When we first started playing we did a lot of rehearsing. We used to write out everything. In fact, that's the way everybody rehearses: we play the tunes and improvise.
Charlie HadenI think itโs very important to live in the present. One of the great things that improvising teaches you is the magic of the moment that youโre in โฆ because when you improvise youโre in right now. Youโre not in yesterday or tomorrowโyouโre right in the moment. Being in that moment really gives you a perspective of life that you never get at any other time as far as learning about your egoโฆ You have to see your unimportance before you can see your importance and your significance to the world.
Charlie HadenI told my students the other day in class, which is about the spirituality and creativity as much as it is about music. I said, 'If you're walking down the street and you see a baby carriage, and there's a baby in the carriage; you look down and your eyes meet the eyes of the baby. The baby looks at you: That's the kind of moment you're in when you're playing.
Charlie Haden