Szanto's composition question

Jon...actually, over the years, I've had quite a few ideas come to me
without an instrument in my hand, usually while driving around in my
car. When I get home, I start putzing with it. I suppose if all I had
was a piano, I would make do with that as well. But, I think I might be
missing something here...it seems like you're trying to make a point,
but what is it? Yes, I am a composer/performer, but sometimes I go for
long periods without performing any of my original music...but, I still
compose nonetheless. Here's a nice McLaughlin quote (from GP Jan 2001)
that points in the right direction..." I must go to a special place in
my head to write. It's like a realm...analogous to where philosophers or
scientists might go to pick up ideas that are drifting around. Do you
know what I mean? I don't think anybody really invents anything.
Everything has already been created...you just have to go get it. And to
get it, you have to go to the right place. You get there, you hook in,
and bingo..."
Actually, it's really hard to describe the moment of creation...it
doesn't translate to words as easily as one might like. I'll finish this
post later, as duties call at this time...I'll chat a bit about the
creation of one of my album covers, as it happened in a way that really
blew my wittle mind...see you in a bit...Hstick PS...creation, for me,
is not necessarily about music, either...there's other artistic forms I
enjoy working with, too...

Dear Neil,

--- In tuning@y..., "Neil Haverstick" <STICK@U...> wrote:
> Jon...actually, over the years, I've had quite a few ideas come
> to me without an instrument in my hand, usually while driving
> around in my car.

I suspected this would be the case.

> But, I think I might be missing something here...it seems like
> you're trying to make a point, but what is it?

Aiiii! Seems like everyone read too much into my question! I hope
you've noticed my replies to Kraig and Johnny, but I want to say to
*you* that I would never presume to suggest to you a *better* way to
compose. Let me try to re-frame what I was saying:

You mentioned, at a bit of length, about how you approach composing,
and in your case it is almost a 'channeling' scenario, as you feel
that you are a vessel that the music flows out of. This is all
perfectly swell.

I've also listened to (and enjoyed) your music, and what I was really
getting at was this: as it stands, virtually all of your material is
related to your guitar. I'm wondering what you would come up with if
you one day asked yourself "What would Neil Haverstick music sound
like, some new stuff, if there was a guitar to bring it into the
world?"

I just wonder if it wouldn't take you down a different path, one you
might not have thought about walking down. Again, this is not
suggesting you *should* do this, but I also think that there may be
music for other musicians sitting somewhere inside of you. Maybe
they'll never see it, but you seem to be very thoughtful about the
mysteries of compelling music to bloom, and I was thinking of these
quite different flowers.

That's all, nothing more. And certainly not wanting you to be
something you aren't!

Cheers,
Jon