--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started writing when I was, like…" description: "\"I started writing when I was, like, eleven. We couldn't afford private lessons, so I had to teach myself how to sing through recording songs on GarageB..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/keiynan-lonsdale-11921_lessons_i-started-writing-when-i-was-like-eleven_1182032.jpg" --- # I started writing when I was, like, eleven. We couldn't… ![“I started writing when I was, like, eleven. We couldn't afford private lessons, so I had to teach myself how to sing through recording songs on GarageBand.” quote by Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/keiynan-lonsdale-11921_lessons_i-started-writing-when-i-was-like-eleven_1182032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/keiynan-lonsdale-11921_lessons_i-started-writing-when-i-was-like-eleven_1182032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/keiynan-lonsdale-11921_lessons_i-started-writing-when-i-was-like-eleven_1182032.jpg) > “I started writing when I was, like, eleven. We couldn't afford private lessons, so I had to teach myself how to sing through recording songs on GarageBand.” [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑teaching music shows that passion can overcome lack of formal training. **In simple terms:** Learned music on his own. Key Takeaway Practice and create despite resources. Themes self‑learning creativity determination Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - home studio - online tutorials - band practice Key Concepts DIY music production resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What skill could you teach yourself? - How can you use limited resources? A Different Perspective Not everyone has access to tools like GarageBand. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Recording Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recording-songs-745272/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Sing Recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing-recording-1737329/) [Songs Garageband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-garageband-3470091/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm acting I don't sing, and when I'm recording I'm not acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/when-i-m-acting-i-don-t-sing-and-when-i-m-recording-i-m-not-acting/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [When you're young you don't think, 'This person is going to change your life.' But when you start recording your own songs, it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fefe-dobson/when-you-re-young-you-don-t-think-this-person-is-going-to-change-your/) [Fefe Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fefe-dobson/) > [I could play it safe by recording songs that are familiar, but am I expanding myself as an artist by doing covers? It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/i-could-play-it-safe-by-recording-songs-that-are-familiar-but-am-i/) [Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/) > [I do pay performance royalties on others' songs I perform live, but I'm not recording these songs and putting them up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/i-do-pay-performance-royalties-on-others-songs-i-perform-live-but-i-m/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [The highlight of my career? That's easy, Elvis recording one of my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-highlight-of-my-career-that-s-easy-elvis-recording-one-of-my-songs/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [It's funny when you start writing an album and then recording - the songs begin to take on a spirit of their own. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shultz/it-s-funny-when-you-start-writing-an-album-and-then-recording-the/) [Matt Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shultz/) > [Im always in that mode - whenever I have a little free time, Im always recording songs, writing, whatever I gotta do. Its like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/im-always-in-that-mode-whenever-i-have-a-little-free-time-im-always/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [When I was 10, my dad made a little set-up in the house. We'd put a duvet over the door so it acted as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/when-i-was-10-my-dad-made-a-little-set-up-in-the-house-we-d-put-a/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [I was working two landscaping jobs; I was recording songs in the spare bedroom. I would get up at 4 A.M., go to work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ostrander/i-was-working-two-landscaping-jobs-i-was-recording-songs-in-the-spare/) [Joshua Ostrander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ostrander/) > [My first songs, I would just record them on this little tape recorder, and then I didn't start recording songs I really liked until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-costa/my-first-songs-i-would-just-record-them-on-this-little-tape-recorder/) [Matt Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-costa/) > [I'm always in that mode - whenever I have a little free time, I'm always recording songs, writing, whatever I gotta do. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/i-m-always-in-that-mode-whenever-i-have-a-little-free-time-i-m-always/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [I have done a bit of recording and the songs are available on iTunes, and I've got some nice comments. It's something I enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-have-done-a-bit-of-recording-and-the-songs-are-available-on-itunes/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [When I was at UCLA, a professor there encouraged me to write, and so I looked into specializing in creative writing in the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-park/when-i-was-at-ucla-a-professor-there-encouraged-me-to-write-and-so-i/) [Randall Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-park/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) ## More by Keiynan Lonsdale > [Sydney is full of the craziest and most talented artists of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/sydney-is-full-of-the-craziest-and-most-talented-artists-of-all-kinds/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I record into my phone as soon as I hear a track. Melody comes first for me, and then my gibberish usually forms into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-record-into-my-phone-as-soon-as-i-hear-a-track-melody-comes-first/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I've become bored of being insecure, ashamed, scared... no one should feel like that about themselves, especially when there is so much good life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-ve-become-bored-of-being-insecure-ashamed-scared-no-one-should-feel/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I always find time to hang with friends at least once a week or just watch TV and play video games. The combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-always-find-time-to-hang-with-friends-at-least-once-a-week-or-just/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I grew up with my mom, and my mom had six kids, and I was the youngest, but I had a different father than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-grew-up-with-my-mom-and-my-mom-had-six-kids-and-i-was-the-youngest/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I hope we can all learn to embrace who we are & not judge people who aren't exactly the same as us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-hope-we-can-all-learn-to-embrace-who-we-are-not-judge-people-who/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [As much as I think that in the future we won't need labels, at the moment they're really important. So I'm making myself embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/as-much-as-i-think-that-in-the-future-we-won-t-need-labels-at-the/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I'd be really honored to do more LGBTQ stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-d-be-really-honored-to-do-more-lgbtq-stories/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [America was always a huge goal, if not the goal. I always wanted to move to America. I always wanted to come here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/america-was-always-a-huge-goal-if-not-the-goal-i-always-wanted-to/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [If you really are passionate about it, you're just going to find a way to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/if-you-really-are-passionate-about-it-you-re-just-going-to-find-a-way/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [Spent way too many years hating myself, thinking I was less valuable because I was different... which is just untrue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/spent-way-too-many-years-hating-myself-thinking-i-was-less-valuable/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [Once I wrapped 'Insurgent', I went to Boston and shot a film called 'The Finest Hours.' It's based on a real story in 1952…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/once-i-wrapped-insurgent-i-went-to-boston-and-shot-a-film-called-the/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I suffered a lot from social anxiety, and being on set was really scary to me. That fear can cause limits in your art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-suffered-a-lot-from-social-anxiety-and-being-on-set-was-really/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [My main advice is, if it's something you really want to do, then just go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/my-main-advice-is-if-it-s-something-you-really-want-to-do-then-just/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [Michael Jackson has been my idol since before I could even walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/michael-jackson-has-been-my-idol-since-before-i-could-even-walk/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) [Explore all 57 Keiynan Lonsdale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) ## More Lessons quotes > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [It's a great lesson in modesty that you realize you're illiterate in a field that you think you're an expert in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/it-s-a-great-lesson-in-modesty-that-you-realize-you-re-illiterate-in/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/one-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-press-and-the-broadcasters-are-not/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [Life's lessons don't come with books, notes nor instructions...just mistakes and EVERYONE makes them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-s-lessons-don-t-come-with-books-notes-nor-instructions-just/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I only started driving lessons because of comedy - before that, there's be no need. There was a bus from where I lived to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/i-only-started-driving-lessons-because-of-comedy-before-that-there-s/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [I think God has a sense of humor, and the way my lessons come from God is very funny. I have to laugh at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-nicole-brown/i-think-god-has-a-sense-of-humor-and-the-way-my-lessons-come-from-god/) [Yvette Nicole Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-nicole-brown/) > [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [He sank into the rocking chair, the same one in which Rebecca had sat during the early days of the house to give embroidery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-sank-into-the-rocking-chair-the-same-one-in-which-rebecca-had-sat/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [As a scientist, objectivity is one of my most deeply held values. If we could just try harder, I once thought, surely we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-everett/as-a-scientist-objectivity-is-one-of-my-most-deeply-held-values-if-we/) [Daniel Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-everett/) > [“Memories of past. Heartaches of old. Courage of brass. Lessons of gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/memories-of-past-heartaches-of-old-courage-of-brass-lessons-of-gold/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [The best lessons a man ever learns are from his mistakes. It is not for want of schoolmasters that we are still ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-best-lessons-a-man-ever-learns-are-from-his-mistakes-it-is-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I teach my children that in life, there is no control of what tomorrow is going to bring. There really isn't. But in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-winans/i-teach-my-children-that-in-life-there-is-no-control-of-what-tomorrow/) [BeBe Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-winans/) > [Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living a life that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friends-i-think-what-it-means-is/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) [Browse all 4,216 Lessons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started writing when I was, like, eleven. 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