Stephon Harris is a well known, young, jazz vibraphonist. His appearance on the TEDTalk, Stephon Harris: There are no mistakes on the bandstand, describes his improvisational approach, and its applications outside of jazz music. He explains that mistakes, in this case notes out of key, should be viewed as opportunities, and that mistakes are simply missed opportunities. The trick to this technique is being observant of others such as his bandmates. This is demonstrated through practical examples with his bandmates, which makes the ideas very easy to digest.
The practical application of this is the concept of adaptability. Within the realm of sound design, very little goes according to plan or procedure. This means that there is opportunity to try new techniques and equipment. Sound designers have deadlines, parameters and deliverable criteria to meet and sometimes vague descriptions of what is wanted. Therefore, it is not unheard of for sounds to be rejected due to not meeting the needs of the project. Being adaptable and using these "mistakes" as "opportunities" to create better sounds more in alignment with the project's needs is crucial for the sound designer.
This post encouraged me to check out the tedTalk for myself. i would always wonder how sounds were developed and chosen. I have also seen movies and shows where the sound either was incredible or completely disconnected. Upon learning how much detail went into the roar of T-Rex in Jurassic Park, I have gained a great deal of respect for sound designers and what they bring to the table in very vast areas. Great post, and most importantly, look forward to hearing what you design in the future.
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