--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I fear that I won't get better and that I…" description: "\"I fear that I won't get better and that I won't have time to practice. To be called a \"jazz musician\" - it's a big responsibility.\" — Esperanza Spalding" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/esperanza-spalding-16609_big-responsibility_i-fear-that-i-won-t-get-better-and-that_1703601.jpg" --- # I fear that I won't get better and that I won't have time… ![“I fear that I won't get better and that I won't have time to practice. To be called a "jazz musician" - it's a big responsibility.” quote by Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/esperanza-spalding-16609_big-responsibility_i-fear-that-i-won-t-get-better-and-that_1703601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/esperanza-spalding-16609_big-responsibility_i-fear-that-i-won-t-get-better-and-that_1703601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/esperanza-spalding-16609_big-responsibility_i-fear-that-i-won-t-get-better-and-that_1703601.jpg) > “I fear that I won't get better and that I won't have time to practice. To be called a "jazz musician" - it's a big responsibility.” [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of inadequacy and time limits can hinder artistic growth; responsibility feels heavy. **In simple terms:** Fear and time limits hinder growth. Key Takeaway Embrace practice despite fear. Themes fear time responsibility growth music Mood determined hopeful Type motivational advice When to use this quote - Practice scheduling - mental health - career planning Key Concepts Performance anxiety skill development Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to practice regularly? - How does responsibility shape your art? A Different Perspective Responsibility can motivate rather than burden. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-responsibility/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Called Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-jazz-1174295/) [Get better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-better/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [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/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-called-1174296/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-practice-377028/) ## Related quotes > [Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, and many other great jazz musicians objected to their music being called jazz. 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It's jazz and that means improvization...you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/we-re-with-robbie-robertson-jazz-musicians-the-context-may-be-rock-n/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [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/) > [I was going to say is that I come from a rock background, but also I was super interested in jazz for a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jherek-bischoff/i-was-going-to-say-is-that-i-come-from-a-rock-background-but-also-i/) [Jherek Bischoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jherek-bischoff/) > [The Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame will provide a center where the lives and the artistry of the greatest jazz musicians will be celebrated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-ertegun/the-ertegun-jazz-hall-of-fame-will-provide-a-center-where-the-lives/) [Ahmet Ertegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-ertegun/) > [I was being ridiculed for going to school... But, you see, I had looked hard at the other musicians and the whole show-business scene...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-byrd/i-was-being-ridiculed-for-going-to-school-but-you-see-i-had-looked/) [Donald Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-byrd/) > [I grew up in a home filled with music and had an early appreciation of jazz since my dad was a jazz musician. Beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/i-grew-up-in-a-home-filled-with-music-and-had-an-early-appreciation/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [I know I’m an African-American, and I know I play the saxophone, but I’m not a jazz musician. I’m not a classical musician, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-braxton/i-know-i-m-an-african-american-and-i-know-i-play-the-saxophone-but-i/) [Anthony Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-braxton/) > [ I'm a jazz musician by education and vocation, but I don't think jazz should \[ dictate\] what I want to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-douglas/i-m-a-jazz-musician-by-education-and-vocation-but-i-don-t-think-jazz/) [Dave Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-douglas/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## More by Esperanza Spalding > [Jazz music just resonates with the frequency of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/jazz-music-just-resonates-with-the-frequency-of-me/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I think there's so much negative influence on children in school settings. It becomes learning by rote to pass a test. It's not contextualized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/i-think-there-s-so-much-negative-influence-on-children-in-school/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [On nights that I'm feeling a need to stretch personally and artistically, I tend to put together outfits that are very quirky, mismatched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/on-nights-that-i-m-feeling-a-need-to-stretch-personally-and/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [Genre boundaries are good for marketing but they all but disappear when you're a player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/genre-boundaries-are-good-for-marketing-but-they-all-but-disappear/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I like to read, and I like dance. I don't dance, but I like to see other people dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/i-like-to-read-and-i-like-dance-i-don-t-dance-but-i-like-to-see-other/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [The music that I make is pretty sincere; it's from my heart and I love it, and what just happened is more people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/the-music-that-i-make-is-pretty-sincere-it-s-from-my-heart-and-i-love/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [When I read, you know, a rough neighborhood of Portland, I'm like - what? - they didn't have kombucha bars there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/when-i-read-you-know-a-rough-neighborhood-of-portland-i-m-like-what/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [There's the juiciest music that makes me so happy, music that I need on that deserted island when I'm stranded for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/there-s-the-juiciest-music-that-makes-me-so-happy-music-that-i-need/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [For what I can imagine and feel and think and hear, I can hardly do anything on the acoustic bass. It used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/for-what-i-can-imagine-and-feel-and-think-and-hear-i-can-hardly-do/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I love people, and I love to be with people and to make music with people, but my natural state is to revert back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/i-love-people-and-i-love-to-be-with-people-and-to-make-music-with/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I just think music is so intrinsically linked with images in the culture that we live in that youll be hard-pressed to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/i-just-think-music-is-so-intrinsically-linked-with-images-in-the/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I grew up with an incredibly loving and supportive family that gave me the impression there were a lot of options for me out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/i-grew-up-with-an-incredibly-loving-and-supportive-family-that-gave/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [It's weird sometimes to have people not see me or see what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/it-s-weird-sometimes-to-have-people-not-see-me-or-see-what-i-do/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [Anything I do has to have integrity, so if you just want to make music, it's not difficult finding support. The hard part for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/anything-i-do-has-to-have-integrity-so-if-you-just-want-to-make-music/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [Jazz has always been a melting pot of influences and I plan to incorporate them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/jazz-has-always-been-a-melting-pot-of-influences-and-i-plan-to/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) [Explore all 39 Esperanza Spalding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) ## More Big responsibility quotes > [For a man, there's a big responsibility that comes with having a boy because men are made by their fathers. If you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-spall/for-a-man-there-s-a-big-responsibility-that-comes-with-having-a-boy/) [Rafe Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-spall/) > [When you were growing up, your mom and dad told you to look both ways before crossing the street or not to get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dewolfe/when-you-were-growing-up-your-mom-and-dad-told-you-to-look-both-ways/) [Chris DeWolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dewolfe/) > [It's a big responsibility to be the main part of a film because if you don't like me, you have a problem for two-and-a-half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carice-van-houten/it-s-a-big-responsibility-to-be-the-main-part-of-a-film-because-if/) [Carice van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carice-van-houten/) > [She was really strong around me. Having me at 16 had to have been a big responsibility. My mom gave up everything for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/she-was-really-strong-around-me-having-me-at-16-had-to-have-been-a/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [That's a big responsibility, and the details obsess me. And, also, I no longer feel I have to do the Tonight Show every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/that-s-a-big-responsibility-and-the-details-obsess-me-and-also-i-no/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [It surprises me how much children like me, you know? If they look at me as an example, I have a big responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-balotelli/it-surprises-me-how-much-children-like-me-you-know-if-they-look-at-me/) [Mario Balotelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-balotelli/) > [It's a big responsibility for sure, to be a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniil-medvedev/it-s-a-big-responsibility-for-sure-to-be-a-father/) [Daniil Medvedev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniil-medvedev/) > [We stand united, facing the big responsibility to change our country into a nation of justice, solidarity, humanity and green development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/we-stand-united-facing-the-big-responsibility-to-change-our-country/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [There are very few ethnic LGBT characters on television, so I am honored to represent them. I love supporting this cause, but it’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/there-are-very-few-ethnic-lgbt-characters-on-television-so-i-am/) [Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/) > [“The reality is what you wear matters. If you're a singer and on TV and in the living room of some 12-year-old girl, she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-reality-is-what-you-wear-matters-if-you-re-a-singer-and-on-tv-and/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [It's a big responsibility, I think, when you play somebody who has existed but also somebody who has just recently passed away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-eisley/it-s-a-big-responsibility-i-think-when-you-play-somebody-who-has/) [India Eisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-eisley/) > [My dogs are a priority and a big responsibility... but the payoffs are well worth it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/my-dogs-are-a-priority-and-a-big-responsibility-but-the-payoffs-are/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I have a big responsibility as a father. That helps me to be more sensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-arnautovic/i-have-a-big-responsibility-as-a-father-that-helps-me-to-be-more/) [Marko Arnautovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-arnautovic/) > [People who are always late are sometimes not worthy of big responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wordfaith3/people-who-are-always-late-are-sometimes-not-worthy-of-big/) [Wordfaith3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wordfaith3/) > [My films have always been considered the benchmark in action. I have a big responsibility to shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-deol/my-films-have-always-been-considered-the-benchmark-in-action-i-have-a/) [Sunny Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-deol/) [Browse all 78 Big responsibility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-responsibility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I fear that I won't get better and that I won't have time to practice. 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