If I miss a day of practice, I know it. If I miss two days, my manager knows it. If I miss three days, my audience knows it.
ANDRE PREVIN
Pianist, conductor
If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all.
MICHELANGELO
Renaissance sculptor and painter
When I played with Michael Jordan on the Olympic team, there was a huge gap between his ability and the ability of the other great players on that team But what impressed me was that he was always the first one on the floor and the last one to leave.
STEVE ALFORD
Olympic gold medalist and NBA player
Legendary violinist Issac Stern was once confronted by a middle-aged woman after a concert. She gushed “Oh, I’d give my life to play like you!”
“Lady,” said Stern acidly, “that I did!”
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.
STEPHEN KING
Author
great stuff! i just corrected someone the other day who complimented my "talent" at a show- "actually it's mostly hard work" was my response.
ReplyDeletenot sure if you saw this, but i found it very insightful as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2iZDKSy2hI
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. Your playing brings back many great memories of my days in Montreal and of our steady gig at Biddle's with Johanne Desforges (and my meager attempt to study jazz piano with you...haha)
I've linked your blog to mine:
www.jonmccaslinjazzdrummer.blogspot.com
All the best!
Jon McC