The essential elements of singing are voice, musicianship, and story. It is the rare artist that has all three in abundance.
Linda RonstadtRead
Songwriting wasn't my gift. I think you have to cultivate a gift; you have to practice and develop craft around your gift so that you can execute it in more convenient, efficient ways.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Gifted talent must be nurtured through practice and skill development.
In this quote, Linda Ronstadt emphasizes that natural talent alone is not sufficient for mastery. Instead, she believes that one must actively cultivate and refine their abilities through consistent practice and craftsmanship to express their artistic visions effectively.
Themes
SongwritingGiftCultivationPracticeCraftDevelopment
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a creative writing workshop to inspire budding songwriters about the importance of skill development.
More from Linda Ronstadt
All quotes βI don't record (any type of genre of music) that I didn't hear in my family's living room by the time I was 10. It just is my rule that I don't break because ... I can't do it authentically ... I really think that you're just hard-wiring (synapses) in your brain up until the age of maybe 12 or 10, and there are certain things you can't learn in an authentic way after that.
Linda RonstadtRead
I miss singing every day. I can't sing anymore. My voice doesn't work. I have Parkinson's disease, and it sometimes takes my words away from me.
Linda RonstadtRead
I first knew Laurie Lewis by her considerable reputation as a fiddle player and a writer of songs. When an opportunity came along to sing with her I seized it. Getting to know her as a singer and a person has been pure pleasure. Her voice is a rare combination of grit and grace, strength and delicacy. Her stories are always true.
Linda RonstadtRead
Ninety-nine percent of singing is listening and hearing, and so then 1 percent of it is singing.
Linda RonstadtRead
Ninety-eight percent of the singing I did was private singing - it was in the shower, at the dishwasher, driving my car, singing with the radio, whatever. I can't do any of that now. I wish I could. I don't miss performing, particularly, but I miss singing.
Linda RonstadtRead
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