Esperanza Spalding Quotes

What I try to impart to a musician is to really try to practice the instrument in a really sincere way. Learn as much about music as you possibly can. Learn composition. Study to try to create compositions of your own and put your own personal touch on your music.

And, you know, my dad would show me some things sometimes, but the best things that I got to do were to actually see really good players play up close. That gives you an idea of fingering and technique and what not.

When I got into music, I wanted to learn guitar just enough to be able to write songs. I wanted to be able to express myself.

I've been studying on my own. I'm not really trained. I went to school for about a year and a half. I never really studied music, but, I mean, I did. I studied for two years, maybe.

I've been writing music since I was a teenager. I play keyboards. I'm not much of a player, but I can write. That will come along. I'd like to do a musical.

Singing and playing have always gone hand-in-hand with me. I love 'em both equally.

Songwriting is different from music, although I don't deny now that it would be nice to have a little more background in music theory.

My only real hobby is playing music. I write a lot of music on guitar and keyboards and hope one day to make a record or maybe even write the score for a film.

I had to learn chord shapes. I bought books with chord charts. I used to listen to all kinds of pop music.

Studying music in a conservatory would be stifling for me, although I respect people who can do it. And by no means am I an expert at notating music or music theory - that's not really my world.

I just love making music, and I wouldn't want to stop.

I've made music since I was a kid so I've always gotten joy out of that.

When you're talking about your own music every day, listening to bands, going to festivals, you can kind of lose sight of your initial connection with music. Instrumental music - especially jazz - helps me refocus.

I never played music, but it's an important thing ... the studying, the inspiration.

I think everyone should feel like they can make music, they can create music.

I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.

Making music is fantastic.

I had a big background in listening to classical music and I started trying to compose, like I was playing the guitar but I heard an orchestra in my head.

I play a bunch of instruments.

I studied music at the most remedial level when I was a kid, through the Los Angeles public schools, with a little private instruction.

I encourage the study of music. And the immersion. 'Cause my life has been so enriched by being involved in music as I have.

I never got formal training in music. I would just sit with my ear to the speaker and my hand on the needle. I'd listen to Wanda Jackson and think, 'How did she do that?,' and lift the needle and try it myself.

I've been a musician my whole life. I'm really enjoying making music again.

I wanted to be able to play guitar. I wanted to be able to make music hurt.

We always had a guitar at home, but it wasn't until I was 14 when I picked it up myself when my father handed me these sheets of music of the Beatles and some other classics. That's where I learned all the chords and learned how to play and sing at the same time.