Love this guy's YouTube channel, which deals with various aspects of orchestration such as how to write for nature videos or video games. Very down-to-earth practical advice. This one stands out as being a bit more whimsical than most, but as someone who is often frozen by writer's block I appreciate the message.
 

 
 

Interesting way to get a melody going.
 

The queen is a-mused!

Makes me think this would be a most interesting software development project.  There'd be much more that could be done - especially generating accompanying harmonies.

Hi,
 
For me, any "writer's block" has always meant a "change" in the way I do things, and it has taken many different forms, from writing a letter, to writing a poem, to continuing another chapter on my novel ... or simply spend a few minutes having some fun at the Coffee House ... or ... I still need to do reviews on 14 films sitting on my computer!
 
"Writer's Block" is NOT a suggestion that you have no ideas, and we should STOP thinking that, but in many cases merely needs a fresh look at things, or a simple change ... that is no different than you changing your socks or t-shirt ... and you look different ... gee ... I didn't know that I looked OK on a purple shirt ... or green shirt!
 
The change in response and perspective, tends to help the so-called "writer's block" ... and we should STOP thinking that we are machines, that need an oil change or engine rebuild in order to create something.
 
Sorry Bit ... we're not mechanical, and too much of this has become so, and this guy is merely trying to break that into something different ... now go use 12 dice, instead of 6 and you might get Stravinsky!

Well, I find nothing wrong with stochastic elements contributing to a composition.  Isn't it a little bit like a Pollock painting.  He didn't control EXACTLY where the paint went, but he was able to draw together these somewhat random effects into a whole.  It's different for different people of course, but at its basic level composition is the act of bringing together different, sometimes random elements.  It's not like the guy was using an algorithm.  And even if he was, wouldn't that be ok? Didn't Schoenberg et al use an algorithm?

soens
I was just babbling, of course.

Sorry, can't understand what you said.

The dice concept isn't meant to replace creativity, only a device to kickstart the process.
 
I can spend a whole day staring at the keyboard, unable to think of anything worthwhile. But if somebody comes over with a rough song idea that consists of some lame overused 4-chord progression, I can immediately run with that. It's that "journey of a thousand miles" first-step hurdle.

This thread reminds me of a Big Bang Theory episode. Sheldon has a creative block in his thinking and starts doing all sorts of things get his brain working again. Very funny episode. 

Here's schoeberg using an algorithm .  He's playing with the overtones:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up5UwkKybJw
 
You can hear the same thing in the last movement of my piece *camp*.(not the algorithm, just the overtone business)
 
https://soundcloud.com/david-sprouse-76324214/camp-1-gnat2-bear3-wood-4-fire