Nadia Boulanger Quotes

Art isn't about following the rules. It's about breaking them.

Most of my favourite moments in film have been when I've had an opportunity to say something from scratch, something original, whether I jotted down a few lines or it came out in improvisation.

See, there were certain rules I'd always used, and people like Trane, they would break those rules.

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

I think people need to see Prince live to really understand how remarkable he is. He has always been inspiring because he is never afraid to break rules or barriers or invent something new - and if you love fashion, then you need to be able to do that.

The rules are learnt in order to be broken, but if you don't know them, then something is missing.

We stand for creativity and pushing boundaries and having fun with one's music.

Hip hop is doing the new rock thing; there are no rules. They can do anything, really. And that's inspiring.

It's like jazz: You learn the rules to break them - as long as you can break them in a meaningful way.

I think of jazz as being homage through innovation. Don't quote that as a definition, but it comes pretty close.

If you have rules, you let creativity sleep.

We kept moving forward and didn't try to recreate the past .. the approach to each album was radically different every time. Many bands would have some success and, because they were locked into having a single - something we didn't have to worry about - they had to make sure there was something similar on the next album ... that was never the idea with Led Zeppelin .. the goal was to keep that spark of spontaneity at all times.

Composition is selective improvisation.

Learn the rules and then break them in such a way as to exercise good taste.

All art is based on non-conformity.

There are no wrong notes.

To me, jazz is a place where anything is possible.

Isn't art about breaking rules, about challenging existing systems, isn't it about discovering meaning in things or situations before others see anything in them??

Words are the instruments you play to the song of your ideas, you're just playing covers.

- But Abraham, you mean I'm supposed to make stuff up !?!? - You are creators, you make stuff up all the time!

Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE.

Just as a blues player can play 20 blues songs in a row but find a way to make each one different, ... I always want to find different ways to do something

Eventually you'll take the phrases and rhythm patterns you've copped and begin to put your own mark on them

Here's the truth you have to wrestle with: the reason that art (writing, engaging, leading, all of it) is valuable is precisely why I can't tell you how to do it. If there were a map, there'd be no art, because art is the act of navigating without a map. Don't you hate that? I love that there's no map.

Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one's own.