--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are more bad musicians than there…" description: "\"There are more bad musicians than there is bad music.\" — Isaac Stern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png" --- # There are more bad musicians than there is bad music. ![“There are more bad musicians than there is bad music.” quote by Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png) > “There are more bad musicians than there is bad music.” [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. There are many poor musicians, but the quality of music itself remains high. **In simple terms:** Bad musicians don’t ruin good music. Key Takeaway Focus on creating and preserving quality music. Themes talent quality artistry Mood appreciative optimistic Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - education programs - community concerts - recording projects - music criticism Key Concepts musical standards skill development creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What factors contribute to a musician’s success? - How can audiences support high‑quality music? A Different Perspective May undervalue the role of mentorship and training. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) ## Related quotes > [“These trumpeters of reality are bad musicians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/these-trumpeters-of-reality-are-bad-musicians/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The world must be filled with unsuccessful musical careers like mine, and it's probably a good thing. We don't need a lot of bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-world-must-be-filled-with-unsuccessful-musical-careers-like-mine/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [What’d I tell you about musicians? That bad boy type will only break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/what-d-i-tell-you-about-musicians-that-bad-boy-type-will-only-break/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [Life is too short to listen to bad music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itmse867/life-is-too-short-to-listen-to-bad-music/) Itmse867 > [A good composer is slowly discovered and a bad composer is slowly found out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/a-good-composer-is-slowly-discovered-and-a-bad-composer-is-slowly/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [“I am not a music snob. If anything, my musical taste is bad by any critical standards. My favorite song of all time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-am-not-a-music-snob-if-anything-my-musical-taste-is-bad-by-any/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [“Dear Daniel, How do you break up with your boyfriend in a way that tells him, "I don't want to sleep with you on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/dear-daniel-how-do-you-break-up-with-your-boyfriend-in-a-way-that/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [Bad music disturbs me, but wonderful music disturbs me even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-benedetti-michelangeli/bad-music-disturbs-me-but-wonderful-music-disturbs-me-even-more/) Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli > [Music is neither old nor modern: it is either good or bad music, and the date at which it was written has no significance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-warlock/music-is-neither-old-nor-modern-it-is-either-good-or-bad-music-and/) [Peter Warlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-warlock/) > [Pop music is a difficult term to define. I think about good music and bad music. Good music is good music whatever origin it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-persson/pop-music-is-a-difficult-term-to-define-i-think-about-good-music-and/) [Nina Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-persson/) > [I like to make films, but the only reason I do is because I'm a very bad musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-like-to-make-films-but-the-only-reason-i-do-is-because-i-m-a-very/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [You know what, the drummer is my manager. He's busy. And I'm busy. I don't need the dough, though. But having said that, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mann/you-know-what-the-drummer-is-my-manager-he-s-busy-and-i-m-busy-i-don/) [Aimee Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mann/) > [“There's work to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alien-ant-farm/there-s-work-to-do/) Alien Ant Farm > [If one plays good music, people don't listen and if one plays bad music people don't talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-one-plays-good-music-people-don-t-listen-and-if-one-plays-bad/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In a way, to have whatever people talk about as "crossover success," I think it means you start making bad music. I mean, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/in-a-way-to-have-whatever-people-talk-about-as-crossover-success-i/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) ## More by Isaac Stern > [I have known Ori Kam for several years and have always regarded him as an extraordinarily talented young mucisian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/i-have-known-ori-kam-for-several-years-and-have-always-regarded-him/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [A great conductor possesses that certain charisma and talent that demand the ears and the attention of an audience. I can't tell you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/a-great-conductor-possesses-that-certain-charisma-and-talent-that/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [Everywhere in the world, music enhances a hall, with one exception: Carnegie Hall enhances the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/everywhere-in-the-world-music-enhances-a-hall-with-one-exception/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [Music is not an acquired culture... it is an active part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/music-is-not-an-acquired-culture-it-is-an-active-part-of-life/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [It is only through failure and through experiment that we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/it-is-only-through-failure-and-through-experiment-that-we-learn-and/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [I have a responsibility to pass on to the next generation what I learned from my teachers, ... It keeps me young and reminds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/i-have-a-responsibility-to-pass-on-to-the-next-generation-what-i/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [When you believe in something, you can move mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/when-you-believe-in-something-you-can-move-mountains/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [A man possesses talent; genius possesses the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/a-man-possesses-talent-genius-possesses-the-man/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [Mozart's music is like an X-ray of your soul - it shows what is there, and what isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/mozart-s-music-is-like-an-x-ray-of-your-soul-it-shows-what-is-there/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [Music is like making love: either all or nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/music-is-like-making-love-either-all-or-nothing/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [A conductor has to know how to translate music into a communicative force that makes the listener want to hear what he has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/a-conductor-has-to-know-how-to-translate-music-into-a-communicative/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [New York is the dirtiest, largest, ugliest, broken-down city in the world-but it's the only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/new-york-is-the-dirtiest-largest-ugliest-broken-down-city-in-the/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [Listen, I will now tell you the truth and there is no other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/listen-i-will-now-tell-you-the-truth-and-there-is-no-other/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [Playing a concerto with Zubin is like being surrounded by a well-loved, cashmere-lined silk glove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/playing-a-concerto-with-zubin-is-like-being-surrounded-by-a-well/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) > [For each glass, liberally large, the basic ingredients begin with ice cubes in a shaker and three or four drops of Angostura bitters on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/for-each-glass-liberally-large-the-basic-ingredients-begin-with-ice/) [Isaac Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) [Explore all 19 Isaac Stern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/) ## More Bad music quotes > [In a way, to have whatever people talk about as "crossover success," I think it means you start making bad music. I mean, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/in-a-way-to-have-whatever-people-talk-about-as-crossover-success-i/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [If one plays good music, people don't listen and if one plays bad music people don't talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-one-plays-good-music-people-don-t-listen-and-if-one-plays-bad/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“There's work to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alien-ant-farm/there-s-work-to-do/) Alien Ant Farm > [You know what, the drummer is my manager. He's busy. And I'm busy. I don't need the dough, though. But having said that, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mann/you-know-what-the-drummer-is-my-manager-he-s-busy-and-i-m-busy-i-don/) [Aimee Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mann/) > [I like to make films, but the only reason I do is because I'm a very bad musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-like-to-make-films-but-the-only-reason-i-do-is-because-i-m-a-very/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Pop music is a difficult term to define. I think about good music and bad music. Good music is good music whatever origin it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-persson/pop-music-is-a-difficult-term-to-define-i-think-about-good-music-and/) [Nina Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-persson/) > [Music is neither old nor modern: it is either good or bad music, and the date at which it was written has no significance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-warlock/music-is-neither-old-nor-modern-it-is-either-good-or-bad-music-and/) [Peter Warlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-warlock/) > [Bad music disturbs me, but wonderful music disturbs me even more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-benedetti-michelangeli/bad-music-disturbs-me-but-wonderful-music-disturbs-me-even-more/) Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli > [“Dear Daniel, How do you break up with your boyfriend in a way that tells him, "I don't want to sleep with you on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/dear-daniel-how-do-you-break-up-with-your-boyfriend-in-a-way-that/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“I am not a music snob. If anything, my musical taste is bad by any critical standards. My favorite song of all time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-am-not-a-music-snob-if-anything-my-musical-taste-is-bad-by-any/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [A good composer is slowly discovered and a bad composer is slowly found out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/a-good-composer-is-slowly-discovered-and-a-bad-composer-is-slowly/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [Life is too short to listen to bad music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itmse867/life-is-too-short-to-listen-to-bad-music/) Itmse867 > [I've always believed in good music over bad music. I believe in two sorts of musics. And the lines that separate us, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-ve-always-believed-in-good-music-over-bad-music-i-believe-in-two/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [My friends and I have often discussed the plausibility of a connection between qualitatively bad music and quantifiably successful music, often citing the example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oneohtrix-point-never/my-friends-and-i-have-often-discussed-the-plausibility-of-a/) [Oneohtrix Point Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oneohtrix-point-never/) > [If a man tells me he likes Mozart, I know in advance that he is a bad musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-delius/if-a-man-tells-me-he-likes-mozart-i-know-in-advance-that-he-is-a-bad/) [Frederick Delius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-delius/) [Browse all 76 Bad music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are more bad musicians than there is bad music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaac Stern" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there-is-bad-music/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there-is-bad-music/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/isaac-stern-28147_bad-music_there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there_3159350.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are more bad musicians than there is bad music.” — Isaac Stern", "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": "Isaac Stern", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-stern/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are more bad musicians than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there-is-bad-music/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-stern/there-are-more-bad-musicians-than-there-is-bad-music/#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 } } ] } ```