Music Mastery Quotes

Chopin was a master of melody, harmony and voice leading - the art of smoothly moving from chord to chord.

Michael Jackson was extraordinary. When we worked together on 'Bad,' I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion. He was wonderful to work with, an absolute professional at all times, and it really goes without saying... a true artist. It will be a while before I can get used to the idea that he's no longer with us.

The key to longevity is to learn every aspect of music that you can.

My teacher, my great cello teacher Leonard Rose, was such a great cellist, and nurturing man, very patient. But I grew up not only admiring him, but obviously Casals, Rostrotovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and many others, including many of my peers and contemporaries.

I'm still getting thrilled with music even after 40 years of doing it professionally.

I practice more than ever ... mostly scales and arpeggios ... and anything I can't do.

I have no confidence issues with the impact or the quality of the music. No one in hip-hop, before this point and to this point, with all due respect, has done this.

I've become a workaholic. When the shows slow down and there's no press and I can get my time to myself in the studio with my music, I get into this zone, man. I enter this incredible space where I'm just making music. And I feel like I can work with anybody - with Elton John, with Hanson - and I can make something incredible.

I've always been a Jeff Beck fan. Who isn't? He is in a league of his own.

If you can play the blues, you can do anything.

For myself, I can only say that I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the results of this evening's experiments. Astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record forever.

I work very hard at being the best musician I can be because I love it.

Before you start a practicing regimen, you have to be aware that the study of music is a lifelong process-it's a discipline. And the key to mastering any discipline is consistency.

While it is true that Frank had a great sense of humor, he was also very serious about composing music. In reality there are only a handful of skilled players who can play his most complex pieces. It takes a lot of patience to learn and requires a fantastic memory.

A lot of people may not know how competitive it is to play classical music, because when you think about it, the music that you're playing is music that's been here for years. And all you're trying to do is improve upon it when you play.

You can sit down with Reason or Ableton and literally in a couple of hours make a very good-sounding record. But then a lot of people become contented with that, rather than pushing themselves to making something that sounds great.

Monk taught me more about music composition than anyone else on 52nd Street.

I feel like a lot of the fundamental material, I've assimilated. So now the question is: Am I going to really get into my spiritual inheritance of music and really develop my abilities?

If you want to be a musician, study your craft. Study music.

The simplest things in music are the ones that count. The simplest thing are, of course, also the most difficult to achieve and take years of work.

Bach's music is really some of the greatest. I think, in some ways, Bach is the most profound composer of all.

I'm into something that definitely does require your attention, and with that, you're not going to run out of things to do. You're never going to be the master of music.

I'm constantly trying to create timeless music that many people can gravitate to.

Across generations, the torch-bearers of Carnatic music have mastered the art form of connection.

AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' is the greatest meshing of vocal, guitar, and content I've ever heard. That's what I aspire to.