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Psychology of Music
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A synthesis process model of creative thinking in music composition

David Collins

Doncaster College, UK, david.collins{at}don.ac.uk

A three-year single case study of a composer was undertaken in order to track the compositional process in real time. A combination of data collection techniques was used to attempt to map cognitive processes: digital MIDI save-as files, analogue audio files, semi-structured interviews, immediately retrospective verbal accounts and verification sessions between composer and researcher. Findings indicated a chunking of processes and strategies at micro and macro levels. A hypothetical model is presented which points to a generative process of problem proliferation and successive solution implementation, occurring not only in a linear manner but also recursively. Moments of creative insight were observed which related to Gestalt theory problem restructuring; some were seen to overlap in real time with others, indicating an element of parallelism in creative thinking. A synthesis of differing creative process theories is suggested to explain the compositional process observed in the study.

Key Words: cognition • creative process

Psychology of Music, Vol. 33, No. 2, 193-216 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0305735605050651
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