--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I consider myself to be an inept pianist…" description: "\"I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. ... I'm probably writing music now for the same reason as I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/billy-joel-1000_competent_i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist_265720.jpg" --- # I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer… ![“I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. ... I'm probably writing music now for the same reason as I started writing songs when I was 14-to meet women. ... If you make music for the human needs you have within yourself, then you do it for all…” quote by Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/billy-joel-1000_competent_i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist_265720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/billy-joel-1000_competent_i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist_265720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/billy-joel-1000_competent_i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist_265720.jpg) > “I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. ... I'm probably writing music now for the same reason as I started writing songs when I was 14-to meet women. ... If you make music for the human needs you have within yourself, then you do it for all humans who need the same things. You enrich humanity with the profound expression of these feelings. ... My songs are like my kids.” [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits personal musical shortcomings but emphasizes creating music to satisfy innate human needs, thereby enriching humanity. **In simple terms:** He makes music for personal and universal emotional needs. Key Takeaway Create art that serves both self and others. Themes self‑reflection creativity human connection Mood introspective hopeful inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - personal growth - community building - emotional catharsis Key Concepts artistic authenticity emotional expression purpose Questions to Reflect On - What inner need drives your creative work? - How can you balance personal expression with audience impact? A Different Perspective Music may not reach everyone; personal insecurity can hinder expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Human needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-needs/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriters/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-music/) [Writing songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-songs/) ## Related quotes > [I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. What I do, in my opinion, is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist-a-bad-singer-and-a-merely/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [When I hear the words jazz pianist, that just means I have the skills to do most things. Because to be a jazz pianist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/when-i-hear-the-words-jazz-pianist-that-just-means-i-have-the-skills/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [I've always been interested in both writing and music. When I first started getting published, I also worked as rehearsal pianist for the Boston…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sleator/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-both-writing-and-music-when-i-first/) [William Sleator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sleator/) > [If you make music for the human needs you have within yourself, then you do it for all humans who need the same things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-you-make-music-for-the-human-needs-you-have-within-yourself-then/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I started taking piano lessons when I was about four years old. My parents were both musicians. So I took piano lessons. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-started-taking-piano-lessons-when-i-was-about-four-years-old-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm probably writing music now for the same reason as I started writing songs when I was 14 - to meet women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-probably-writing-music-now-for-the-same-reason-as-i-started/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets heard or not isn't an issue for me. It keeps my own juices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-music-whether-it-gets-heard-or/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing songs. I've been writing music continually ever since the last album of original tunes, "River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-never-stopped-writing-music-i-just-stopped-writing-songs-i-ve-been/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Credit markets were originally created to serve human needs; to provide businesses and individuals with capital to start or expand businesses or fulfill other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/credit-markets-were-originally-created-to-serve-human-needs-to/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [As I worked on projects which fulfilled a real human need forces were working through me which amazed me. I would often go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/as-i-worked-on-projects-which-fulfilled-a-real-human-need-forces-were/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [Society mediates between the extremes of, on the one hand, intolerably strict morality and, on the other, dangerously anarchic permissiveness through an unspoken agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/society-mediates-between-the-extremes-of-on-the-one-hand-intolerably/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [Permaculture is not the movement of sustainability and it is not the philosophy behind it; it is the problem-solving approach the movement and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-hemenway/permaculture-is-not-the-movement-of-sustainability-and-it-is-not-the/) [Toby Hemenway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-hemenway/) > [So long as men shall be on earth, there will be tasks for them to do. Some way for them to show their worth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/so-long-as-men-shall-be-on-earth-there-will-be-tasks-for-them-to-do/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [The gap between brute power and human need continues to grow, as the power fattens on the same faulty technology that intensifies the need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-gap-between-brute-power-and-human-need-continues-to-grow-as-the/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Ethics is not just an abstract intellectual discipline. It is about the conflicts that arise in trying to meet real human needs and values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ziman/ethics-is-not-just-an-abstract-intellectual-discipline-it-is-about/) [John Ziman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ziman/) ## More by Billy Joel > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Only the good die young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/only-the-good-die-young/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies, all I want is someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-don-t-want-some-pretty-face-to-tell-me-pretty-lies-all-i-want-is/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. 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Though it's crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/don-t-make-music-for-some-vast-unseen-audience-or-market-or-ratings/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Usually when I'm writing, I try to write fairly quickly. If a song sits around too long, it starts to take on a stink.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/usually-when-i-m-writing-i-try-to-write-fairly-quickly-if-a-song-sits/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My daughter sent me on a mission to get as many autographs as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/my-daughter-sent-me-on-a-mission-to-get-as-many-autographs-as-possible/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [ I was listening to stuff and I realized that I've had a lot of different lives. You know the theory \[that says\] every seven… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-was-listening-to-stuff-and-i-realized-that-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If you said good-bye to me tonight, There would still be music left to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-you-said-good-bye-to-me-tonight-there-would-still-be-music-left-to/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If I need a cause for celebration, Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind, I rely on my imagination, And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-i-need-a-cause-for-celebration-or-a-comfort-i-can-use-to-ease-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm carrying the weight of all the useless junk and modern man accumulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-carrying-the-weight-of-all-the-useless-junk-and-modern-man/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [What will it take for you to believe in me, the way that I believe in you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/what-will-it-take-for-you-to-believe-in-me-the-way-that-i-believe-in/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) [Explore all 311 Billy Joel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More Competent quotes > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. 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