--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a classical musician, you're doing…" description: "\"Being a classical musician, you're doing many things anyway. One day you're doing Bach concerto and the next you're doing some avant-garde thing. It's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/joshua-bell-13600_classical-music_being-a-classical-musician-you-re-doing_2061216.png" --- # Being a classical musician, you're doing many things… ![“Being a classical musician, you're doing many things anyway. One day you're doing Bach concerto and the next you're doing some avant-garde thing. It's just another hat that I'm allowed to wear.” quote by Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/joshua-bell-13600_classical-music_being-a-classical-musician-you-re-doing_2061216.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/joshua-bell-13600_classical-music_being-a-classical-musician-you-re-doing_2061216.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/joshua-bell-13600_classical-music_being-a-classical-musician-you-re-doing_2061216.png) > “Being a classical musician, you're doing many things anyway. One day you're doing Bach concerto and the next you're doing some avant-garde thing. It's just another hat that I'm allowed to wear.” [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A classical musician must be versatile, shifting between diverse styles and roles. **In simple terms:** Musicians wear many hats. Key Takeaway Embrace versatility. Themes versatility adaptability creativity Mood inspired reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - concert performance - recording sessions - collaborations - teaching - film scoring Key Concepts musical genre fluidity identity flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance mastery with exploration? - What new style will you try next? A Different Perspective Specializing can limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classical music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I wasn't a jazz player, but a classical musician, and I improvised arrangements of popular songs using classical motifs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-wasn-t-a-jazz-player-but-a-classical-musician-and-i-improvised/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [My father was a classical musician and my mother was a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sebastian/my-father-was-a-classical-musician-and-my-mother-was-a-writer/) [John Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sebastian/) > [Being a classical musician, you can go to school for it; you can go get a degree. Even as a composer, there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/being-a-classical-musician-you-can-go-to-school-for-it-you-can-go-get/) [Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/) > [I don't really have a career as a jazz musician. I don't really have a career as a classical musician. I don't really have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smoker/i-don-t-really-have-a-career-as-a-jazz-musician-i-don-t-really-have-a/) [Paul Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smoker/) > [When I was young, I was being pushed, against my will, towards becoming a classical musician. I had music scholarships; I had to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/when-i-was-young-i-was-being-pushed-against-my-will-towards-becoming/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [At the end of the day, what are genres? I've spent my whole life trying to fit into some sort of box. Am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/at-the-end-of-the-day-what-are-genres-i-ve-spent-my-whole-life-trying/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [I love it that my father is such a classical musician and such a traditionalist, and at the same time has had a wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anoushka-shankar/i-love-it-that-my-father-is-such-a-classical-musician-and-such-a/) [Anoushka Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anoushka-shankar/) > [Despite being a classical musician, I keep poking my nose in other genres of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shankar-mahadevan/despite-being-a-classical-musician-i-keep-poking-my-nose-in-other/) [Shankar Mahadevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shankar-mahadevan/) > [I consider myself a serious musician. Doing a comedy show does not take away from that in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-eubanks/i-consider-myself-a-serious-musician-doing-a-comedy-show-does-not/) [Kevin Eubanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-eubanks/) > [I prefer to hear an artist's work and what they can do, so as far as I'm concerned, I'd get a lot more out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-prefer-to-hear-an-artist-s-work-and-what-they-can-do-so-as-far-as-i/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I'm a DJ, but I'm also a ridiculously high-grossing musician due to doing productions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-m-a-dj-but-i-m-also-a-ridiculously-high-grossing-musician-due-to/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [Being as versatile as I am, I take offense to the notion that no serious musician would not be doing a late night talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-eubanks/being-as-versatile-as-i-am-i-take-offense-to-the-notion-that-no/) [Kevin Eubanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-eubanks/) > [I'd been trained as a classical musician, but also as a pop musician. My teacher made sure that everything was available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanine-tesori/i-d-been-trained-as-a-classical-musician-but-also-as-a-pop-musician/) [Jeanine Tesori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanine-tesori/) > [I would not want the limitations held by the name of a classical musician. I want many people to enjoy my music much beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ji-hae-park/i-would-not-want-the-limitations-held-by-the-name-of-a-classical/) [Ji-Hae Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ji-hae-park/) > [A lot of people ask how I ended up doing classical music given that I'm in a rock band. The truth is that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/a-lot-of-people-ask-how-i-ended-up-doing-classical-music-given-that-i/) [Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/) ## More by Joshua Bell > [You're a constant student, as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/you-re-a-constant-student-as-a-musician/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [When you play a violin piece, you are a storyteller, and you're telling a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/when-you-play-a-violin-piece-you-are-a-storyteller-and-you-re-telling/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I love the outdoor festival feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/i-love-the-outdoor-festival-feeling/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [There are some great teachers who have had great students, but they themselves can't play a note. I don't understand it, because the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/there-are-some-great-teachers-who-have-had-great-students-but-they/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I always find it funny when people say, "I don't really like classical music" or "it doesn't do anything for me." I tell them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/i-always-find-it-funny-when-people-say-i-don-t-really-like-classical/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [Social media puts us inside our phones and our computers and our headphones, and we're not connecting so much with our outside environment. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/social-media-puts-us-inside-our-phones-and-our-computers-and-our/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [ There are days that I get neurotic with the instrument \[violin\]. Every little adjustment will change the balance for good or for bad. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/there-are-days-that-i-get-neurotic-with-the-instrument-violin-every/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I want to do everything. That's my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/i-want-to-do-everything-that-s-my-problem/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [There's nothing more frustrating than seeing a conductor say, 'Play softer,' as they're waving their hands in huge gestures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/there-s-nothing-more-frustrating-than-seeing-a-conductor-say-play/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [You don't have to have lots of love affairs to know what love is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/you-don-t-have-to-have-lots-of-love-affairs-to-know-what-love-is/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I write arrangements. Im sort of a wannabe composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/i-write-arrangements-im-sort-of-a-wannabe-composer/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [What drew me to the violin was mastering the instrument technically, which I'm continuing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/what-drew-me-to-the-violin-was-mastering-the-instrument-technically/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [If you mess up the tiniest little thing in the Beethoven concerto, or the phrasing isn't just exactly perfectly executed, Beethoven brings out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/if-you-mess-up-the-tiniest-little-thing-in-the-beethoven-concerto-or/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [I use Facebook quite a lot to keep up with my friends, although I had to delete 'Words With Friends' from my phone because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/i-use-facebook-quite-a-lot-to-keep-up-with-my-friends-although-i-had/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [Over the years, I've collected a lot of musical friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/over-the-years-i-ve-collected-a-lot-of-musical-friends/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) [Explore all 50 Joshua Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) ## More Classical music quotes > [I'm very fond of classical music, especially Mozart. I find it relaxes me and helps me concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guler-sabanci/i-m-very-fond-of-classical-music-especially-mozart-i-find-it-relaxes/) [Guler Sabanci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guler-sabanci/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I listen to classical music very much. There's a lot of jazz that I don't enjoy listening to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-listen-to-classical-music-very-much-there-s-a-lot-of-jazz-that-i/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [My roots are in classical music and jazz, and I want the freedom of being able to improvise. This freedom is possible only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adnan-sami/my-roots-are-in-classical-music-and-jazz-and-i-want-the-freedom-of/) [Adnan Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adnan-sami/) > [You know how some people seem to think that their love for classical music makes them spiritual or at least something quite special? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-stout/you-know-how-some-people-seem-to-think-that-their-love-for-classical/) [Ruth Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stout/) > [I have been exposed to different kinds of Marathi and Hindi music, classical music, and English songs since childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/i-have-been-exposed-to-different-kinds-of-marathi-and-hindi-music/) [Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/) > [I love Adele and Lykke Li. I also listen to classical music as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birdy/i-love-adele-and-lykke-li-i-also-listen-to-classical-music-as-well/) [Birdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/birdy/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Obviously there are pieces of classical music that are some of the most beautiful music ever written, for me anyway is a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/obviously-there-are-pieces-of-classical-music-that-are-some-of-the/) [Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/) > [I know this will blow your mind, but most people would probably never ever get it, but I listen to classical music when nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/i-know-this-will-blow-your-mind-but-most-people-would-probably-never/) [Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/) > [“Finally, every society develops a system of aesthetic standards that get manifested in everything from decorative art, music, and dance to the architecture and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/finally-every-society-develops-a-system-of-aesthetic-standards-that/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [Kolkata is a musical city. What I like about people here is the lack of diplomacy. Some of the best Indian classical musicians belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukhwinder-singh/kolkata-is-a-musical-city-what-i-like-about-people-here-is-the-lack/) [Sukhwinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukhwinder-singh/) > [I was able to turn to classical music many people, who saw my programs live and on YouTube, and this is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksey-igudesman/i-was-able-to-turn-to-classical-music-many-people-who-saw-my-programs/) [Aleksey Igudesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksey-igudesman/) > [I know I’m an African-American, and I know I play the saxophone, but I’m not a jazz musician. I’m not a classical musician, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-braxton/i-know-i-m-an-african-american-and-i-know-i-play-the-saxophone-but-i/) [Anthony Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-braxton/) [Browse all 620 Classical music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a classical musician, you're doing many things anyway. One day you're doing Bach concerto and the next you're doing some avant-garde thing. 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