--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have learned as much about writing…" description: "\"I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels. The understatements i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/ernest-gaines-15825_band_i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-abo_1349255.jpg" --- # I have learned as much about writing about my people by… ![“I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels. The understatements in the tenor saxophone of Lester Young, the crystal, haunting, forever searching sounds of John Coltrane, and the softness and violence of Count…” quote by Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/ernest-gaines-15825_band_i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-abo_1349255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/ernest-gaines-15825_band_i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-abo_1349255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/ernest-gaines-15825_band_i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-abo_1349255.jpg) > “I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels. The understatements in the tenor saxophone of Lester Young, the crystal, haunting, forever searching sounds of John Coltrane, and the softness and violence of Count Basie's big band - all have fired my imagination as much as anything in literature.” [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening to music can teach cultural insight and narrative rhythm as power as reading literature. **In simple terms:** Music teaches cultural insight like books. Key Takeaway Learn from music as well as texts. Themes culture music storytelling creativity Mood reflective inspired Type observational creative When to use this quote - writing workshops - research - creative inspiration - teaching literature Key Concepts African American experience musical narrative imagination Questions to Reflect On - How does music shape your storytelling voice? - Which musical elements translate best into prose? A Different Perspective Music interpretation may be subjective and not universally applicable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-band/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Crystals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crystals/) [Haunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haunting/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Lester young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lester-young/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [My imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-imagination/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-novels/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Tenors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenors/) [Understatement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understatement/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have by reading novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-about-my-people-by-listening-to/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [“came. Despite the huge challenge, it was also a project right after my heart and fired my imagination too. We moved from the design”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam-2/came-despite-the-huge-challenge-it-was-also-a-project-right-after-my/) [A.P.J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam-2/) > [I didn't really grow up listening to blues, because I grew up in the Northwest. It wasn't really the center for blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-didn-t-really-grow-up-listening-to-blues-because-i-grew-up-in-the/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [“Stop listening to the blues, and add some more songs to life's playlist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-galler/stop-listening-to-the-blues-and-add-some-more-songs-to-life-s-playlist/) Maggie Galler > [I have been influenced by music. I grew up listening to blues, jazz and all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redfoo/i-have-been-influenced-by-music-i-grew-up-listening-to-blues-jazz-and/) [Redfoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redfoo/) > [“The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes-2/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Charlie Parker was a genius, as was Lester Young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/charlie-parker-was-a-genius-as-was-lester-young/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [ The amazing thing about Sweets \[Edison\] was that he exactly spoke the way that he played! He was really unique, the one and only.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-brown/the-amazing-thing-about-sweets-edison-was-that-he-exactly-spoke-the/) [Ray Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-brown/) > [When I was 16 or 17 I heard the Count Basie band with Jo Jones and Lester Young and Herschel Evans and I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illinois-jacquet/when-i-was-16-or-17-i-heard-the-count-basie-band-with-jo-jones-and/) [Illinois Jacquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illinois-jacquet/) > [ I used to live at the Cecil Hotel, which was next door to Minton's \[Playhouse\]. We used to jam just about every night when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-webster/i-used-to-live-at-the-cecil-hotel-which-was-next-door-to-minton-s/) [Ben Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-webster/) > [ I'll always remember when I first heard Lester \[Young\]. I'd never heard anyone like him before. He was a stylist with a different sound.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-ll-always-remember-when-i-first-heard-lester-young-i-d-never-heard/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [I'd been studying the microphone for a dozen years, and I suddenly saw what I'd been doing wrong. I'd been singing too loud. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/i-d-been-studying-the-microphone-for-a-dozen-years-and-i-suddenly-saw/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [ We were all influenced by Lester \[Young\]. Listen to the records that he made with \[Count\] Basie. Nobody's got what he's got. He's still… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoot-sims/we-were-all-influenced-by-lester-young-listen-to-the-records-that-he/) [Zoot Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoot-sims/) > [In those days before hearing Charlie Parker and Dizzy, and before learning of the so-called bebop era--by the way, I have some thoughts about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-johnson/in-those-days-before-hearing-charlie-parker-and-dizzy-and-before/) [J. J. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-johnson/) ## More by Ernest Gaines > [I try to write something that would interest anybody and keep them turning the page. You must have a plot and good storyline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-try-to-write-something-that-would-interest-anybody-and-keep-them/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That's the only thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/words-mean-nothing-action-is-the-only-thing-doing-that-s-the-only/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [In all my stories and novels, no one ever escapes Louisiana. Maybe that is because my soul never left Louisiana, although my body did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/in-all-my-stories-and-novels-no-one-ever-escapes-louisiana-maybe-that/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I think I'm a very religious person. I think I believe in God as much as any man does. I don't only believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-think-i-m-a-very-religious-person-i-think-i-believe-in-god-as-much/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [There will always be men struggling...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/there-will-always-be-men-struggling/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [What for?" I said. "What for, Tante Lou? He treated me the same way he treated her. He wants me to feel guilty, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/what-for-i-said-what-for-tante-lou-he-treated-me-the-same-way-he/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [We all have much more in common than we have difference. I would say that about people all over the world. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/we-all-have-much-more-in-common-than-we-have-difference-i-would-say/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I believe that the writer should tell a story. I believe in plot. I believe in creating characters and suspense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-believe-that-the-writer-should-tell-a-story-i-believe-in-plot-i/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [A myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that they're better than anyone else on earth - and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/a-myth-is-an-old-lie-that-people-believe-in-white-people-believe-that/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have by reading novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-about-my-people-by-listening-to/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [When I'm sitting in the church alone, I can hear singing of the old people. I can hear their singing and I can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/when-i-m-sitting-in-the-church-alone-i-can-hear-singing-of-the-old/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Question everything. Every stripe, every star, every word spoken. Everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/question-everything-every-stripe-every-star-every-word-spoken/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Now, about that mulatto teacher and me. There was no love there for each other. There was not even respect. We were enemies if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/now-about-that-mulatto-teacher-and-me-there-was-no-love-there-for/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Without love for my fellow man and respect for nature, to me, life is an obscenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/without-love-for-my-fellow-man-and-respect-for-nature-to-me-life-is/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I knew I wanted to be a writer and I knew if I had a wife and family, I would neglect something, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-and-i-knew-if-i-had-a-wife-and-family/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) [Explore all 41 Ernest Gaines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels. 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