Stephen Nachmanovitch performs and teaches internationally as an improvisational violinist, and at the intersections of music, dance, theater, and multimedia arts. He is the author of Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art (Penguin, 1990) and The Art of Is: Improvising as a Way of Life (New World Library, 2019). Born in 1950, he graduated in 1971 from Harvard and in 1975 from the University of California, where he earned a Ph.D. in the History of Consciousness for an exploration of William Blake. His mentor was the anthropologist and philosopher Gregory Bateson. He has taught and lectured widely in the United States and abroad on creativity and the spiritual underpinnings of art. In the 1970s he was a pioneer in free improvisation on violin, viola and electric violin. He has presented master classes and workshops at many conservatories and universities, and has had numerous appearances on radio, television, and at music and theater festivals. He has collaborated with other artists in media including music, dance, theater, and film, and has developed programs melding art, music, literature, and computer technology. He has published articles in a variety of fields since 1966, and has created computer software including The World Music Menu and Visual Music Tone Painter. He lives with his family in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is currently performing, recording, teaching, and writing.

 

 

In this episode

-Stephens creative journey

-Discovering the discipline of musical improvisation

-Seeing the deeper meaning of improvisation

-Studying with great musical and spiritual teachers

-The connection between creativity and spiritual practice

-How to get beyond insecurities and self-doubt

-Meditation as a reflection of creative practices

-The importance of perseverance and spontaneity   

-Improvisation in social contexts 

-The importance of failing and trying again

 

Links:

freeplay.com

Asheville Event on May 4th, 2019

 

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In this episode:

-Recap of my experience at a recent meditation retreat

-Relating meditation practice with creative practices

-You are good enough

-Start where you are

-Put your whole heart into your practice

-"Don't be a smoky fire, burn up completely"

-Be fully present in your life as well as your art

-Recognizing the lessons within challenges

-You get out what you put it

-This is it!

-Stop looking to the future for validation

-Merge with the moment at hand

In the course of his three years as a developer and main tuner for Saraz Handpans, Josh has tuned over 300 new Saraz instruments and has experience in tuning well over 300 instruments from various builders including Panart Hang, Bellart, Pantheon Steel, SpB, Symphonic Steel, Echo Sound Sculpture, Ayasa, CFoulke, Meraki, Aura, Shellopan, Makai, and the list continues .   

 

-Josh's creative journey

-Falling in love with the drums as a kid

-Transferring to world percussion

-Studying music out of a deep love for it

-Finding the Handpan

-Following your passion

-Trusting your intuition

-Practice and play as devotion to creativity

-A brief history of the Handpan

-Building and tuning Handpans

 

Links:

https://www.riverasteeltuning.com

 

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This weeks episode is a solo show that is dedicated to the topis of fear and doubt.

 

-Acknowledging our fears and working with them

-Sitting with insecurities instead of pushing them away

-Having the courage to be honest with ourselves

-Understanding our emotions and using them as a road map

-We are not our thoughts

-Cherishing the wisdom that comes from hardships

-There is no looking back

-Forming relationships with discomfort

 

 

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In this edition of "Embodying the Practice", I go on a solo rant about:

 

-Finding the right community

-Inspiration through osmosis

-Burrowing energy from people we admire 

-Pushing ourselves beyond our normal limits

-Showing up for others

-Reciprocal inspiration

-Stepping out of our boxes

-Sharing our gifts 

-Stick around to the end to hear a song from my band's ep!

 

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Marc was eleven years old when he first picked up the violin and has been in a love affair with music ever since. He builds layers of sound using the violin, voice and guitar, in a process known as looping, which creates an array of melodies and harmonies. This is all done live without the use of any pre-recordings or samples.To All My Dear Friends (TAMDF) was formed in November of 2008, but it wasn’t until early 2009 that Marc started sharing this unique sound with the world.TAMDF has recorded four studio albums, alongside many years of touring and performing, including a live album on the streets of Asheville, North Carolina. Marc is currently working on his 5th studio album. TAMDF has collaborated with many talented artists including Grammy Award winning engineer Malcolm Burn, Greg Calbi of Sterling Sound, The Houston Met, Nicole Miglis of Hundred Waters, and Hope Stone Dance.“Music speaks a universal language that all people understand, inspiring and moving each of us. Sound and music can break down barriers, reaching a level that is beyond the mind. For all that humans have created and will create, music is, perhaps, one of our finest accomplishments. Playing music allows me to connect with people in ways that would not be possible through any other medium.”Marc is passionate about cultivating positive transformation through his performances, and hopes to bring healing to many through the music. He also incorporates his daily spiritual practice into his music, including the teachings of yoga, meditation, Sufism, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. TAMDF strives to create musical experiences that rejuvenate, nourish and soothe the soul, helping to return balance within.

 

In this episode:

-Marc's creative journey

-Starting a love affair with music

-Discovering new musical possibilities through the internet

-Looping

-The birth of "To All My Dear Friends"

-Music as a universal language

-Making meaningful connections through music/performance

-The spiritual potential hidden within creativity

-Becoming a full-time musician

-Having faith in your abilities and manifesting your dreams

 

Links:

toallmydearfriends.com

Facebook

 

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Satsang is a power trio creating a unique blend of soul, folk-rock, and hip-hop.  Satsang delivers lyrics that come from and are rooted in change, growth, awareness, and imperfection.  The live show is everything that the band name suggests: a gathering of people to assimilate and share their truths. The rhythms put forth by the band keep everyone on their feet, and the lyrics leave them craving active and positive change. Satsang has toured all over the country and has shared the stage with the likes of Michael Franti & Spearhead, Steel Pulse, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Trevor Hall, Chris Berry, Mike Love, Jon Wayne and the Pain, Tubby Love, and many more. 

Lead singer and songwriter Drew McManus creates music for his soul, fueled by the ever-present task of personal growth and the beautiful life that he found in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. Commenting on his difficult upbringing in Des Moines and residency in Chicago, McManus says, “I grew up in an environment where aggression, violence, abuse, and addiction were always present. It made me a lot of things; angry, sad, and ashamed. I hated my story and I was a slave to addiction. I tried for so long to hide from the reality of my story and the reality of how beautiful life could be.” It wasn’t until an intense spiritual experience lead Drew to break his cycle of addiction. “I had changed my entire outlook on everything” say McManus, “I began to realize that had everything not happened to me exactly like it did, I would not be exactly who/where/what I am right now.” In an effort to share his revelation with others who may be in the same predicament, Drew began to write every day. “I was flooded with the urge to write down the lessons that kept revealing themselves in this surrender. And the connections I began making with other people by making this music vulnerable and open, began to change everything.” These songs are a statement of lessons learned and a further understanding of self. “The whole story is what makes it beautiful, not just the good bits.”

 

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In this episode:

-Drew's creative journey

-The birth of Satsang

-Diving into the conscious music scene

-Authenticity vs. marketability

-Staying grounded

-Practicing martial arts

-Being a full-time musician with a family

-Stories from the road

-Drew's songwriting process

-Connecting with inspiration and using that energy

-Using creativity as a source of healing 

 

Links:

www.satsangmovement.com

Facebook

On Instagram @satsangmusic

 

 

 

You can also check out my blog/music/e-book by going to my website www.creativeawakeningnow.com 

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In this solo episode of the Creative Awakening Now podcast I address the topic of making mistakes. 

 

-A reading of a blog post about the wisdom of making mistakes

-Are mistakes really a bad thing?

-Letting go of expectations

-Creating authentically and not worrying about being the best

-Playing solo music and what I've learned from this

-Stop hiding behind others

-You can only begin where you are

-An update about future projects

 

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Asher Leigh is a singer/songwriter from Asheville, NC who shares alternative, “soul-inspired folk” music.

 Asher’s music inspires deep reflection and connectedness among listeners and is rooted in her unique process of self-inquiry and growth. Through past experiences of disconnection, anxiety, and relational distress, she has learned how to cultivate fulfillment within and communicate love through her creative voice on and off stage. She offers guidance to other musicians and artists on a path of self-nurturance through creative empowerment classes, workshops, and individual programs.

 Asher has performed alongside local musicians Luna Ray and David LaMotte, performed at TEDx, and supports causes of domestic violence awareness, youth empowerment, and community activism. Her debut album, Roots Alive, is available March 1st, 2019.

 

 

In this episode:

-Asher's creative journey

-Turning poetry into songs

-Coming to music with a passion to express

-Channeling energy into songwriting

-Writing and recording her first album 

-Sources of inspiration

-Pain vs Suffering and how that translates into creativity

-Creating from a place of peace and happiness 

-Providing good energy and positivity for the listeners

-Meaning and source of the songs on "Roots Alive"

-Live music from the new album

 

Links:

Tickets to the CD release show!

Website:  www.asherleighmusic.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/radiantsong.asherleigh

AUDIO: www.soundcloud.com/asher-leigh

 

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Jon is an effective and dynamic life coach who teaches, inspires, and connects with people around the world through an unmatched presence, effective techniques and methods for peak performance, and a genuinely fierce commitment to helping people realize and fully live their true potential. 

 

Passionate at heart with a strong determination to understand how people can be their happiest and healthiest, Jon has traveled and coached people all over the world and his enthusiasm for learning, sharing and growing has taken on many adventurous forms, from bicycle caravan circuses to traveling peace theaters. He is committed to bringing out the best in as many people, no matter what their circumstance or condition. He teaches classes and workshops on empowerment, goal setting, forgiveness, compassion, and trauma at various festivals and gatherings around the world. He has trained schoolteachers on how to build more meaningful connections with their students and facilitates a weekly men's groups called "Men's Lives".

 

Jon has a business degree from Concordia University, and has studied Coaching for Transformation, Non-Violent Communication, and Robbins-Madanes Training, among many other disciplines. He co-created Awakening Harmony, a musical connection retreat that promotes emotional empowerment and vulnerability. He was the director of Montreal's largest children's day camp for 6 years and was a team building coach for high performance athletes for 5 years. Jon has been practicing various types of coaching and counseling for more than 10 years and enjoys yoga, authentic relating, music, acrobatics, gardening and woodworking.

 

In this episode:

-Jon's educational background

-Deciding against a conventional path

-Hitchhiking through Canada

-Honoring his love for music, expression, and personal development

-Realizing we are capable of so much more than we were told

-Learning through authentic human connection

-Becoming a life coach

-Co-creating Awakening Harmony

-Holding space for grief and communication

-Using creativity to open people up 

-Song and dance as a form of healing

-Live music in this episode!

 

Links:

www.jonhandelman.com

www.awakeningharmony.com

 

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