---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My practice is to take a sheet, write the…"
description: "\"My practice is to take a sheet, write the song number in the left side, name of the production, and time of recording. Only when I have to fill the nam..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg"
---

#  My practice is to take a sheet, write the song number in…

![“My practice is to take a sheet, write the song number in the left side, name of the production, and time of recording. Only when I have to fill the name of the singer do we look out to see who is free. When the singers we want aren't there, I end up singing it! That's how I became a singer.” quote by Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg)

> “My practice is to take a sheet, write the song number in the left side, name of the production, and time of recording. Only when I have to fill the name of the singer do we look out to see who is free. When the singers we want aren't there, I end up singing it! That's how I became a singer.”

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes a pragmatic method of organizing music production, showing flexibility when resources are limited.

**In simple terms:** Plan but adapt when needed.

Key Takeaway

Use structured notes but stay flexible.

Themes

creativity resourcefulness adaptability

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

advice process

When to use this quote

- studio sessions
- songwriting
- live performances
- collaborative projects

Key Concepts

music production workflow optimization

Questions to Reflect On

- When did improvisation improve your work?
- How do you balance structure and freedom?

A Different Perspective

Rigid planning can stifle spontaneity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-singers-3515984/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recording/) [Recording Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recording-singer-3515983/) [Singers Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers-want-2879333/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Write Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-song/)

## Related quotes

> [So many singers want to act, and so many actors try to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-gayle/so-many-singers-want-to-act-and-so-many-actors-try-to-sing/)

[Crystal Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-gayle/)

> [I feel like I did a lot to open the doors for people like Amy Grant and other gospel singers who want to sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-feel-like-i-did-a-lot-to-open-the-doors-for-people-like-amy-grant/)

[B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/)

> [Some singers want the audience to love them. I love the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/some-singers-want-the-audience-to-love-them-i-love-the-audience/)

[Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/)

> [I’ve never watched an entire episode of "American Idol." It’s too mean. Why would anyone want to go on a show to be ripped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-ve-never-watched-an-entire-episode-of-american-idol-it-s-too-mean/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [Ideally, the music composed these days should sound much better because of the technology, right? But that's not the fact. The sounds that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/ideally-the-music-composed-these-days-should-sound-much-better/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [Mere recording of an event will not make it a historical document. It will become obsolete with time. Only those that emotionally connect with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/mere-recording-of-an-event-will-not-make-it-a-historical-document-it/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [When I was in the recording studio, I needed to concentrate on what my voice was doing, which is rather difficult if you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-tyler/when-i-was-in-the-recording-studio-i-needed-to-concentrate-on-what-my/)

[Bonnie Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-tyler/)

> [We write the song, then it gets played for the artist, and they somehow fall in love with it and go back in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-rexha/we-write-the-song-then-it-gets-played-for-the-artist-and-they-somehow/)

[Bebe Rexha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-rexha/)

> [“It took me 42 years to write this song, and 5 minutes to sing it." \[On The Heart of the Matter , during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/it-took-me-42-years-to-write-this-song-and-5-minutes-to-sing-it-on/)

[Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/)

> [What we've learned is there's no right way to write a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/what-we-ve-learned-is-there-s-no-right-way-to-write-a-song/)

[Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/)

> [Sometimes I'll write a song. When I've gone through something really hard in my life, sometimes it's other people's music. Other times it's actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-johnson/sometimes-i-ll-write-a-song-when-i-ve-gone-through-something-really/)

[Jack Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-johnson/)

> [I can't freestyle or else I'll just start saying anything, so I'll write the song first and then record. I'll rap to the producer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tee-grizzley/i-can-t-freestyle-or-else-i-ll-just-start-saying-anything-so-i-ll/)

[Tee Grizzley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tee-grizzley/)

> [There's a lot of hurry up and wait. But it gives you time to write a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/there-s-a-lot-of-hurry-up-and-wait-but-it-gives-you-time-to-write-a/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [If I'm extra happy or excited, it'll take me an hour or two to write a song. Or, if I'm really sad or something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro/if-i-m-extra-happy-or-excited-it-ll-take-me-an-hour-or-two-to-write-a/)

[Astro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro/)

> [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/)

[Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/)

## More by Ilaiyaraaja

> [Music is nothing but sound, and there is no place for value judgement among various sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/music-is-nothing-but-sound-and-there-is-no-place-for-value-judgement/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [A good mind should tell the difference between noise and music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/a-good-mind-should-tell-the-difference-between-noise-and-music/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [My music is religion, and my religion is music. They are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-music-is-religion-and-my-religion-is-music-they-are-one/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [For musical compositions to reach a high level and to derive from spontaneity, of course, one has to do the necessary steps to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/for-musical-compositions-to-reach-a-high-level-and-to-derive-from/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [In India, most people are not aware or are unconcerned about copyright laws. This has proved disastrous for the music fraternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/in-india-most-people-are-not-aware-or-are-unconcerned-about-copyright/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [Anyone who holds a pen these days thinks he or she is a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/anyone-who-holds-a-pen-these-days-thinks-he-or-she-is-a-poet/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [My music is for the world. Let them enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-music-is-for-the-world-let-them-enjoy-it/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [Branding music as 'for the youth' is only an escapist tendency. Preference in music is only about restrictions of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/branding-music-as-for-the-youth-is-only-an-escapist-tendency/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [A director should concentrate on his storyline and his characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/a-director-should-concentrate-on-his-storyline-and-his-characters/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [I don't believe in making two songs similar. Every composition must have its own unique character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/i-don-t-believe-in-making-two-songs-similar-every-composition-must/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [Music and religion keep me young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/music-and-religion-keep-me-young/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [People forget themselves in my music. It's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/people-forget-themselves-in-my-music-it-s-amazing/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [I consider all women as mother. I compose poems for any female considering her as mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/i-consider-all-women-as-mother-i-compose-poems-for-any-female/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [I would like to inform the public that I have entered into a licensing agreement with Agi Music for manufacturing and distributing my songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/i-would-like-to-inform-the-public-that-i-have-entered-into-a/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

> [Thyagaraja was not a professional musician. He did not sing for situations. He was music himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/thyagaraja-was-not-a-professional-musician-he-did-not-sing-for/)

[Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

[Explore all 78 Ilaiyaraaja quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/)

## More Free quotes

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [If you love anything set it free unless it is a tiger..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshitij-roshan/if-you-love-anything-set-it-free-unless-it-is-a-tiger/)

[Kshitij Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshitij-roshan/)

> [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/)

[Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/)

[Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/)

> [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/)

[Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/)

> [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/)

[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

> [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/)

[Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/)

> [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/)

[Gift of Gab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-of-gab/)

> [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/)

[Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/)

[Browse all 6,143 Free quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My practice is to take a sheet, write the song number in the left side, name of the production, and time of recording. Only when I have to fill the name of the singer do we look out to see who is free. When the singers we want aren't there, I end up singing it! That's how I became a singer.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ilaiyaraaja"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the-song-number-in-the-left-side/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Free"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the-song-number-in-the-left-side/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ilaiyaraaja-8753_free_my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the_2000276.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My practice is to take a sheet, write the song number in the left side, name of the production, and time of…” — Ilaiyaraaja",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ilaiyaraaja",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My practice is to take a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the-song-number-in-the-left-side/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-practice-is-to-take-a-sheet-write-the-song-number-in-the-left-side/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
