Lesson 6

Conversations in Jazz: The Art of Listening

Justin Nielsen (Idaho jazz pianist) meets Andrew Nemr (New York City tap dancer) for the very first time.

Harmony: Cultivate your awareness of the moment, and model that sensitivity for others to learn.
Assess Not just when you begin, but before the encounter, ask God to enter the conversation. World-class bass player Victor Wooten says each member of the band should be hearing
and feeling the song loudly in their imaginations before they hit the first downbeat together.
Adjust What is happening as the conversation unfolds? Be ready to ditch your first plan.
Focus Be present; make eye contact. Listen and see. Is something missing? Fill it in.
Discipline: Practice and learn. Have something to bring to the conversation.

Exploration: Find the freedom to move, grow, and change in your art and leadership practice.

Belonging: Provide points of entry, and levels of participation, for others. (Bobby McFerrin)

Remember, art and music were always communal first. Andrew Nemr

Lesson 6

Conversations in Jazz: The Art of Listening

Artists who live in community need to develop their responsiveness for each other (as seen between Justin and Andrew). Some people are born with greater natural awareness than others. Responsiveness can be taught, to some degree. Model it, teach it, live it. Your artists will see it, experience it, and crave more of it.
Artists who lead artists, however, need to have the additional skill of mobilizing (sending) artists in
a direction of purpose. But how to do this without scaring artists away or trying to control them?
You may have heard people joke that leading artists is like herding cats... Dont even say it. Leaders
who talk this way lose the respect of the very people they claim to want to serve. When it comes to
taking an artists life and work seriously, most artists are, well, serious.
At an art ministers retreat in Texas, an interviewer asked a group of us what would be the worst scenario: if the people in our church 1) misunderstood our work, 2) got angry about our work, 3) were offended by our work, or 4) ignored our work? As it turns out, our art being ignored was considered the
worst by everyone. But then along came an issue not mentioned on the interviewers list: our artwork
being joked about. Everyone agreed that was the worst of all. A persons work being ridiculed disconnects that artist from the church at the heart level and crushes their fragile sense of trust.
Sensitivity is required not only for valuing the person, but for the freedom of exploration artists generally need. Leading artists is not accomplished with marching orders like an army mobilization, but
by sensing rhythms of inspiration and grace. Casting vision to artists is best given softly with passion,
not bellowed like a bulldozer or hollered in an overly peppy, exuberant manner. Ive found that kind
of inspiration is best reinforced through conversation, mostly one artist at a timetime spent asking
about their life, serving them in practical ways, facilitating their spiritual growth and ministry needs,
and simply being curious about what theyre working on.
In groups, I have found leading artists to mean modelling authenticity and insisting on love and
forgiveness by example, and its a good thing, because there is a LOT to forgive. Wear the fruits of
the Spirit with strength, integrity, and humility. To be responsive as a leader of artists often requires
a quiet passion in sharing what God calls us to do together. Earn the trust of those you serve by
listening intently, challenging rarely and honestly, being quick to repent and forgive, and offering
unconditional emotional and spiritual support while letting go of any sense of ownership of their
choices. It means learning and adjusting as you evolve in the art of your own leadership skills.
If the artists around you know that theyre loved by God and by the people who love Him, you can
freely invite and challenge them to flourish in their particular art, as a disciple of Christ, and if/when
theyre ready, in developing in their particular ministry and leadership skills.
Remember back to Leading in Community: Substitute serve for lead. It makes all the difference.
Attune yourself to those youre called to serve. Listen, learn what they need, and serve them well.

Lesson 6

Conversations in Jazz: The Art of Listening

Lastly, a word on rhythm. Pastor Mike Freeman of Vineyard Boise preached a sermon on the art of leading. See the story at http://vineyardboise.org/messages/20150712/
He explained how his wife LaWayne begged him for years to take dancing lessons together, eventually
coaxing Mike to actually show up. He shared the things he learned about life when learning to dance.
At the end of his message on stage, Mike invited LaWayne up to dance with him. Gliding with her across
the stage, Mike told us:
Leading is a dance. Youre not controlling the person at all. Its a rhythm of catch and release, catch
and release and you offer your hand.
Heres a fact: Every person has their own rhythm and feel! I am not making my wife spin. I just extend my hand to her, and she does it.
Take this into those evangelistic encounters, will you? Take this into your marital encounters; take
this into parents encounters with your kids. Because its not about strong-arming. My arm is not
leading her. Where my leading has come from, ultimately, is my core, the core of my being, straight
from my core muscles. In dancing with my wife, I connect with her to the core.
Whenever I try to arm-lead her, its a rookie mistake! And to my shagrin, shell point it out to me.
And Ill say, Darn-- I thought I was doing good!
So, art leader: Whenever you strong-arm the people you serve by mistake, let them point it out to you.
Then thank them, take your humility pill... and keep leading from your core, with kindness and grace.