Improvisation Quotes

169 quotes by 148 authors

Civilization has gotten further and further from the so-called 'natural' man, who uses all his faculties: perception, invention, improvisation. — Robert Green Ingersoll
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… — Stephen Nachmanovitch
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… — Stephen Nachmanovitch
In a one-woman show, there must be compelling material that you adore. In both of these there are conversations with you and another character. My… — Valerie Harper
I believe that improvisation is really just a directorial tool. It's a writing tool. — Ivan Reitman
I used to go to the Improvisation Comedy Club every night in Times Square. How I didn't get killed in that area either means that… — Gilbert Gottfried
The only band I was really over-into was Cream. And the only thing I really liked about them was their live stuff 'cause they played… — Eddie Van Halen
I always had a knack for improvisation. I can write down the notes I play, but never really had a proper academic musical background. I… — Anthony Hopkins
The music of the Gypsies belongs in the sphere of improvisation rather than in any other, without which it would have no power to exist. — Franz Liszt
The main three components are the blues, improvisation - which is some kind of element that people are trying to make it up - and… — Wynton Marsalis
Through improvisation, jazz teaches you about yourself. And through swing, it teaches you that other people are individuals too. It teaches you how to coordinate… — Wynton Marsalis
The shortest feedback loop I can think of is doing improvisation in front of an audience. — Demetri Martin
When I sit down to write a song, it's a kind of improvisation, but I formalize it a bit to get it into the studio,… — Paul McCartney
There's nothing that makes you so aware of the improvisation of human existence as a song unfinished. Or an old address book. — Carson McCullers
Jazz is all about improvisation and it's about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you'll never do it this way twice.… — Brian McKnight
I find Indian music very funky. I mean it's very soulful, with their own kind of blues. But it's the only other school on the… — John McLaughlin
The thing about improvisation is that it's not about what you say. It's listening to what other people say. It's about what you hear. — Paul Merton
Improvisation is almost like the retarded cousin in the comedy world. We've been trying forever to get improvisation on TV. It's just like stand-up. It's… — Amy Poehler
If it's a modern-day story dealing with certain ethnic groups, I think I could open up certain scenes for improvisation, while staying within the structure… — Martin Scorsese
Improvisation is too good to leave to chance. — Paul Simon

Who Wrote These Improvisation Quotes

148 authors contributed a total of 169 Improvisation Quotes, led by these top contributors: