--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a virtuoso on an instrument. You…" description: "\"I'm not a virtuoso on an instrument. You know, I'm not always singing in pitch. I laugh sometimes my way through the shows, but I'm an honest songwrite..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jason-mraz-975_audience_i-m-not-a-virtuoso-on-an-instrument-you_3083254.jpg" --- # I'm not a virtuoso on an instrument. You know, I'm not… ![“I'm not a virtuoso on an instrument. You know, I'm not always singing in pitch. I laugh sometimes my way through the shows, but I'm an honest songwriter who's always tried to bring the audience with me on my journey in hopes that they see their own lives reflected in the work.” quote by Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jason-mraz-975_audience_i-m-not-a-virtuoso-on-an-instrument-you_3083254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jason-mraz-975_audience_i-m-not-a-virtuoso-on-an-instrument-you_3083254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/jason-mraz-975_audience_i-m-not-a-virtuoso-on-an-instrument-you_3083254.jpg) > “I'm not a virtuoso on an instrument. You know, I'm not always singing in pitch. I laugh sometimes my way through the shows, but I'm an honest songwriter who's always tried to bring the audience with me on my journey in hopes that they see their own lives reflected in the work.” [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits imperfection but emphasizes honesty and connection, aiming to reflect listeners' lives through music. **In simple terms:** Admits flaws, seeks honesty and audience connection. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection, share authentic stories. Themes authenticity connection music Mood hopeful introspective Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - concerts - songwriting workshops - personal storytelling - live performances Key Concepts songwriting self‑reflection audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can vulnerability enhance artistic impact? - What stories do you want listeners to see in your songs? A Different Perspective May not resonate with audiences who prefer polished perfection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/) [Virtuoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuoso/) ## Related quotes > [My theory is this; I'm not a political songwriter. I'm an honest songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/my-theory-is-this-i-m-not-a-political-songwriter-i-m-an-honest/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [It is my conviction that the public always shows itself more honest in its spontaneity than do those who officially set themselves up as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/it-is-my-conviction-that-the-public-always-shows-itself-more-honest/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [Growing up as a singer, and a cast member, and now as an adult, a songwriter, I get the luxury of choosing the kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/growing-up-as-a-singer-and-a-cast-member-and-now-as-an-adult-a/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Play slow and perfect - that’s the way to becoming a virtuoso.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/play-slow-and-perfect-that-s-the-way-to-becoming-a-virtuoso/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [It was a really interesting time in New York in the late 70s and early 80s, and the music scene was really, really interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/it-was-a-really-interesting-time-in-new-york-in-the-late-70s-and/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I'm a virtuoso in my job in that there's not an actor I can't go into a scene with and be absolutely confident that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/i-m-a-virtuoso-in-my-job-in-that-there-s-not-an-actor-i-can-t-go-into/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [Well, Mozart is extraordinary not only in that he became virtuoso along the lines of his father, but that he had that compositional gift,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/well-mozart-is-extraordinary-not-only-in-that-he-became-virtuoso/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [The great piano virtuoso Paderewski was once playing before an audience of the rich and the royal. After a brilliant performance, an elegant lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/the-great-piano-virtuoso-paderewski-was-once-playing-before-an/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [“Virtuoso? Are you serious? What kind of code name is that? Who's assigning code names these days? They should be shot. How can anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bevarly/virtuoso-are-you-serious-what-kind-of-code-name-is-that-who-s/) [Elizabeth Bevarly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bevarly/) > [“Provocative. Striking. Rachel Resnick is a virtuoso on the page. Her fearless examination of the desperate thirst to find love is guaranteed to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-dunn/provocative-striking-rachel-resnick-is-a-virtuoso-on-the-page-her/) Samantha Dunn > [When a pianist sits down and does a virtuoso performance he is in a technical sense transmitting more information to a machine than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moog/when-a-pianist-sits-down-and-does-a-virtuoso-performance-he-is-in-a/) [Robert Moog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moog/) > [I have never learned to read or write music so I am not a virtuoso musician like the others you mentioned. I am completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hensley/i-have-never-learned-to-read-or-write-music-so-i-am-not-a-virtuoso/) [Ken Hensley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hensley/) > [It is one thing to be a virtuoso, but a different thing to play with compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-iyer/it-is-one-thing-to-be-a-virtuoso-but-a-different-thing-to-play-with/) [Vijay Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-iyer/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) Dave Stevens > [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/) Michael Brecker ## More by Jason Mraz > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I was raised playing music in coffeehouses and I feel that was the foundation for my career. I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [In my relationship, I was giving myself away to make the relationship better, but in actuality, wasn't doing better by doing that. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/in-my-relationship-i-was-giving-myself-away-to-make-the-relationship/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [It's our God forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/it-s-our-god-forsaken-right-to-be-loved-loved-loved/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The measure of your character is not what you do when people are looking. It’s what you do when you think no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-measure-of-your-character-is-not-what-you-do-when-people-are/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Being out in nature inspires me as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/being-out-in-nature-inspires-me-as-a-writer/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I get my most creative energy after a show, so I love to go back to the hotel and compose new material. I generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-get-my-most-creative-energy-after-a-show-so-i-love-to-go-back-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 'I am strong', 'I am brave', 'I can do this'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/whenever-i-m-in-need-of-inspiration-and-mantras-i-go-straight-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Everything in life influences my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/everything-in-life-influences-my-music/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Growing up as a singer, and a cast member, and now as an adult, a songwriter, I get the luxury of choosing the kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/growing-up-as-a-singer-and-a-cast-member-and-now-as-an-adult-a/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I had a gig in Sweden. There were thousands of people there, and when I launched into 'I'm Yours,' they were all singing along.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-had-a-gig-in-sweden-there-were-thousands-of-people-there-and-when-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“I won't give up on us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-won-t-give-up-on-us/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I have a very awesome seat in the house every time I play. When the lights come up, and the sound turns on, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-have-a-very-awesome-seat-in-the-house-every-time-i-play-when-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) [Explore all 316 Jason Mraz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a virtuoso on an instrument. You know, I'm not always singing in pitch. 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