Ornette Coleman Quotes

Stand-up comedians say that anyone in the audience can be funny, but people paid to see us because we're just a little bit funnier. In the same way, I think anybody can play music - in fact, I think everyone has music in them, but some of us can do it a little better.

You don't know how much artists go through to make it look so easy. It's all in the practice.

You know, there's still a lot of great songwriters out there who hand in songs. And there's a lot of brilliant singers and performers out there who sing other people's words. I enjoy doing both.

Music is what I do naturally.

Painting is something that you need to do, if not every day, then certainly most days. It is almost like being a pianist: if you stop, you lose something.

There's still a lot of great songwriters out there who hand in songs. And there's a lot of brilliant singers and performers out there who sing other people's words. I enjoy doing both.

I guess something people wouldn't expect me to listen to are artists like Alicia Keys. But she is so incredibly talented. She has this huge voice and great work ethic, which I really respect in an artist. She is also very humble and gracious and devoted to her skill.

The one thing I do know is that I'm the best Taylor Hawkins drummer there is, and that is all I can hope to be. And when it comes to music, musicianship and skill, there is no such thing as better or worse because so much is personal opinion, and I can see that now.

That is the way a great master carpenter feels, or an architect or composer or anyone who creates anything - people want to be appreciated for what they have done.

I think I had a knack for music, but I think what I was more sort of talented at more than anything, because I don't think I'm a great singer, I think that I grew up imitating different voices that I heard.

Don't try to follow any trends, just concentrate on writing great songs and knowing your instrument. All the other stuff will fall into place.

I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.

I am inspired by all kinds of players and singers.

Sports and music are the same thing to me. When done wrong, they are really frustrating; when done right, they can change your day.

A really great talent finds its happiness in execution.

Learn it well in your head, know it well, pick things you know and bring the old you and all the experience you have from singing these various kinds of feelings that are still related to what I have done in the rest of my career.

Songwriting is what I am trying to stay good at and get better at.

Being an architect is like playing piano, you learn to play to admire how well the other guys play piano.

I think for me to be involved in a festival, there has to be a strong element of songwriting and musicianship.

I love singing - singing was basically kind of my passion before ventriloquism.

What distinguishes a great artist from a weak one is first their sensibility and tenderness; second, their imagination, and third, their industry.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

I just love entertaining. I will do anything - stand-up comedy, video games, fencing, internet shorts - I just want to keep being lucky enough to entertain people anyway I can. I try never to limit my art to a medium.

If you've got a guitar and a lot of soul, just bang something out and mean it. You're the superstar.

Music is a really great creative tool for me, for different roles.