Quotes About Music

With every album, I write above my ability, and my job as a guitarist is to catch up and be able to play it live. The thing about practicing is that once you master something, you don't have to remaster it. You just keep moving forward.

I don't spend afternoons practicing my guitar to get better. I do read, though, to get inspiration for my lyrics.

Whenever my dad wasn't practicing, he was listening to music. He had an amazing jazz collection, and my mom had stuff like Chaka Khan to help balance it out.

My teacher was still practicing Bach until his death at 89. I have no doubt that if I live that long, I'll be doing the same thing.

I am good at composing but I try to write lyrics. I am too bad at that. I am still trying. You become good after practicing and I am doing that.

You have a natural groove inside of you, but the more you practise, the more comfortable you will be with your instrument.

I am quite certain in my heart of hearts that modern music and modern art is not a conspiracy, but is a form of truth and integrity for those who practise it honestly, decently and with all their being.

I grew up in a town called Prairie View. It's like 45 minutes outside of Houston.

My dad knows great music. So I'm taking music to him to get an opinion rather than praise.

I'm grateful to God that I'm able to praise his glory through my music.

As a co-writer of the Mumford's songs, I'm always quite insecure about the music - I find it hard to accept any praise or feedback.

I had no particular image of Chicago in mind when I wrote 'My Kind of Town.' All I wanted to do was write a song in praise of Chicago, and that's what I did.

In a way, the highest praise you could give to a composer like Bach was to take and make your own arrangement; it was sort of an homage to that composer and to his work, so it wasn't considered sacrilegious to do something like that.

That's why you put out records: hoping that people will connect with them. I mean, I play music for myself, for sure, and I would still play music even if people didn't like it. But it means a lot when it connects to people and they enjoy it. But it's funny: you get criticism as much as you get praise. It kind of evens out after awhile.

Oasis are not just influenced by the Beatles; they actually take stuff. Then they get praised.

I thought I would make good songs. Then I made Black Heart' and it was praised a lot. I love doing it and it is my passion.

I get extremely nervous before performances. I pray and try to look at it as, 'I'll go out there and have fun,' but it's very nerve-wracking for me. I don't think that will ever change.

At every show, I pray with my band. It's a big thing.

When I'm going through something really difficult, I think it's what made me go to the piano for the first time when I was a child. I look at it as a place to pray.

I took a few months off after my senior year was over, and I prayed and tried to figure out what was my plan and my purpose. That's how I started writing songs and playing guitar just to get my feelings out.

I prayed before fights. Especially just before I got in to the ring. But I'd also have my iPod on, Prodigy and Linkin Park ripping through my ears.

The music that I have learned and want to give is like worshipping God. It's absolutely like a prayer.

It's the perfect environment for prayer. Chanting in Greek... is like a beautiful opera, but way better.

Every time before I go into the studio, I say a prayer, and I really ask God for inspiration.