--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started playing piano when I was eight…" description: "\"I started playing piano when I was eight, and I went on to study piano in school, so I have a background in classical piano and studied composition in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/julia-holter-7627_music_i-started-playing-piano-when-i-was-eight_1892904.jpg" --- # I started playing piano when I was eight, and I went on to… ![“I started playing piano when I was eight, and I went on to study piano in school, so I have a background in classical piano and studied composition in school. Writing music came later.” quote by Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/julia-holter-7627_music_i-started-playing-piano-when-i-was-eight_1892904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/julia-holter-7627_music_i-started-playing-piano-when-i-was-eight_1892904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/julia-holter-7627_music_i-started-playing-piano-when-i-was-eight_1892904.jpg) > “I started playing piano when I was eight, and I went on to study piano in school, so I have a background in classical piano and studied composition in school. Writing music came later.” [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Classical training builds technical foundation; later creative work blends that skill with personal expression. **In simple terms:** Classical background supports creative music. Key Takeaway Leverage technical skills to fuel artistic growth. Themes music education creativity growth expression Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - collaborations - studio work Key Concepts technique composition artistic development Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance technique and improvisation? - What new styles will you explore? A Different Perspective Technical focus may hinder spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-school-2745549/) [Piano Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-studied-2745548/) [Playing piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-piano/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Study Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-piano-2183666/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-music/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't study the piano - the piano studied me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-andre/i-didn-t-study-the-piano-the-piano-studied-me/) [Carl Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-andre/) > [I learned when I started to study piano that I could play by ear. I could hear a song on the radio a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-learned-when-i-started-to-study-piano-that-i-could-play-by-ear-i/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I went to college to study the piano and cello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/i-went-to-college-to-study-the-piano-and-cello/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [When I was young, I played the piano and studied classical music and jazz. I wanted to be a concert pianist, and if I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/when-i-was-young-i-played-the-piano-and-studied-classical-music-and/) [Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/) > [I never had any social life, just played the piano and studied, studied, studied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-heap/i-never-had-any-social-life-just-played-the-piano-and-studied-studied/) [Imogen Heap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-heap/) > [Now, guitar was pretty cool. Everybody knew something on the guitar. So I wanted to play guitar, but I told my dad if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/now-guitar-was-pretty-cool-everybody-knew-something-on-the-guitar-so/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [My father was a musician and wanted me to study piano. I had no interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/my-father-was-a-musician-and-wanted-me-to-study-piano-i-had-no/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [Sometimes I feel like a melody doesn't have anything to do with me, but it's just something that comes, is accumulated from me playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-obel/sometimes-i-feel-like-a-melody-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-me/) [Agnes Obel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-obel/) > [My father was always playing the piano. He played all kinds of music - Gershwin, all kinds of stuff. He was really a hugely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/my-father-was-always-playing-the-piano-he-played-all-kinds-of-music/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [I first started playing in piano bars for three reasons - to make money, to be in the company of my friends - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/i-first-started-playing-in-piano-bars-for-three-reasons-to-make-money/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/please-do-not-shoot-the-pianist-he-is-doing-his-best/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I studied chord theory and started playing the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-studied-chord-theory-and-started-playing-the-piano/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [The things I do outside of playing the piano are done out of an inner necessity, not just because I want to try my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/the-things-i-do-outside-of-playing-the-piano-are-done-out-of-an-inner/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I spent thousands of thousands of hours playing the piano, and by thousands of hours, I mean playing in cover bands or wedding bands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-spent-thousands-of-thousands-of-hours-playing-the-piano-and-by/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [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/) ## More by Julia Holter > [There's definitely been a focus on the literary aspects of my music, and I always get a little cringey because I don't feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/there-s-definitely-been-a-focus-on-the-literary-aspects-of-my-music/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I prefer to work with mystery, but that doesn't work well in an academic environment. They want you to analyze what you're doing, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-prefer-to-work-with-mystery-but-that-doesn-t-work-well-in-an/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I really like being home. I like being comfortable, and I'm not a very dramatic person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-really-like-being-home-i-like-being-comfortable-and-i-m-not-a-very/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I really love working with Ramona from Nite Jewel. We've kind of grown up together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-really-love-working-with-ramona-from-nite-jewel-we-ve-kind-of-grown/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [One thing I do like about L.A. is the fact that you can be - whether you're famous or it's just a matter of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/one-thing-i-do-like-about-l-a-is-the-fact-that-you-can-be-whether-you/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [No one recognises me on the street, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/no-one-recognises-me-on-the-street-ever/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I played cello on my early recordings, but that doesn't mean I'm a cellist, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-played-cello-on-my-early-recordings-but-that-doesn-t-mean-i-m-a/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I don't use the harpsichord because it evokes a past time period: I use it because I like the sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-don-t-use-the-harpsichord-because-it-evokes-a-past-time-period-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I don't thrive in a school or academic environment, I found out. I thrive better in the world outside the small academy because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-don-t-thrive-in-a-school-or-academic-environment-i-found-out-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I try to not think too much about how people are receiving my music. And I'm not really famous enough that it's a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-try-to-not-think-too-much-about-how-people-are-receiving-my-music/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [If I feel like I'm myself, then I'm very uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/if-i-feel-like-i-m-myself-then-i-m-very-uncomfortable/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I see myself as a songwriter and a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-see-myself-as-a-songwriter-and-a-poet/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I think what's interesting in L.A. is that there's a lot of variety because L.A. is very spread out. I think there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-think-what-s-interesting-in-l-a-is-that-there-s-a-lot-of-variety/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [I say most of my music is very trial-and-error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-say-most-of-my-music-is-very-trial-and-error/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [You can have an Internet presence, but it doesn't mean anyone has any idea who you are or what you look like. Which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/you-can-have-an-internet-presence-but-it-doesn-t-mean-anyone-has-any/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) [Explore all 89 Julia Holter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started playing piano when I was eight, and I went on to study piano in school, so I have a background in classical piano and studied composition in school. 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