An improviser does not operate from a formless vacuum, but from three billion years of organic evolution Stephen Nachmanovitch More Quotes by Stephen Nachmanovitch More Quotes From Stephen Nachmanovitch The most potent muse of all is our own inner child. Stephen Nachmanovitch creativityimaginationchildren There are no prescriptive solutions, no grand designs for grand problems. Life's solutions lie in the minute particulars involving more and more individual people daring to create their own life and art, daring to listen to the voice within their deepest, original nature, and deeper still, the voice within the earth. Stephen Nachmanovitch changelyingart In improvisation, there is only one time. This is what computer people call real time. The time of inspiration, the time of technically structuring and realizing... the time of playing it, and the time of communicating with the audience, are all one. Stephen Nachmanovitch inspirationrealpeople Every moment of life is unique-a kiss, a sunset, a dance, a joke. None will ever recur in quite the same way. Each happens only once in the history of the universe. Stephen Nachmanovitch sunsetkissingunique If I "try" to play, I fail; if I force the play, I crush it; if I race, I trip. Any time I stiffen or brace myself against some error or problem, the very act of bracing would cause the problem to occur. The only road to strength is vulnerability. Stephen Nachmanovitch crusherrorsrace The easiest way to do art is to dispense with success and failure altogether and just get on with it. Stephen Nachmanovitch success-and-failurewayart Surrender means cultivating a comfortable attitude toward not knowing, being nurtured by the mystery of moments that are dependably surprising, ever fresh. Stephen Nachmanovitch knowingattitudemean In the art of teaching, we recognize that ideas and insights need to cook over a period of time. Stephen Nachmanovitch powerfulteachingart Working within the limits of the medium forces us to change our own limits. Improvisation is not breaking with forms and limitations just to be 'free,' but using them as the very means of transcending ourselves. Stephen Nachmanovitch formlimitsmean Paradoxically, the more you are yourself, the more universal your message. As you develop and individuate more deeply, you break through into deeper layers of the collective consciousness and the collective unconsciousness. Stephen Nachmanovitch layersbreak-throughmessages To do anything artistically you have to acquire technique, but create through your technique and not with it. Stephen Nachmanovitch acquiretechnique Creativity exists more in the searching than in the finding. Stephen Nachmanovitch findingscreativity Every conversation is a form of Jazz. The activity of instantaneous creation is as ordinary to us as breathing. Stephen Nachmanovitch breathingjazzordinary To create, we need both technique and freedom of technique Stephen Nachmanovitch techniqueneeds Creative work is play. It is free speculation using materials of ones chosen form. Stephen Nachmanovitch creativityinspirationalart Technique itself springs from play, because we can acquire technique only by the practice of practice, by persistently experimenting and playing with our tools and testing their limits and resistances. Stephen Nachmanovitch practiceplayspring The noun of self becomes a verb. This flashpoint of creation in the present moment is where work and play merge. Stephen Nachmanovitch creativityselfplay As an improvising musician, I am not in the music business, I am not in the creativity business; I am in the surrender business. Stephen Nachmanovitch surrendercreativitymusician If a creative person has a sense of humor, a sense of style and a certain amount of stubbornness, he finds a way to do what he needs to in spite of the obstacles. Stephen Nachmanovitch stylecreativeneeds Play is the taproot from which original art springs. It is the raw stuff that the artist channels with all his learning and technique. Stephen Nachmanovitch playing-gamesspringart
