--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pianists don't argue too much generally…" description: "\"Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have a hard enough time just getting things right. Arguing is for string players.\" — Emanuel Ax" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/emanuel-ax-24390_arguing_pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally_1521442.png" --- # Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have a… ![“Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have a hard enough time just getting things right. Arguing is for string players.” quote by Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/emanuel-ax-24390_arguing_pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally_1521442.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/emanuel-ax-24390_arguing_pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally_1521442.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/emanuel-ax-24390_arguing_pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally_1521442.png) > “Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have a hard enough time just getting things right. Arguing is for string players.” [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pianists focus on technical precision, leaving little room for debate, unlike string players who can discuss interpretation more freely. **In simple terms:** Pianists prioritize getting notes right over arguing. Key Takeaway Focus on mastery, not conflict. Themes music performance discipline Mood concentrated reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - concert preparation - practice sessions - rehearsals - recording studios Key Concepts technical skill interpretation instrumental differences Questions to Reflect On - How does instrument type shape collaborative dynamics? - Can pianists benefit from more open discussion? A Different Perspective String players may have more flexibility to discuss nuances, making argument less common for pianists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Pianists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianists/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have such a hard time just getting things right; arguing is for string players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally-because-we-have-such-a-hard/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [A mission that comes from the heart to promote these things and to encourage composers to write, then of course they should do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/a-mission-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-promote-these-things-and-to/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [I was born in Memphis. There was music all around me, really deep and special music. I heard all these great masters at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lloyd/i-was-born-in-memphis-there-was-music-all-around-me-really-deep-and/) [Charles Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lloyd/) > [Whenever I record something, I always believe that it's worthy of inclusion in the pantheon, and I would certainly like pianists to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/whenever-i-record-something-i-always-believe-that-it-s-worthy-of/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [Pianists of extraordinary talent, such as Christina Petrowska,spend a large part of their early lives perfecting technique…Miss Petrowska,a Canadian with a phenomenal ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-henahan/pianists-of-extraordinary-talent-such-as-christina-petrowska-spend-a/) [Donal Henahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donal-henahan/) > [If there's one thing I feel very strongly about, it's that there shouldn't be a distinction between pianists who play Ligeti and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-denk/if-there-s-one-thing-i-feel-very-strongly-about-it-s-that-there/) [Jeremy Denk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-denk/) > [I don't record for my own glory.I mean, of course part of it is for career advancement, but more importantly, I want some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/i-don-t-record-for-my-own-glory-i-mean-of-course-part-of-it-is-for/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [I have a good friend, Rudolf Serkin, the pianist, a very sensitive man. I was talking to him one day backstage after a concert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wyeth/i-have-a-good-friend-rudolf-serkin-the-pianist-a-very-sensitive-man-i/) [Andrew Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wyeth/) > [I applied, and I got in as a pianist. Their idea in the music department was that pianists, if they were good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-parkins/i-applied-and-i-got-in-as-a-pianist-their-idea-in-the-music/) [Zeena Parkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-parkins/) > [Pianists call me a composer, composers call me a pianist. The classicists think me a futurist, and the futurists call me a reactionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-rubinstein/pianists-call-me-a-composer-composers-call-me-a-pianist-the/) Anton Rubinstein > [I don't know where there can be so many pianists as in Paris, so many asses and so many virtuosi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/i-don-t-know-where-there-can-be-so-many-pianists-as-in-paris-so-many/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [It is my fervent wish and my greatest ambition to leave a work with a few useful instructions for the pianists after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-liszt/it-is-my-fervent-wish-and-my-greatest-ambition-to-leave-a-work-with-a/) [Franz Liszt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-liszt/) > [When I was studying... there weren't any black concert pianists. My choices were intuitive, and I had the technique to do it. People have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/when-i-was-studying-there-weren-t-any-black-concert-pianists-my/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I would also like to mention pianists like Michel Petrucciani or Chick Сorea for whom I have great admiration in the jazz field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/i-would-also-like-to-mention-pianists-like-michel-petrucciani-or/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [Roaring like a tiger turns some children into pianists who debut at Carnegie Hall but only crushes others. Coddling gives some the excuse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/roaring-like-a-tiger-turns-some-children-into-pianists-who-debut-at/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) ## More by Emanuel Ax > [The stage is close to being in the middle of the hall, so that the performers are surrounded by the listeners. I feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/the-stage-is-close-to-being-in-the-middle-of-the-hall-so-that-the/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [It is wonderful to see how happy all my friends in the LA Philharmonic are in their new home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/it-is-wonderful-to-see-how-happy-all-my-friends-in-the-la/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Everyone is different. Sometimes it's very exciting; sometimes very scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/everyone-is-different-sometimes-it-s-very-exciting-sometimes-very/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Sometimes I wish that applause would come just a bit later, when it is so beautifully hushed that I feel like holding my breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/sometimes-i-wish-that-applause-would-come-just-a-bit-later-when-it-is/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [How wonderful it is to play with someone you feel very close to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/how-wonderful-it-is-to-play-with-someone-you-feel-very-close-to/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have such a hard time just getting things right; arguing is for string players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally-because-we-have-such-a-hard/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [We should welcome applause whenever it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/we-should-welcome-applause-whenever-it-comes/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [If there were no rules about when to applaud, we in the audience would have the right response almost always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/if-there-were-no-rules-about-when-to-applaud-we-in-the-audience-would/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [I have been coming to Los Angeles since 1975 to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/i-have-been-coming-to-los-angeles-since-1975-to-perform/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/applause-should-be-an-emotional-response-to-the-music-rather-than-a/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [A lot of it just has to do with luck, serendipity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/a-lot-of-it-just-has-to-do-with-luck-serendipity/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [When one plays a Steinway, there is a warmth and nobility in the sound that is unequalled by any other instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/when-one-plays-a-steinway-there-is-a-warmth-and-nobility-in-the-sound/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [If the audience walks out of a concert thinking, What a wonderful experience, then we have done our job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/if-the-audience-walks-out-of-a-concert-thinking-what-a-wonderful/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Everybody makes his path differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/everybody-makes-his-path-differently/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [The sheer force of the music calls for a wild audience reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/the-sheer-force-of-the-music-calls-for-a-wild-audience-reaction/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) [Explore all 24 Emanuel Ax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have a hard enough time just getting things right. 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