Song: “Old Man Luedecke” by Old Man Luedecke, recorded live from Dawson City Music Festival (licensed under Creative Commons).

© 2009 Life-Play

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Over at The Frontal Cortex blog, Jonah Lehrer profiled a recent neuroscientific paper by Michael Posner and Brenda Patoine on the scientific benefits of play:

If there were a surefire way to improve your brain, would you try it? Judging by the abundance of products, programs and pills that claim to offer “cognitive enhancement,” many people are lining up for just such quick brain fixes. Recent research offers a possibility with much better, science-based support: that focused training in any of the arts–such as music, dance or theater–strengthens the brain’s attention system, which in turn can improve cognition more generally.

We know that the brain has a system of neural pathways dedicated to attention. We know that training these attention networks improves general measures of intelligence. And we can be fairly sure that focusing our attention on learning and performing an art–if we practice frequently and are truly engaged–activates these same attention networks. We therefore would expect focused training in the arts to improve cognition generally.

Developing Life-Play and playing regularly has profoundly changed my life. As Lehrer alludes to, each person finds their flow state in different activities: work, life, hobbies, athletics or the arts. For me, improv has improved my emotional intelligence and made me, I feel, a better listener.

Maturity – to recover the seriousness one had as a child at play. – W.H. Auden [paraphrasing Nietszche]

We are regularly asked, “What is Life-Play?” We are still discovering, but in an effort to clarify and entice, David and our intern Tony (from UMass Amherst) put together a Frequently Asked Questions page.

Enjoy! Call us if it sparks your interest.

And please ask us any additional questions you may have in the comments section below…

Are you open to roam?. . . .

. . . .over memories you don’t usually explore,
attitudes you don’t frequently share,
a skill like story-telling you don’t often use,
releases you don’t regularly open,
a poem you’ve never improvised.

Our collection of Life-Play phone games reveals opinions and feelings
you may not even be aware of.

So, welcome! self-discovery.

You are moving under your own state of amazement.
The only other person to see you shape a new you is your game partner:
this morning she’s an old friend in Beijing
or at midnight your carefully chosen next door neighbor.

Long distance is no obstacle today. Go for It!

Declare yourself open to roam every day from 8am to 9 AM;
from 10pm to 10:30 PM
or Sunday afternoon?
Sipping a beer? Nibbling? Make it fun:
Using cordless, barge around the spaces
through which you play:
breathe, pout, smile, curve, stamp.

Clap–

Learn to play brand new games.

Play daily.

Hello, you’re now in partnership with yourself.

You’re opening yourself to your vision of self–
today or tomorrow. Welcome aboard.

Welcome to your select tomorrow.

David Shepherd, my friend and co-founder of Life-Play, turns 85 today. An improv celebration began early this morning in Belchertown—David’s marathon birthday wish for 24/7 improv and play. I can only hope that I’m half as playful when I’m David’s age!

David, it’s been wonderful to get to know you over the past eighteen months and become close friends. I’ve learned immensely from your creative instincts and your honest play. Thank you for sharing lessons from a your lifetime of play.

May your birthday wishes come true! May Life-Play be shared with the wider world and grow with evolving adventures. This morning, testing a new adventure with you, called Dream, I was reminded of a book I read I as a child, Grandfather Twilight.

You’re the theatrical grandfather I never had.

Thank you, David!

Happy Birthday!

Please join us at Life-Play in wishing David a Happy Birthday and check back for updates of the playful Birthday festivities!

Update:

By Carman Dewees

Let’s dedicate Life-Play to the memory of Bill Griffin, who sadly passed away September 22, 2007. Bill was the leader of Yes And Practice  group (YAP) in greater Boston, designed to help beginner improvisers—really anyone with an interest in improvisation. It was an open space to play each week.

I met Bill Griffin through Chris Britt in the summer of 2006. Bill was larger than life—always full of excitement for all things improv. On top of his busy software sales job, he organized YAP practice sessions at the MIT buildings. And when YAP lost its regular space, he found a new location in Davis Square. Every Sunday afternoon, he was thrilled that each of us had made it. He loved watching improvisers grow and he always played along with us.

Bill, you inspired people more than you can know. You left us too early. Thank you for your example of doing something for the love of it. You welcomed everyone and helped many people take small but significant creative steps. Your excitement was infectious! You’re in our hearts, and your spirit is a big part of Life-Play!

In the comments section, please share the story of your friendship with Bill Griffin…