Jazz & the Art of Improvisation
All creativity is an act of trust
All creativity is an act of trust. On a macro level, it takes faith to consider yourself an artist and to have the audacity to birth a new vision into the world. On a micro level, each creative decision is a small leap of faith. How does the painter know where to move her brush? How does the poet know what word to write next?
There is no predefined template for art, no way of knowing in advance what exact sequence of actions will lead to the best outcome. Word by word, note by note, the creative process is an act of improvisation. One small decision at a time, we must trust what is trying to come out.
Following is an excerpt from The Art of You about creative improvisation.
Jazz and the art of improvisation
“Do not fear mistakes. There are none.” – Miles Davis
When we listen to our instinct, we tap into wisdom beyond the conscious mind. This is similar to the intuitive nature of children before their egos are fully developed. They somehow possess insight that seems otherworldly, as if they are still connected to whatever mysterious realm they originated from prior to being born—just the way an idea itself lives in a state of ethereal limbo before being manifested on Earth through a creator.
All creativity, to a degree, is an act of channeling. The mind is a natural antenna for ideas and inspiration. The best ideas don’t need to be forced. They come naturally when we are in a state of receptivity. Practicing the art of improvisation — acting in the moment without censorship or fear of mistakes — is one way to sharpen our ability to channel ideas.
An example of spontaneous creativity can be seen in the evolution of jazz music. At the turn of the twentieth century, ragtime was the most popular style of music in America. It was composed as written sheet music and regarded as the folk-American equivalent to European classical music. It was lively music for its time, but every line was meticulously planned in advance, note by note.
Ragtime took a huge leap forward when innovative musicians in places like New Orleans, Kansas City, and Chicago started experimenting with unplanned melodies mid-performance. The music suddenly jumped from the written page and came alive as spontaneous human expression. The result was sometimes sloppy, but always refreshing and honest. No mistake or emotion was hidden. This new style came to be known as jazz. By comparison, ragtime sounded stale.
We as creatives too often remain stuck on the written page, afraid of making a mistake. But sometimes what we perceive as a mistake is actually a portal to an exciting and unexpected destination we wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
According to Deepak Chopra, “If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another. The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.”
In summary: It is safe to start making art before you’re ready. With action comes clarity. Trust yourself to play the music that only you can play.
30 Days of Creative Ritual starts TODAY
Are you ready to reclaim your creativity? Join me and a community of creators who will be committing to a creative practice for the month of April. You can work on any project you want, or just play around and try new things. If you miss the kick off call (today at 4pm EST) the video replay will be provided.
Challenge includes:
2 group calls (April 1 and April 30)
Weekly prompts and rituals
Online community support
Participation is free when you order The Art of You. Join us!
Listen to James McCrae on the Creation for Liberation Podcast
