Skip to content

Music Quotes by Herbie Hancock

52 Music quotes by Herbie Hancock

All Music quotes Herbie Hancock’s page

Herbie Hancock says being a musician only feels real when he is actually playing or writing. He argues that creativity should lead the world, not just follow radio trends. He also warns against being boxed into jazz, even though his roots are there, and hopes music can become a metaphor for global harmony.

Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

The spirit of jazz is the spirit of openness.

Image

Music happens to be an art form that transcends language.

Image

Music truly is the universal language.

Image

I try to practice with my life.

Image

Jazz is about being in the moment.

Image

In the world of Art there are no wrong choices.

Image

The music becomes something that is its own entity.

Image

It is people's hearts that move the age.

Image

The value of music is to be able to play one note at the right time in the right way.

Image

I'm always looking to create new avenues or new visions of music.

Image

Life is not about finding our limitations, it's about finding our infinity.

Image

“I don't look at music from the standpoint of being a musician; I look at it from the standpoint of being a…

Image

I am not fundamentally a musician, I am fundamentally a human being.

Image

I like the idea of an eclectic approach, incorporating jazz with other forms and other genres of music.

Image

Music is the tool to express life - and all that makes a difference.

Image

Jazz translates the moment into a sense of inspiration for not only the musicians but for the listeners.

Image

In World War II, jazz absolutely was the music of freedom, and then in the Cold War, behind the Iron Curtain, same…

Image

I'm one of the people who was a pioneer in encouraging musicians, early in the game, to get interested in technology, and…

Image

There's so much spontaneity involved, what do you practice? How do you practice teamwork? How do you practice sharing? How do you…

Image

Jazz is a music that is open enough to borrow from any other form of music, and has the strength to influence…

Image

When the suggestion was made that I might consider doing music of Joni Mitchell, I thought it was a fantastic idea. Joni,…

Image

A jazz musician is not a jazz musician when he or she is eating dinner or when he or she is with…

Image

It's easy to get sidetracked with technology, and that is the danger, but ultimately you have to see what works with the…

Image

Of course, it's not the technique that makes the music; it's the sensitivity of the musician and his ability to be able…

Image

I got a chance to work with Miles Davis, and that changed everything for me, 'cause Miles really encouraged all his musicians…

Image

Fact is that I played piano and performed, as a young kid, a Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra .…

Image

I don't mind being classified as a jazz artist, but I do mind being restricted to being a jazz artist. My foundation…

Image

Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only…

Image

I don't view myself as a musician anymore - I view myself as a human being that functions as a musician when…

Image

The true artform is being a human being.

Image

Being a musician is what I do, but it's not what I am.

Image

I think I was supposed to play jazz.

Image

Music isn't about music, it's about life.

Image

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.

Image

Music is not the only reason that I practice Buddhism anymore because it has affected my whole life.

Image

In the past, there's always been one leader that has led the pack to development of the music.

Image

The value of music is not dazzling yourself and others with technique.

Image

Jazz has borrowed from other genres of music and also has lent itself to other genres of music.

Image

You can practice to learn a technique, but I'm more interested in conceiving of something in the moment.

Image

There are a lot of records coming out, in every field of music, not just jazz.

Image

Other authors on Music

More by Herbie Hancock

You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.

One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.

You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.

Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician…

I don't think there are any pure Africans of the African Americans, but the African part of our history was pretty much taken away…

So in other words, we were constantly challenged to grow, and thats what a master does.

The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. As soon as you start veering away…

Like no matter what happens, this would be the ultimate, they can make something positive happen.

There are a lot of records coming out, in every field of music, not just jazz.

I like to present something that the people haven't seen or haven't heard before. Otherwise they might as well just stay home and play…

I don't go around, the way many musicians do, with earbuds in my ear listening to my iPod all day and just sticking my…

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.

The most valuable things in life are priceless. They are courage, compassion, wisdom, respect for ourselves and others, and a host of characteristics that…

Creativity shouldn't be following radio; it should be the other way around.

One thing I like about jazz is that it emphasized doing things differently from what other people were doing.