--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing music is not really susceptible…" description: "\"Playing music is not really susceptible to theory much. Circumstances affect it so much.\" — Derek Bailey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/derek-bailey-22183_circumstances_playing-music-is-not-really-susceptible_186477.png" --- # Playing music is not really susceptible to theory much… ![“Playing music is not really susceptible to theory much. Circumstances affect it so much.” quote by Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/derek-bailey-22183_circumstances_playing-music-is-not-really-susceptible_186477.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/derek-bailey-22183_circumstances_playing-music-is-not-really-susceptible_186477.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/derek-bailey-22183_circumstances_playing-music-is-not-really-susceptible_186477.png) > “Playing music is not really susceptible to theory much. Circumstances affect it so much.” [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music’s expression is heavily shaped by context, making strict theoretical rules less applicable. **In simple terms:** Context influences music more than theory. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility in creative practice. Themes music creativity context Mood reflective inquisitive Type musical philosophy observation When to use this quote - live performance - composition - education Key Concepts improvisation theory vs practice Questions to Reflect On - In what situations does theory enhance creativity? - How does environment affect musical choices? A Different Perspective Theory still provides valuable frameworks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of times, when you don't have to deal with some of the circumstances that affect minority culture, you just don't think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/a-lot-of-times-when-you-don-t-have-to-deal-with-some-of-the/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [We are not responsible for the circumstances we are in, but we are responsible for the way we allow those circumstances to affect us;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-responsible-for-the-circumstances-we-are-in-but-we-are/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I didn't start playing music really until I was 18/19, so it was a relatively new thing. I didn't play much music in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/i-didn-t-start-playing-music-really-until-i-was-18-19-so-it-was-a/) [James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/) > [Traveling to the Middle East and playing music for people on the street, for soldiers, for people in hospitals, and for people who lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/traveling-to-the-middle-east-and-playing-music-for-people-on-the/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [I started playing music when I was really young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksa-palladino/i-started-playing-music-when-i-was-really-young/) [Aleksa Palladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksa-palladino/) > [I always considered trying to make a living playing music. But it was always really clear to me, at the various stages in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-always-considered-trying-to-make-a-living-playing-music-but-it-was/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [Personally, I've found that the kind of thing that I like is going into somebody else's area and not playing their music but doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/personally-i-ve-found-that-the-kind-of-thing-that-i-like-is-going/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [More and more teams are using almost exclusively the draft to build their teams. And that means you have younger players to develop in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzie-newsome/more-and-more-teams-are-using-almost-exclusively-the-draft-to-build/) [Ozzie Newsome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzie-newsome/) > [In some ways she was far more acute than Winston, and far less susceptible to Party propaganda. Once when he happened in some connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-some-ways-she-was-far-more-acute-than-winston-and-far-less/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Only a f-kin imbecile would think they un-correctable, cause you're susceptible to becoming more than a spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/only-a-f-kin-imbecile-would-think-they-un-correctable-cause-you-re/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I love eulogies. They are the most moving kind of speech because they attempt to pluck meaning from the fog, and on short order,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/i-love-eulogies-they-are-the-most-moving-kind-of-speech-because-they/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [I haven't always hated McDonald's. When my kids were little and I lived in the U.S., they were as susceptible as anyone to Happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/i-haven-t-always-hated-mcdonald-s-when-my-kids-were-little-and-i/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [Heart and head are the constituent parts of character; temperament has almost nothing to do with it, and, therefore, character is dependent upon education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/heart-and-head-are-the-constituent-parts-of-character-temperament-has/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Creativity requires introspection, self-examination, and a willingness to take risks. Because of this, artists are perhaps more susceptible to self-doubt and despair than those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/creativity-requires-introspection-self-examination-and-a-willingness/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [You must strive to become much less susceptible to influences outside of yourself and much more inclined to trust the instincts and feelings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/you-must-strive-to-become-much-less-susceptible-to-influences-outside/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) ## More by Derek Bailey > [For me, Company is still the best way for me to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/for-me-company-is-still-the-best-way-for-me-to-work/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [I have always been attracted to the cottage industry side of this business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-have-always-been-attracted-to-the-cottage-industry-side-of-this/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [I think the blues is fine for blues players, but free blues has never made much sense to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-think-the-blues-is-fine-for-blues-players-but-free-blues-has-never/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Undeniably, the audience for improvisation, good or bad, active or passive, sympathetic or hostile, has a power that no other audience has. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/undeniably-the-audience-for-improvisation-good-or-bad-active-or/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [In fact its quite gratifying for me to see some of the people who really objected to this method of working now being quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/in-fact-its-quite-gratifying-for-me-to-see-some-of-the-people-who/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Free improvisation, in addition to being a highly skilled musical craft, is open to use by almost anyone--beginners, children, and non-musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/free-improvisation-in-addition-to-being-a-highly-skilled-musical/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Nowadays, I really like playing in studios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/nowadays-i-really-like-playing-in-studios/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Even if it is difficult playing with other people - sometimes it's great, sometimes it isn't, but that is kind of the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/even-if-it-is-difficult-playing-with-other-people-sometimes-it-s/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Personally, I've found that the kind of thing that I like is going into somebody else's area and not playing their music but doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/personally-i-ve-found-that-the-kind-of-thing-that-i-like-is-going/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Younger players in this music often turn out to be middle aged; it is not a young music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/younger-players-in-this-music-often-turn-out-to-be-middle-aged-it-is/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Diversity is its most consistent characteristic…The characteristics of freely improvised music are established only by the sonic-musical identity of the person or persons playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/diversity-is-its-most-consistent-characteristic-the-characteristics/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [Solo concerts are murder, I find; I don't like doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/solo-concerts-are-murder-i-find-i-don-t-like-doing-them/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [I am reactive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-am-reactive/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [I don't research anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/i-don-t-research-anything/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) > [For me, playing is about playing with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bailey/for-me-playing-is-about-playing-with-other-people/) [Derek Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) [Explore all 28 Derek Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bailey/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Playing music is not really susceptible to theory much. 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