Bellemare‐Pepin, A., Estarellas, M., & Tsabary, E. (2026). Melodies of the forest: Nature as an improvisational space for shared creative embodiment. People and Nature.
Abstract
In an era marked by increasing disconnection from nature, innovative approaches to reconnect with the environment are crucial for both ecological and psychological well‐being. This paper explores how natural environments (a deciduous forest of Quebec in the present case study) can serve as an improvisational space for shared creative embodiment, nurturing deeper connections between individuals, communities and the natural world.
Grounded in the principles of embodied cognition and ecopsychology, we propose that nature plays an active role as a co‐creator in the creative process rather than simply serving as a backdrop for inspiration.
Our research‐creation project, ‘Returning to the Trees’, serves as a case study illustrating how musical improvisation in a natural environment can transform creative practices. Participants engaged in a 90‐min session of musical improvisation within a forest setting, using traditional instruments and natural objects while exploring spontaneous, deconstructed modes of auditory expression.
Through audio labeling using unsupervised machine learning algorithms, we identified expressions of sounds from the natural world, such as various animal calls, within the improvisations. Thematic and emotion analyses revealed that participants experienced heightened states of admiration, curiosity and joy, underscoring nature’s ability to rejuvenate mental focus and promote emotional well‐being in the context of musical group improvisation.
The project highlights nature’s role as a safe space for co‐creation, allowing individuals to move beyond culturally ingrained behaviours and explore more authentic forms of expression. This study offers a novel perspective on the interplay between human creativity and the more‐than‐human world, contributing to the discourse on ecological psychology and embodied creative practices.
