That's the thing about musicians: The priority is to create something new that's never been before. And you put your life on the line every time that you play.
Charlie HadenRead
That's what I tell my students at California Institute of the Arts where I taught for 27 years. I taught them if you strive to be a good person, maybe you might become a great jazz musician.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of personal character over technical skill in music.
Charlie Haden's quote reflects the belief that being a good person and having strong moral values can greatly enhance one's ability to connect with others and excel in the art of jazz music. It suggests that the essence of great musicianship lies not only in technical proficiency but also in compassion and integrity, which ultimately shapes a musician's expression and connection to the audience.
Themes
MusicJazzEducationCharacterPersonality
In practice
Example use cases
In a classroom discussion about the impact of character on creativity.
More from Charlie Haden
All quotes →As long as there are musicians who have a passion for spontaneity, for creating something thats never been before, the art form of jazz will flourish.
Charlie HadenRead
Similar quotes
I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.
Robin WilliamsRead
The youth need to be enabled to become job generators from job seekers.
Abdul KalamRead
Furnish an example, stop preaching, stop shielding, don't prevent self-reliance and initiative, allow your children to develop along thier own lines.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
There's a disease that young writers are susceptible to, which is, I will do this because I can - hubris, I suppose - without stopping to work out why.
David MitchellRead
One very common thing is that often very brilliant children stop working because they're praised so often that it's what they want to live as - brilliant - not as someone who ever makes mistakes. It really stunts their motivation.
Carol S. DweckRead
There are no bad books any more than there are ugly women.
Anatole FranceRead