--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up playing jazz and improvising…" description: "\"Growing up playing jazz and improvising has had a big impact on me, and it translates into my music.\" — Stephen Bruner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg" --- # Growing up playing jazz and improvising has had a big… ![“Growing up playing jazz and improvising has had a big impact on me, and it translates into my music.” quote by Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg) > “Growing up playing jazz and improvising has had a big impact on me, and it translates into my music.” [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jazz improvisation fosters creativity and adaptability, influencing all artistic work. **In simple terms:** Jazz teaches flexible creativity. Key Takeaway Apply improvisational mindset. Themes creativity adaptability music Mood inspired playful Type musical creative When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - collaborative projects Key Concepts improvisation artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - How does improvisation shape your problem solving? - Can you balance structure and spontaneity? A Different Perspective Improvisation may not suit highly structured tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-impact/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [You're just sort of searching for this 'thing' and sometimes you get it and sometimes you don't. All music is imperfect, but in jazz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abercrombie/you-re-just-sort-of-searching-for-this-thing-and-sometimes-you-get-it/) [John Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abercrombie/) > [I grew up in the funk, rock and roll, blues and r&b tradition, and I came to this thing we call jazz later. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-drake/i-grew-up-in-the-funk-rock-and-roll-blues-and-r-b-tradition-and-i/) [Hamid Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-drake/) > [Jazz is an interesting music. It's one of the few forms of music where everyone that's performing the music has a creative stake in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/jazz-is-an-interesting-music-it-s-one-of-the-few-forms-of-music-where/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [I started off with classical music, and I got into jazz when I was about 14 years old. And I've been playing jazz ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-started-off-with-classical-music-and-i-got-into-jazz-when-i-was/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I'm playing jazz throughout the song 'Black Sabbath.' That's what it is there. I mean, I'm moving some other things around, but that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ward/i-m-playing-jazz-throughout-the-song-black-sabbath-that-s-what-it-is/) [Bill Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ward/) > [You know, it's funny... when you're making money, people don't think you're playing jazz. Now when you're not making money, people think that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-fountain/you-know-it-s-funny-when-you-re-making-money-people-don-t-think-you/) [Pete Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-fountain/) > [Playing jazz in restaurants is too stereotypical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/playing-jazz-in-restaurants-is-too-stereotypical/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [“...teaching is like playing jazz. Even if you perform the same number over and over, it never comes out the same twice, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-babbie/teaching-is-like-playing-jazz-even-if-you-perform-the-same-number/) Earl Babbie > [Switch to piano! No. Really, if you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. At its best it's like the human voice. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/switch-to-piano-no-really-if-you-like-an-instrument-that-sings-play/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/master-your-instrument-master-the-music-and-then-forget-all-that/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [I have a theory that musicians recognize each other and if they are destined to collaborate together they will. Mainly, they recognize each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlatko-stefanovski/i-have-a-theory-that-musicians-recognize-each-other-and-if-they-are/) Vlatko Stefanovski > [We grew up with musicians coming over jamming. We had tons of instruments. So holidays were always like, 50 people would come over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-moss/we-grew-up-with-musicians-coming-over-jamming-we-had-tons-of/) [Elisabeth Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-moss/) > [It was liberating to do comedy. It felt like playing in a jazz band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/it-was-liberating-to-do-comedy-it-felt-like-playing-in-a-jazz-band/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I started playing jazz by slowing down Tal Farlow records and analyzing his runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-breau/i-started-playing-jazz-by-slowing-down-tal-farlow-records-and/) Lenny Breau > [The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-reward-for-playing-jazz-is-playing-jazz/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) ## More by Stephen Bruner > [As time progressed, my songwriting developed out of my bass, because that's all I could do. I decided to take it as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/as-time-progressed-my-songwriting-developed-out-of-my-bass-because/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [I couldn't tell how many times I've been to Japan off the top of my head, I just have a few standout moments that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/i-couldn-t-tell-how-many-times-i-ve-been-to-japan-off-the-top-of-my/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [I don't know if I can handle living in Tokyo. I feel like the culture shock would be so intense, especially with the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/i-don-t-know-if-i-can-handle-living-in-tokyo-i-feel-like-the-culture/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [I think anytime you set out to start doing something, it's always a difficult thing. It's a theory of a blank sheet of paper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/i-think-anytime-you-set-out-to-start-doing-something-it-s-always-a/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [You don't have to just hit nails with hammers, you know; you can use a hammer to beat somebody's brains in, to make armor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/you-don-t-have-to-just-hit-nails-with-hammers-you-know-you-can-use-a/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [I was pretty spoiled growing up, creatively and artistically; we were exposed to a lot of different things. I remember watching my brother's friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/i-was-pretty-spoiled-growing-up-creatively-and-artistically-we-were/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [I remember swallowing my tooth up in a high chair, but I definitely don't remember the first time I played bass. It was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/i-remember-swallowing-my-tooth-up-in-a-high-chair-but-i-definitely-2/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) > [Japoneese people take themselves very serious and you can see it by everything they do - it's like a different part of the scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/japoneese-people-take-themselves-very-serious-and-you-can-see-it-by/) [Stephen Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) [Explore all 9 Stephen Bruner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/) ## More Big impact quotes > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [ The best writing advice I had was \[in\] ‘Heinlein’s Rules for Writers’ by (American science fiction author) Robert A. Heinlein. His first rule is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/the-best-writing-advice-i-had-was-in-heinlein-s-rules-for-writers-by/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I've been vegan for 15 years, and it turns out it makes a very big impact on the environment to eat fewer animal products,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/i-ve-been-vegan-for-15-years-and-it-turns-out-it-makes-a-very-big/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“To generate a big impact, pair someone who wants to change the world with someone who already knows how the world works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/to-generate-a-big-impact-pair-someone-who-wants-to-change-the-world/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [We all know the place you're in has a big impact on how you feel. How you feel has an impact on the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-schell/we-all-know-the-place-you-re-in-has-a-big-impact-on-how-you-feel-how/) [Jesse Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-schell/) > [I want to have a really big impact on my kids, my community, and my company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/i-want-to-have-a-really-big-impact-on-my-kids-my-community-and-my/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [I think jobs can have a big impact. I think if we continue to create jobs - over a million, substantially more than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-think-jobs-can-have-a-big-impact-i-think-if-we-continue-to-create/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If you can make a big impact on the global literacy problem, you can uplift a big portion of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/if-you-can-make-a-big-impact-on-the-global-literacy-problem-you-can/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [Technology has changed things, same as everywhere. But the economy has changed drastically. When Jamaica first won independence, our dollar was stronger than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-marley/technology-has-changed-things-same-as-everywhere-but-the-economy-has/) [Damian Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-marley/) > [As a DJ you spend a lot of time on your own, in airports, away from friends, away from your home. That can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/as-a-dj-you-spend-a-lot-of-time-on-your-own-in-airports-away-from/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [It's pretty well documented that Coach Nelson has had a big impact on my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/it-s-pretty-well-documented-that-coach-nelson-has-had-a-big-impact-on/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [I have more artistic control in a smaller show. But it doesn't really matter. Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-have-more-artistic-control-in-a-smaller-show-but-it-doesn-t-really/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I think a lot about how ideas spread, how information spreads, why is it that something youre really proud of and you spend a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-peretti/i-think-a-lot-about-how-ideas-spread-how-information-spreads-why-is/) [Jonah Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-peretti/) > [It was a big impact. I fractured the skull and it shattered into quite a few pieces. The plates I've had inserted will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/it-was-a-big-impact-i-fractured-the-skull-and-it-shattered-into-quite/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [The film's success so far involves winning a couple of prizes at Cannes and Sundance, and getting some very nice reviews in newspapers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/the-film-s-success-so-far-involves-winning-a-couple-of-prizes-at/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) [Browse all 132 Big impact quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-impact/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing up playing jazz and improvising has had a big impact on me, and it translates into my music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Bruner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising-has-had-a-big-impact-on-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big impact" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising-has-had-a-big-impact-on-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/stephen-bruner-43884_big-impact_growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising_2520862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Growing up playing jazz and improvising has had a big impact on me, and it translates into my music.” — Stephen Bruner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Bruner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bruner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Growing up playing jazz and improvising...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising-has-had-a-big-impact-on-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bruner/growing-up-playing-jazz-and-improvising-has-had-a-big-impact-on-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```