What Music Improvisation Taught Me About Living
Brenda Hopkins Miranda |
TEDxOmaha
• February 2021
Infatuation with danger and going into the danger zone each day is not something we normally associate with artists, musicians, and the creative community. However, at the heart of innovation is risk, and risk taking is central to how artists approach their work and create ‘new’ interpretations of the world. When art or music comes from a place within the artist that is truly authentic, then the truly magical emerges. Jazz epitomizes innovation and improvisation. Puerto Rican Artist Brenda Hopkins Miranda shares how embracing danger and risk is how she creates magic as a musician and is how she lives her best authentic life, especially during turbulent times. Over the past year while navigating personal pain, loss and uncertainty in a chaotic world, Brenda had an epiphany. Moving into the danger zone every time she places her hands on the keyboard, not knowing what will emerge from that connection and surrendering to the unknown, was basically the same as facing the uncertainty and risk in life. Stepping willingly into the void in order to ignite magic. Time to embrace risk, take a leap of faith and surrender to the unknown, to be present, authentic and live life by letting go of the known, and falling freely into the abyss to create magic in art and life.