This friend’s advice really helped me. I’m mainly taking away, 1.) patience to problem-solve, 2.) consistently showing up, and 3.) asking for help. After my conversation with this friend, I remember running into numerous technical issues that would have demoralized me previously. My wife commented, “You’ve been so patient with your technical hiccups the last month. You’ve figured out how to do so much. I don’t know who I married!”
I still wish I were more intuitive with technology. But I hope my friend’s advice can help you in your work as it has helped me in mine.