This bachelor thesis aims to research how, and in what way, the creative process of composing music and improvising can be helped by the use of external methods. The thesis researches the subject from a mostly synesthetic point of view, to explore how visual association and perception can be a source of inspiration and contribute with material when composing and improvising. The thesis also deals with existing research about synesthesia, visual association, multi-stimuli correspondences and the relation between different parts of the conscious. I’ve formed methods using visual material sprung from my own synesthetic sensations, and used these when composing music for vocal, piano and string quartet. The material forming the methods consists of paintings, photos, colored texts and color-associated chord charts. 

By incorporating these methods in my own composing, I’ve found that the use of external methods is beneficial to the process and, in that sense, can help its development. I´ve gained a deeper understanding for how my own creative process is affected by the creative element in the visually associative work, such as painting and working perceptually with lyrics and storytelling. I’ve further reflected on how the visual association can be a source for composing, and by doing so, I’ve become more aware of the meaningfulness of allowing myself to use all sides of my conscious in the process of composing and improvising.