--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was studying at Berklee, I got the…" description: "\"When I was studying at Berklee, I got the feeling I couldn't play the [guitar] at all, because I could not use my own things as they didn't fit any set..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/gabor-szabo-80732_all-time_when-i-was-studying-at-berklee-i-got-the_2728626.jpg" --- # When I was studying at Berklee, I got the feeling I… ![“When I was studying at Berklee, I got the feeling I couldn't play the [guitar] at all, because I could not use my own things as they didn't fit any set pattern. When I joined [Chico Hamilton], he helped me immensely to develop my own style. He never forced me in any set way. At all times, he…” quote by Gabor Szabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/gabor-szabo-80732_all-time_when-i-was-studying-at-berklee-i-got-the_2728626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/gabor-szabo-80732_all-time_when-i-was-studying-at-berklee-i-got-the_2728626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/gabor-szabo-80732_all-time_when-i-was-studying-at-berklee-i-got-the_2728626.jpg) > “When I was studying at Berklee, I got the feeling I couldn't play the \[guitar\] at all, because I could not use my own things as they didn't fit any set pattern. When I joined \[Chico Hamilton\], he helped me immensely to develop my own style. He never forced me in any set way. At all times, he encouraged me to be myself on the instrument.” [Gabor Szabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-szabo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative freedom thrives when mentors encourage personal expression over rigid conformity. **In simple terms:** Mentors should nurture individuality. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who value your unique style. Themes creativity mentorship individuality music growth Mood inspired determined Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - learning a new instrument - joining a band - solo performance Key Concepts artistic development self‑expression learning styles Questions to Reflect On - How does mentorship shape your art? - What limits have you overcome? A Different Perspective Some structures are necessary for skill building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-time/) [Chico Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chico-hamilton-2938233/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-use-2360369/) [Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamilton/) [Hamilton Helped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamilton-helped-2938234/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-music/) [Joined Chico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joined-chico-2938231/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [My own style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own-style/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Studying Berklee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-berklee-2938232/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The lute I use has 10 courses and 19 strings, which is quite a lot of strings and a quite different fingerboard width from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/the-lute-i-use-has-10-courses-and-19-strings-which-is-quite-a-lot-of/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Your sound is in your hands as much as anything. It's the way you pick, and the way you hold the guitar, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-ray-vaughan/your-sound-is-in-your-hands-as-much-as-anything-it-s-the-way-you-pick/) [Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-ray-vaughan/) > [Basically, I try to let the song dictate what guitar I use. If it's a really loud, crazy song, I'll pull out the cheapest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/basically-i-try-to-let-the-song-dictate-what-guitar-i-use-if-it-s-a/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [As you're touring there are so many layers to a live show, it has always been important for me to have a guitar that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/as-you-re-touring-there-are-so-many-layers-to-a-live-show-it-has/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-was-so-lucky-that-i-didn-t-have-anyone-to-copy-be-impressed-by-i/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I know that I haven't invented anything myself, that I am only a mixture of countless influences, and thanks to that I am able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-sandoval/i-know-that-i-haven-t-invented-anything-myself-that-i-am-only-a/) [Arturo Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arturo-sandoval/) > [I like having my own style; love my work or hate my work, it's my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-watson/i-like-having-my-own-style-love-my-work-or-hate-my-work-it-s-my-own/) [Don Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-watson/) > [I've always had my own style, I've always been different. I don't like to wear anything that anyone else is wearing because it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-ve-always-had-my-own-style-i-ve-always-been-different-i-don-t-like/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [I see my own style as being a symbiosis of the styles of Alekhine, Tal and Fischer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-see-my-own-style-as-being-a-symbiosis-of-the-styles-of-alekhine-tal/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I have tried to be more flexible, but I always end up feeling more uncomfortable. Retaining a sense of control is really important. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/i-have-tried-to-be-more-flexible-but-i-always-end-up-feeling-more/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [I really had to create my own style, because it's kind of hard being a 6-1 defensive end. I'm really like 6-4 - really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-really-had-to-create-my-own-style-because-it-s-kind-of-hard-being-a/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [I describe me sound as international: reggae, pop, rap, R&B all in one. I think I have my own style. I can't really even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-kingston/i-describe-me-sound-as-international-reggae-pop-rap-r-b-all-in-one-i/) [Sean Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-kingston/) > [A man is entitled to draw things in his own style. I didn't hurt Superman. I made him powerful. I admire Superman, but I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/a-man-is-entitled-to-draw-things-in-his-own-style-i-didn-t-hurt/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-versace/don-t-be-into-trends-don-t-make-fashion-own-you-but-you-decide-what/) [Gianni Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-versace/) > [My own style influences have to do with where I grew up, in the Bronx, and I still like to wear bangles and big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/my-own-style-influences-have-to-do-with-where-i-grew-up-in-the-bronx/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) ## More by Gabor Szabo > [Many jazz musicians affect a misunderstood-genius air when they play, which alienates the audience and breaks down the communications of the music. A musician's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-szabo/many-jazz-musicians-affect-a-misunderstood-genius-air-when-they-play/) [Gabor Szabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-szabo/) > [People behind the Iron curtain have such an incredible image of America and jazz. I expected to find a Gerry Mulligan or Miles Davis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-szabo/people-behind-the-iron-curtain-have-such-an-incredible-image-of/) [Gabor Szabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-szabo/) [Explore all 3 Gabor Szabo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-szabo/) ## More All time quotes > [To be positive at all times is to ignore all that is important, sacred or valuable. To be negative at all times is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/to-be-positive-at-all-times-is-to-ignore-all-that-is-important-sacred/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. 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I have a suspicion that on our hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-snow/i-don-t-know-whether-we-think-in-moving-images-or-whether-we-think-in/) [Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-snow/) > [I'm big on tomato mozzarella salad. That's my favorite all-time food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-fields/i-m-big-on-tomato-mozzarella-salad-that-s-my-favorite-all-time-food/) [Jan Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-fields/) > [If you are my friend,you are down for me at all times,not just when it's convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-v/if-you-are-my-friend-you-are-down-for-me-at-all-times-not-just-when/) [Jasmine V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-v/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. 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One for entrees, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eggert/for-all-the-concern-about-bodies-and-weight-baywatch-has-three-huge/) [Nicole Eggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eggert/) > ['Lost Boys' is one of my all-time faves. I just thought it would be great to be a vampire. I remember this movie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/lost-boys-is-one-of-my-all-time-faves-i-just-thought-it-would-be/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I have a constant kind of soundtrack going on at all times. I almost always have a song in my head. I'm very musically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-davie/i-have-a-constant-kind-of-soundtrack-going-on-at-all-times-i-almost/) [Erin Davie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-davie/) > [Lord, make me less like Jonah and more like Jesus. 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