文章探讨了音乐创作中自由与传统的平衡，提出了一种介于两者之间的实验性方法。作者主张通过设定限制（如使用特定乐器、音符或创作技巧）来激发创造力，并强调学习新技巧后必须尝试应用。这种实验性思维随后被延伸到人生领域，作者通过设定个人规则（如面对恐惧、处理名誉、调整自我认知）来探索不同的人生状态，并认为这种“实验”过程即使不完美也是宝贵的经验积累。

🎵音乐创作中，作者主张在完全自由与严格传统之间寻找平衡，通过设立个人规则和限制（如仅用两件乐器或五种音符创作）来进行实验，以此激发创新灵感。

🧠作者强调学习音乐技巧后必须实践应用，例如学习特定的旋律发展方法或和声改写技巧，并将这些方法系统性地应用于所有创作中，视实验过程为探索未知、积累创作养分的必要步骤。

🔄文章揭示了音乐创作方法与人生哲学的深层联系：作者将这种实验性思维带入人生，通过设定短期规则（如刻意体验恐惧、调整对名誉的看法）来主动探索不同的人生维度，并坚持即使结果不理想，实验本身也毫无失败可能，只为未来提供经验素材。

🔍作者特别指出实验的核心在于“尝试”，无论是音乐创作中的新技巧还是人生实验中的新规则，首要目标是观察结果而非追求完美，这种“不失败”的心态是持续探索的基础。

🔄作者还提到一种重要的实验原则：倾向于尝试与过往行为完全相反的选择（如从追求边界到主动突破），这种反向实验帮助打破惯性，在人生的不同阶段（如创业后）应对“过度自由”带来的迷茫。

One approach to music is to do whatever you want.Absolutely anything goes.But to me, that’s too free.It’s anti-inspiring because having infinite options is overwhelming.

Another approach to music is to follow tradition.You stay within the guidelines of a genre or style.But to me, that’s too strict and sad.It was someone else’s innovation.To imitate it now with rules and recipes is just nostalgia.It’s uninspired and dishonest.

So my favorite approach to music is in-between.You make up your own rules, and apply them to a piece of music.You know what this is called?An experiment!

Experiment with limitations.Write a piece using only two instruments and five notes.Write a lyric using only nouns and no verbs.Experiment with textures.Record an arrangement using only children’s toys or samples of birds.Experiment with density.Write a piece featuring fifty instruments.Then do a solo piece using only your left hand.

I loved learning and applying specific techniques.Like I’d learn a certain way of developing a melody, then go write melodies using that method.I’d learn about re-harmonizing — where you keep the same melody but change the chords underneath, completely changing the mood — then I’d go apply that to all of my songs.Techniques to build tension.Techniques to change time.

With each new thing I learn, I have to try it, and make something.It might not even sound good, but that’s OK.The goal was just to see what happens, so there’s no way to fail.It’s all just fertilizer for future creations.

…

I’m not an active musician anymore, but now I find that the way I approached music is the way I approach life.

After I sold my company and life was a blank slate, I found that having too much freedom was overwhelming.

But I’m not going to buy into an -ism and follow a set of ancient rules.

So instead I do experiments.I make up rules, and apply them to my life for a while.Like…

Experiment with limitations, fear, detachment, or my definition of home.Experiment with fame, boundaries, expanding, quitting, or my self-image.Experiment with vulnerability, commitment, saying yes, or saying no.

I usually try the opposite of whatever I did before.

I still love learning and applying specific techniques.Techniques for conversation.Techniques to stretch time.I’m glad I know how to re-harmonize because there are melodies in my past I can’t change, but I can change the thoughts underneath.

With each new thing I learn, I have to try it.It might not even feel good, but that’s what experimenting is about.The goal is still to see what happens, so there’s no way to fail.