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The most important thing is to make a percussive instrument a singing instrument. Teachers should stress this aspect in their instruction, but it seems that very few of them actually do.
Vladimir Horowitz
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The essence of music education lies in transforming percussive instruments into expressive singing instruments.

In this quote, Vladimir Horowitz emphasizes the idea that music education should focus on developing the expressive potential of percussive instruments. Rather than merely teaching how to play notes on a drum or similar instrument, educators should aim to enhance the emotional and melodic qualities of these instruments, allowing them to express more than just rhythm. This highlights a gap in teaching methods where instructors often overlook the importance of expression in instrument play.

Themes

MusicEducationExpressionInstrumentsTeaching

In practice

Example use cases

In a music class discussion, a teacher might quote Horowitz to encourage students to explore the emotional depth of their instruments.

More from Vladimir Horowitz

My future is in my past and my past is my present. I must now make the present my future.
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I may play the same program from one recital to the next, but I will play it differently, and because it is always different, it is always new.
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I must tell you I take terrible risks. Because my playing is very clear, when I make a mistake you hear it. If you want me to play only the notes without any specific dynamics, I will never make one mistake. Never be afraid to dare.
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The score is not a bible, and I am never afraid to dare. The music is behind those dots.
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You have to open the music, so to speak, and see what's behind the notes because the notes are the same whether it is the music of Bach or someone else.
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Always there should be a little mistake here and there - I am for it. The people who don't do mistakes are cold like ice. It takes risk to make a mistake. If you don't take risk, you are boring.
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