--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't study anything really. I didn't…" description: "\"I didn't study anything really. I didn't learn out of the books because I couldn't read music very well, so it is what they say it is - you learn from ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/joan-baez-5389_asks_i-didn-t-study-anything-really-i-didn-t_3193560.jpg" --- # I didn't study anything really. I didn't learn out of the… ![“I didn't study anything really. I didn't learn out of the books because I couldn't read music very well, so it is what they say it is - you learn from other people. And my cohorts and I would sneak around the coffee shops and hear stuff we wanted to learn, and then you ask whoever was playing it…” quote by Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/joan-baez-5389_asks_i-didn-t-study-anything-really-i-didn-t_3193560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/joan-baez-5389_asks_i-didn-t-study-anything-really-i-didn-t_3193560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/joan-baez-5389_asks_i-didn-t-study-anything-really-i-didn-t_3193560.jpg) > “I didn't study anything really. I didn't learn out of the books because I couldn't read music very well, so it is what they say it is - you learn from other people. And my cohorts and I would sneak around the coffee shops and hear stuff we wanted to learn, and then you ask whoever was playing it to teach you.” [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning can happen outside formal study, through observation and mentorship from peers. **In simple terms:** You can learn by watching and asking others. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge from real‑world experience. Themes learning mentorship informal education Mood curious inspired Type advice reflective When to use this quote - coffee shop jam sessions - street performances - informal workshops - self‑directed study Key Concepts experiential learning peer teaching music literacy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance formal and informal learning? - What mentors can you find in your community? A Different Perspective Limited without formal reading may hinder technical depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Coffee shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-shop/) [Didn Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-learn/) [Didn Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-study-742597/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Read Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-music/) [Shops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shops/) [Sneak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneak/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Study Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-really-830335/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-learn/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [My mother wanted me to learn how to read music. She'd given fiddles to my two older brothers, but they'd rebelled. I came along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/my-mother-wanted-me-to-learn-how-to-read-music-she-d-given-fiddles-to/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [I learned from my parents the idea that, if you are devoted enough and you want to study something enough, you can really teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-learned-from-my-parents-the-idea-that-if-you-are-devoted-enough-and/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Complacency is the enemy of study. We cannot really learn anything until we rid ourselves of complacency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/complacency-is-the-enemy-of-study-we-cannot-really-learn-anything/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Being in Los Angeles, I've had access to some of the best improvisers around and I really study them and what they do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/being-in-los-angeles-i-ve-had-access-to-some-of-the-best-improvisers/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [If there's a field you're interested in, do some research. If you can, go to school and study it to really understand it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inbar-lavi/if-there-s-a-field-you-re-interested-in-do-some-research-if-you-can/) [Inbar Lavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inbar-lavi/) > [I am still a student. My classmates study really hard, so I feel like I should too. But they always say things like: “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seohyun/i-am-still-a-student-my-classmates-study-really-hard-so-i-feel-like-i/) [Seohyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seohyun/) > [I know where I'm ranked, but I don't look at it that much, I don't study it that much. You really can't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-know-where-i-m-ranked-but-i-don-t-look-at-it-that-much-i-don-t/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [With acting, I felt like I had a lot to prove because I didn't study it; I didn't work my way up in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/with-acting-i-felt-like-i-had-a-lot-to-prove-because-i-didn-t-study/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) > [I didn't study no rappers when I was coming up. I was studying moguls. I was studying Jay Z. I was studying Puff. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-gotti/i-didn-t-study-no-rappers-when-i-was-coming-up-i-was-studying-moguls/) [Yo Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-gotti/) > [I was one of those kids that could just show up and take the test and do well on it. I didn't study a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/i-was-one-of-those-kids-that-could-just-show-up-and-take-the-test-and/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) > [Actually, I didn't study photography at first. I went to school for painting my first year, poetry my second year, graphic design my third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/actually-i-didn-t-study-photography-at-first-i-went-to-school-for/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I slept for four years. I didn't study much of anything. I majored in something called communication arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-slept-for-four-years-i-didn-t-study-much-of-anything-i-majored-in/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I didn't study music and I didn't go to music school, but my education came with two films: 'Woodstock' and 'The Last Waltz.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/i-didn-t-study-music-and-i-didn-t-go-to-music-school-but-my-education/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) > [I didn't act in school. I didn't study acting, either. I learned everything when I got to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-dayal/i-didn-t-act-in-school-i-didn-t-study-acting-either-i-learned/) [Manish Dayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-dayal/) > [I didn't study; I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-study-i-live/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) ## More by Joan Baez > [My life is a crystal teardrop. There are snowflakes falling in the teardrop and little figures trudging in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/my-life-is-a-crystal-teardrop-there-are-snowflakes-falling-in-the/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [Put tattoos all up and down our thighs, do anything our parents would despise. Take uppers, downers, blues, and reds and yellows, our brains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/put-tattoos-all-up-and-down-our-thighs-do-anything-our-parents-would/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [We're not really pacifists, we're nonviolent soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/we-re-not-really-pacifists-we-re-nonviolent-soldiers/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [If it came back I would be thrilled. I would be delighted to write more songs. I need them now because I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/if-it-came-back-i-would-be-thrilled-i-would-be-delighted-to-write/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [There's a consensus out that it's OK to kill when your government decides who to kill. If you kill inside the country you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/there-s-a-consensus-out-that-it-s-ok-to-kill-when-your-government/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [God must have something to do with joy ... and with sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/god-must-have-something-to-do-with-joy-and-with-sadness/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [People say I'm such a pessimist, but I always was. It never stopped me from doing what I had to do. I would say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/people-say-i-m-such-a-pessimist-but-i-always-was-it-never-stopped-me/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [ It \[my vocal\] didn't sound like what I wanted to hear; the vibrato isn't what I liked anymore. So I got myself to an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/it-my-vocal-didn-t-sound-like-what-i-wanted-to-hear-the-vibrato-isn-t/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [I see a young man playing 'Plaisir d'Amour' on guitar. I knew I didn't want to go to college; I was already playing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/i-see-a-young-man-playing-plaisir-d-amour-on-guitar-i-knew-i-didn-t/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [The only thing that's been a worse flop than the organization of nonviolence has been the organization of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/the-only-thing-that-s-been-a-worse-flop-than-the-organization-of/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [The point of nonviolence is to build a floor, a strong new floor, beneath which we can no longer sink. A platform which stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/the-point-of-nonviolence-is-to-build-a-floor-a-strong-new-floor/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [To love means you also trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/to-love-means-you-also-trust/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [Hypothetical questions get hypothetical answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/hypothetical-questions-get-hypothetical-answers/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [I'd hear a tune in my head and the words would come. And then, very suddenly it just stopped. It seemed too stilted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/i-d-hear-a-tune-in-my-head-and-the-words-would-come-and-then-very/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [ That was sheer luck that it \[being immersed into folk scene\] happened when my voice began to develop. I don't know exactly what would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/that-was-sheer-luck-that-it-being-immersed-into-folk-scene-happened/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) [Explore all 101 Joan Baez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't study anything really. I didn't learn out of the books because I couldn't read music very well, so it is what they say it is - you learn from other people. 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