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Go at your own pace
6 Sessions / 8-10 hours of work per session
Skill Level
Beginner
Topics
Music, Music Fundamentals

Not available for purchase in India

Open for Enrollment

Destroy Writer's Block For Good: A Musician's Approach

Open for Enrollment
You can also start immediately after joining!

Would you like to enroll?

Enrollment for this course has closed. But you can enroll in a future offering (please select)

Enrollment has closed

Go at your own pace
6 Sessions / 8-10 hours of work per session
Skill Level
Beginner
Topics
Music, Music Fundamentals

Not available for purchase in India

Course Description
"Writer's block is a myth - but getting stuck is real. Let me show you how to get unstuck and stay that way." - Dr. J. Anthony Allen

This isn't about waiting for inspiration or generic creativity tips. This is a practical, proven system built around three core elements:

  • Professional Unblocking Techniques
  • Environment Design
  • Mind & Body Optimization

Developing Your Daily Practice

Learn how successful artists maintain creativity through small, consistent actions:

  • Establish a sustainable daily creative routine
  • Quick exercises to maintain momentum
  • Simple ways to "prime the pump" daily
  • Techniques for busy schedules

From composing for the Minnesota Orchestra to producing Top 40 electronic music on an Arctic expedition, Dr. Allen has developed bulletproof techniques for maintaining creative flow under any circumstances. Now, he's sharing his complete system for breaking through creative blocks and establishing a sustainable creative practice.

Real-World Applications
This course includes extensive examples from Dr. Allen's professional work, including:

  • Meeting orchestral deadlines
  • Producing electronic music on quick deadlines
  • Maintaining creative output while teaching
  • Completing projects under pressure

Every technique is demonstrated with practical musical examples across multiple genres. You'll see exactly how to apply these methods to your own work, regardless of your preferred style.


Reviews
schedule

This course is in adaptive mode and is open for enrollment. Learn more about adaptive courses here.

Session 1: Introduction (December 15, 2025)
7 lessons
1. Introduction
2. About the Instructor
3. What is Writer's Block?
4. What Genres are we talking about?
5. How we will cover Writer's Block?
6. Does Writer's Block Exist?
7. Not Imposter Syndrome
Session 2: Improving Our Creative Environment (December 22, 2025)
Prevention is key to Writer's Block. We have to make sure we have a great creative environment before we even start writing.
4 lessons
1. Where Do You Work?
2. Do you have a Plan?
3. Distractions
4. Are Computers Bad for Creativity?
Session 3: Mind and Body (December 29, 2025)
If our creative engine isn't firing on all cylinders (or volts) then we can't expect that it will do its job very well.
5 lessons
1. Taking Care of Your Body
2. Time of Day
3. Perfectionism and Procrastination
4. Exersise and Creativity
5. Learn Your Bodies Habits
Session 4: Re-Thinking: Techniques for Getting UnStuck (January 5, 2026)
In my creative toolkit, I have a lot of techniques to get unstuck quickly. Here are a few of my favorites.
10 lessons
1. How To Use These Techniques
2. Go Back a Section
3. Take a Walk
4. Look Back: Explore Previous Material
5. Skip To The End
6. Avoidance Game
7. F#?
8. Genetic Variations
9. Using Numbers
10. Use Artificial Intelligence
Session 5: Building a Creative Practice and Creative Habits (January 12, 2026)
In other art forms, we talk about a "creative practice" all the time. But not in music. Let's change that.
3 lessons
1. Define Creative Practice
2. Makeing it Happen
3. Developing a Daily Practice
Session 6: These Principles In Action (January 19, 2026)
In this section I want to show you how I use these principles in my own creative work.
5 lessons
1. How to Start?
2. What Should I Do Next?
3. What Sound Do I Want?
4. What Comes Next?
5. Thanks For Watching!
Instructors And Guests
What You Need to Take This Course
  • The desire to create music
  • Basic understanding of music
  • Willingness to develop new creative habits
  • No specific music theory knowledge required