Stephen Nachmanovitch on Improvising in Life

Feb 2, 2021

In this engaging conversation, Stephen Nachmanovitch, an improvisational violinist and author, shares insights from his book, "The Art of Is: Improvising as a Way of Life." He emphasizes the deep connection between creativity and ethics, suggesting that originality must be grounded in an ethical framework. Stephen discusses how improvisation mirrors conversation, illustrating the importance of listening and community in creativity. He also explores the beauty of imperfection and the necessity of balancing spontaneity with structure, inviting listeners to view life dynamically.

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INSIGHT

Ethics of Creativity

Creativity requires an ethical foundation to have value.
Improvisation skills can be misused by those with harmful intentions, like demagogues.

INSIGHT

Improvisation as Conversation

Improvisation is rooted in conversation, mirroring its give-and-take nature.
It's the foundation of all creative processes, even in composed art forms.

ANECDOTE

Freeway Improvisation

Merging onto a freeway demonstrates improvised communication.
Drivers interact through subtle adjustments, demonstrating real-time, mindful exchange.

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Stephen Nachmanovitch performs and teaches internationally as an improvisational violinist and at the intersection of music, dance, theatre, and multimedia arts. Stephen has presented masterclasses and workshops at Julliard and many conservatories and universities.

In this episode, Stephen and Eric discuss his new book, The Art of Is: Improvising as a Way of Life, which is an exploration of the creative process, especially the social dimensions of the creative process and a philosophical meditation on living, living fully, and living in the present.

But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!

In This Interview, Stephen Nachmanovitch and I Discuss Improvising in Life and…

His book, The Art of Is: Improvising as a Way of Life
That creativity is absolutely worthless without an ethical foundation
The ethics of creativity
Buddhism and creativity
Why improvisation is so important to him
His interest in the creative process across all fields
That the template for improvisation is conversation
The role of listening and equality in improvisational music
The relationship between impermanence, imperfection, and improvisation
The relationship between chivalry and the phrase “yes, and…”
That play isn’t what you do, it’s how you do it
The relationship between discipline and freedom
Art as the act of balancing
How self correction is a lot easier without the added burden of guilt
The metaphor of a child learning to walk and the approach of “positive feedback only”
What it means to “stamp out nouns”
That when you create something that’s “original” it means, simply, that you are the origin

Stephen Nachmanovitch Links:

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Stephen Nachmanovitch on Improvising in Life, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

Finding Your Creativity with Julia Cameron

Power of Poetry with Ellen Bass

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