--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're working with music that is…" description: "\"When you're working with music that is invariably better than you are, it's difficult to become swell-headed.\" — Andre Previn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/andre-previn-21033_become_when-you-re-working-with-music-that-is-i_89545.png" --- # When you're working with music that is invariably better… ![“When you're working with music that is invariably better than you are, it's difficult to become swell-headed.” quote by Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/andre-previn-21033_become_when-you-re-working-with-music-that-is-i_89545.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/andre-previn-21033_become_when-you-re-working-with-music-that-is-i_89545.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/andre-previn-21033_become_when-you-re-working-with-music-that-is-i_89545.png) > “When you're working with music that is invariably better than you are, it's difficult to become swell-headed.” [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working beside superior talent humbles ego and encourages continual learning. **In simple terms:** Great peers curb arrogance. Key Takeaway Talent inspires humility. Themes humility learning excellence collaboration growth Mood humble motivated Type observation advice When to use this quote - musical ensembles - team projects - mentor‑mentee relationships Key Concepts ego skill disparity Practical Applications - music education - leadership training Questions to Reflect On - What does humility unlock in collaborative environments? - How can you turn admiration into personal improvement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I've had the healthy and sobering experience of constantly working with music that is invariably better than any performance of it can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-ve-had-the-healthy-and-sobering-experience-of-constantly-working/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [When the sexes differ in beauty, in the power of singing, or in producing what I have called instrumental music, it is almost invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/when-the-sexes-differ-in-beauty-in-the-power-of-singing-or-in/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I have faith that things will get better. It will be difficult and take time but getting through this is the only option I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-faith-that-things-will-get-better-it-will-be-difficult-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Going through cancer is bad enough, but the side effects of all the stuff that's supposed to make you better can sometimes be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harding/going-through-cancer-is-bad-enough-but-the-side-effects-of-all-the/) [Sarah Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harding/) > [To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/to-find-fault-is-easy-to-do-better-may-be-difficult/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I started working in music very young, I was raised by a family of musicians and performers, so I guess it was more second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-amorosi/i-started-working-in-music-very-young-i-was-raised-by-a-family-of/) Vanessa Amorosi > [I feel very lucky, and the work that I do doesn't depend on much. If your vision's still good, and your hands - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/i-feel-very-lucky-and-the-work-that-i-do-doesn-t-depend-on-much-if/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [You go through different stages when you're working on the music in film. At least, I do. You have a temp score, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/you-go-through-different-stages-when-you-re-working-on-the-music-in/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [I love bands like the Arctic Monkeys and The Smiths, and I'm working on my own music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/i-love-bands-like-the-arctic-monkeys-and-the-smiths-and-i-m-working/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I'm working on my music a lot, like folk singing, guitar. It's sort of rocky, folky, alty, angsty. I'm putting a lot of energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-campbell-bower/i-m-working-on-my-music-a-lot-like-folk-singing-guitar-it-s-sort-of/) [Jamie Campbell Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-campbell-bower/) > [Just listen to all this sweet, sweet music. I'm working the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/just-listen-to-all-this-sweet-sweet-music-i-m-working-the-music/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [I have literally been working in music just about my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-have-literally-been-working-in-music-just-about-my-entire-life/) [Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/) > [I never thought that was even possible, to have your friends working with you. In the music, yes, in the creative side, yes, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-murphy/i-never-thought-that-was-even-possible-to-have-your-friends-working/) [Roisin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-murphy/) > [It's annoying when you've got a guitar and you're working on music and then you have to go and do the shopping or someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kiwanuka/it-s-annoying-when-you-ve-got-a-guitar-and-you-re-working-on-music/) [Michael Kiwanuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kiwanuka/) > [I am a musician who stopped working with music. Now I work with visual music, or audio-visual music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-ralske/i-am-a-musician-who-stopped-working-with-music-now-i-work-with-visual/) [Kurt Ralske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-ralske/) ## More by Andre Previn > [I don't even have a cell phone. I don't know how they work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-don-t-even-have-a-cell-phone-i-don-t-know-how-they-work/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [I admire Elliott Carter endlessly. But I have no ambitions to emulate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-admire-elliott-carter-endlessly-but-i-have-no-ambitions-to-emulate/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [People who don't do jazz think it's black magic. But really, it's just a matter of getting used to it. It's fun to gamble.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/people-who-don-t-do-jazz-think-it-s-black-magic-but-really-it-s-just/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [When I composed, I heard my music played by the orchestra within days of completion of the score. No master at a conservatory, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/when-i-composed-i-heard-my-music-played-by-the-orchestra-within-days/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [I remain extraordinarily proud of the Vaughan Williams symphonies I recorded with the LSO, and in the 1980s and '90s, I made an almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-remain-extraordinarily-proud-of-the-vaughan-williams-symphonies-i/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [If you're going to do good work, the work has to scare you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/if-you-re-going-to-do-good-work-the-work-has-to-scare-you/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [I used to set myself little challenges to make the work more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-used-to-set-myself-little-challenges-to-make-the-work-more/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [I have a great many shortcomings, but writing for something on time has never bothered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-have-a-great-many-shortcomings-but-writing-for-something-on-time/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [Music critics have made it quite clear that any composer who ever contributed a four-bar jingle to a film was to be referred to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/music-critics-have-made-it-quite-clear-that-any-composer-who-ever/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [At MGM, you knew you were going to be working next year; you knew you were going to get paid. But I was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/at-mgm-you-knew-you-were-going-to-be-working-next-year-you-knew-you/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [I stuck around in Hollywood for too long. I was there a long time, and when I left, I was smart enough to realise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-stuck-around-in-hollywood-for-too-long-i-was-there-a-long-time-and/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [The thing is that I'm naturally curious about a lot of different disciplines in music, and I enjoy doing them. 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