--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Master your instrument. Master the music…" description: "\"Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.\" — Charlie Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/charlie-parker-16778_bullshit_master-your-instrument-master-the-music_495245.jpg" --- # Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget… ![“Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.” quote by Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/charlie-parker-16778_bullshit_master-your-instrument-master-the-music_495245.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/charlie-parker-16778_bullshit_master-your-instrument-master-the-music_495245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/charlie-parker-16778_bullshit_master-your-instrument-master-the-music_495245.jpg) > “Master your instrument. Master the music. And then forget all that bullshit and just play.” [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastery of technique and deep understanding of music are prerequisites, but true expression emerges when you let go of overthinking and simply play. **In simple terms:** Learn skill, then forget analysis and just create music. Key Takeaway Practice diligently, then trust instinct. Themes mastery creativity mindfulness self‑trust Mood inspirational focused confident Type musical motivational When to use this quote - live performance - studio recording - personal practice sessions Key Concepts musicianship flow state improvisation Questions to Reflect On - When have you let go of control to create? - What does “forgetting the bullshit” mean to you? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can stifle spontaneity and authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz and life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-and-life/) [Jazz music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-music/) [Jazz musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-musician/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) ## Related quotes > [In my music, I'm trying to play the truth of what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/in-my-music-i-m-trying-to-play-the-truth-of-what-i-am/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [There is no greater pride and glory than to be a perfect instrument of the Master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/there-is-no-greater-pride-and-glory-than-to-be-a-perfect-instrument/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Becoming a musician is a strange thing. It's not all cupcakes and ice cream. You're trying to master an instrument, and you sometimes can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/becoming-a-musician-is-a-strange-thing-it-s-not-all-cupcakes-and-ice/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [“First you learn the instrument, then you learn the music, then you forget all that s\*\*t and just play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/first-you-learn-the-instrument-then-you-learn-the-music-then-you/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Man, there's no boundary line to art!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/man-there-s-no-boundary-line-to-art/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Bruce Smith is a tender master of music, and beautiful lines, and complex thoughts, and fascinating wild personal and cultural references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stern/bruce-smith-is-a-tender-master-of-music-and-beautiful-lines-and/) [Gerald Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stern/) > [My God, how can anyone ever be a master of music?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hindemith/my-god-how-can-anyone-ever-be-a-master-of-music/) [Paul Hindemith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hindemith/) > [“It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/it-is-a-mistake-to-think-that-the-practice-of-my-art-has-become-easy/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [With the right music, you either forget everything or you remember everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-the-right-music-you-either-forget-everything-or-you-remember/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rock and roll is about having a good time, so no matter where you are right now blast some music and forget about lifes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/rock-and-roll-is-about-having-a-good-time-so-no-matter-where-you-are/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [Music really helps me stay centered. I can listen to music and forget about any issue that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/music-really-helps-me-stay-centered-i-can-listen-to-music-and-forget/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Rock and roll is about having fun, no matter where you are right now, blast some music and forget about life's problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyanne-carter/rock-and-roll-is-about-having-fun-no-matter-where-you-are-right-now/) Cheyanne Carter > [With the right music, you either forget everything or remember everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/with-the-right-music-you-either-forget-everything-or-remember/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can't be honest with music, forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/if-i-can-t-be-honest-with-music-forget-it/) [Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/) > [Where you are right now blast some music and forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/where-you-are-right-now-blast-some-music-and-forget/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) ## More by Charlie Parker > [Man, there's no boundary line to art!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/man-there-s-no-boundary-line-to-art/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [When I first heard music, I thought it should be very clean, very precise. Something that people could understand, something that was beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/when-i-first-heard-music-i-thought-it-should-be-very-clean-very/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Every time I hear a recording I've made, I hear all kinds of things I could improve or things I should have done. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/every-time-i-hear-a-recording-i-ve-made-i-hear-all-kinds-of-things-i/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Some guys said 'Here's bop!' Wham! They said, 'Here's something we can make money on!' Wham! 'Here's a comedian!' Wham! Here's a guy who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/some-guys-said-here-s-bop-wham-they-said-here-s-something-we-can-make/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Definitely, study is absolutely necessary in all forms - it's just like any talent that's born within somebody. It's just like a good pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/definitely-study-is-absolutely-necessary-in-all-forms-it-s-just-like/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/music-is-your-own-experience-your-own-thoughts-your-wisdom-if-you-don/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/you-ve-got-to-learn-your-instrument-then-you-practice-practice/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [I can play all I know in eight bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/i-can-play-all-i-know-in-eight-bars/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [It's just music. It's trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes. The beat in a bop band is with the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/it-s-just-music-it-s-trying-to-play-clean-and-looking-for-the-pretty/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [You've got to learn your instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/you-ve-got-to-learn-your-instrument/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [It's just music. It's playing clean and looking for the pretty notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/it-s-just-music-it-s-playing-clean-and-looking-for-the-pretty-notes/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/if-you-don-t-live-it-it-won-t-come-out-your-horn/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [Don't play the saxophone. Let it play you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/don-t-play-the-saxophone-let-it-play-you/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [“Don't play the saxophone, let the saxophone play you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/don-t-play-the-saxophone-let-the-saxophone-play-you/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/they-teach-you-there-s-a-boundary-line-to-music-but-man-there-s-no/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) [Explore all 39 Charlie Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) ## More Bullshit quotes > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [Yesterday's truth is today's bullshit. Even yesterday's liberating insight is today's jail of stale explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-blanton/yesterday-s-truth-is-today-s-bullshit-even-yesterday-s-liberating/) [Brad Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-blanton/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [My biggest advice would be to take the pictures you want to take. Don’t think about the marketplace, what sells or what an editor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/my-biggest-advice-would-be-to-take-the-pictures-you-want-to-take-don/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [We're at a time when we are being presented with undeniable changes in the global climate and fundamental issues that affect every single one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/we-re-at-a-time-when-we-are-being-presented-with-undeniable-changes/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [“Someday you’re gonna go stupid for a woman. And when you do, do me this one favor: don’t get all caught up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/someday-you-re-gonna-go-stupid-for-a-woman-and-when-you-do-do-me-this/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/how-can-i-set-free-anyone-who-doesn-t-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-alone/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“Please, boy. Let’s not start out with either of us insulting the other’s intelligence. There are only three people in life you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/please-boy-let-s-not-start-out-with-either-of-us-insulting-the-other/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [The idea of photography as evidence is pure bullshit. A photo is no more proof of any reality than what you may hear being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-riboud/the-idea-of-photography-as-evidence-is-pure-bullshit-a-photo-is-no/) [Marc Riboud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-riboud/) > [“(‘T) is all that separates I CAN’T from I CAN. Cut away the bullshit and live your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/t-is-all-that-separates-i-can-t-from-i-can-cut-away-the-bullshit-and/) [Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Alright, thats enough of this Kung-Fu bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcclane/alright-thats-enough-of-this-kung-fu-bullshit/) [John Mcclane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcclane/) > [“To recognize bullshit, nose is better than ear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/to-recognize-bullshit-nose-is-better-than-ear/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Loyal people always seem to go through the most bullshit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/loyal-people-always-seem-to-go-through-the-most-bullshit/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I wasn't sure which was worse - to know you were a liar or to believe your own bullshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/i-wasn-t-sure-which-was-worse-to-know-you-were-a-liar-or-to-believe/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) [Browse all 1,074 Bullshit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Master your instrument. 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