--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 12, I happened to see a…" description: "\"When I was 12, I happened to see a schoolmate playing percussion, and it looked interesting. I asked for lessons, and it felt right.\" — Evelyn Glennie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/evelyn-glennie-13488_asked_when-i-was-12-i-happened-to-see-a-school_1018986.png" --- # When I was 12, I happened to see a schoolmate playing… ![“When I was 12, I happened to see a schoolmate playing percussion, and it looked interesting. I asked for lessons, and it felt right.” quote by Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/evelyn-glennie-13488_asked_when-i-was-12-i-happened-to-see-a-school_1018986.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/evelyn-glennie-13488_asked_when-i-was-12-i-happened-to-see-a-school_1018986.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/evelyn-glennie-13488_asked_when-i-was-12-i-happened-to-see-a-school_1018986.png) > “When I was 12, I happened to see a schoolmate playing percussion, and it looked interesting. I asked for lessons, and it felt right.” [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A childhood curiosity led to a lifelong passion for percussion after trying it once. **In simple terms:** Trying something new sparked a lasting love. Key Takeaway Explore interests early. Themes curiosity music career choice Mood inspired hopeful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - school music program - career counseling - personal growth Key Concepts developmental psychology skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What sparked your lasting passion? - How can you nurture early interests? A Different Perspective Early exposure may not guarantee sustained interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Happened Schoolmate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened-schoolmate-2259913/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked/) [Percussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percussion/) [Percussion Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percussion-looked-2259912/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Percussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-percussion-1297357/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Schoolmate Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schoolmate-playing-2259914/) [Schoolmates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schoolmates/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [The thing about playing percussion is that you can create all these emotions that can be sometimes beautiful, sometimes really ugly, or sometimes sweet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/the-thing-about-playing-percussion-is-that-you-can-create-all-these/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I grew up in a house that was always happy, and my family was always music, music. I started playing percussion very young, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/i-grew-up-in-a-house-that-was-always-happy-and-my-family-was-always/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [According to my parents, I just started drumming when I was two. I traveled with them from five to seven on the road, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/according-to-my-parents-i-just-started-drumming-when-i-was-two-i/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [Percussion is physical, as most instruments are. The body must function well in order to play the instruments well. Last year I climbed Mount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/percussion-is-physical-as-most-instruments-are-the-body-must-function/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [A large part of my work has been collaborating with composers; I think we've commissioned about 140 pieces now, a lot of them percussion concertos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/a-large-part-of-my-work-has-been-collaborating-with-composers-i-think/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I think I can only help to expose percussion to all sorts of people. The balance between the lighter and more serious side is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/i-think-i-can-only-help-to-expose-percussion-to-all-sorts-of-people/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [Percussion is the most adaptable family of instruments. The biggest challenge is to project percussion in a lyrical way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/percussion-is-the-most-adaptable-family-of-instruments-the-biggest/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [In Manhasset you were either Yankees or Mets, rich or poor, sober or drunk...You were 'Gaelic' or 'garlic," as one schoolmate told me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-moehringer/in-manhasset-you-were-either-yankees-or-mets-rich-or-poor-sober-or/) [J. R. Moehringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-moehringer/) > [You should be nicer to him,' a schoolmate had once said to me of some awfully ill-favored boy. 'He has no friends.' This, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/you-should-be-nicer-to-him-a-schoolmate-had-once-said-to-me-of-some/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I just always remember there being an ability to amuse schoolmates. Not in a kind of 'dance-around-at-the-front-of-the-room-with-his-trousers-off' way, but probably with a sardonic quip.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-just-always-remember-there-being-an-ability-to-amuse-schoolmates/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I prayed to dispel my fear, until suddenly, and I do not know how the idea came to me, I began to pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/i-prayed-to-dispel-my-fear-until-suddenly-and-i-do-not-know-how-the/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Vaccination is a public health issue because influenza is a highly contagious disease. 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So there was the Shortridge Daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/somebody-realized-hey-students-are-printing-dummy-ads-and-dummy-news/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-always-loved-putting-on-shows-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-seven-and/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) ## More by Evelyn Glennie > [My role on the planet is to bring the power of sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/my-role-on-the-planet-is-to-bring-the-power-of-sound/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I associate going to an airport with work because I travel so much with my job. So when I have a few days free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/i-associate-going-to-an-airport-with-work-because-i-travel-so-much/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [Society cannot continue to disable themselves through their need to categorize people or make assumptions as to another individual's abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/society-cannot-continue-to-disable-themselves-through-their-need-to/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I think I can only help to expose percussion to all sorts of people. The balance between the lighter and more serious side is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/i-think-i-can-only-help-to-expose-percussion-to-all-sorts-of-people/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [If I just simply let go, and allow my hand, my arm, to be more of a support system, suddenly - I have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/if-i-just-simply-let-go-and-allow-my-hand-my-arm-to-be-more-of-a/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [There's still a lot I need to do as a player, as a musician, as a sound creator. I have commissioned 170 pieces: that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/there-s-still-a-lot-i-need-to-do-as-a-player-as-a-musician-as-a-sound/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I often play on the cello-bass side of the orchestra, because I prefer the deep sounds. I can't hear the violins well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/i-often-play-on-the-cello-bass-side-of-the-orchestra-because-i-prefer/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [Once you're in a particular country, and you're surrounded by musicians who are so adept at traditional music, you suddenly realize how much there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/once-you-re-in-a-particular-country-and-you-re-surrounded-by/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I didn't decide to become a musician until the age of 15, which is quite late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/i-didn-t-decide-to-become-a-musician-until-the-age-of-15-which-is/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I just assumed the world was full of solo percussionists. I couldn't find sticks or music or anything where I was, but that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/i-just-assumed-the-world-was-full-of-solo-percussionists-i-couldn-t/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [If we see someone in a wheelchair, we assume they cannot walk. It may be that they can walk three, four, five steps. 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