--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had studied piano since I was 13, but I…" description: "\"I had studied piano since I was 13, but I was surrounded by students who'd been playing since they were 5. I realized I was never going to be anything ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/kevin-kline-16716_i-realized_i-had-studied-piano-since-i-was-13-but-i_2473007.jpg" --- # I had studied piano since I was 13, but I was surrounded… ![“I had studied piano since I was 13, but I was surrounded by students who'd been playing since they were 5. I realized I was never going to be anything but mediocre.” quote by Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/kevin-kline-16716_i-realized_i-had-studied-piano-since-i-was-13-but-i_2473007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/kevin-kline-16716_i-realized_i-had-studied-piano-since-i-was-13-but-i_2473007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/kevin-kline-16716_i-realized_i-had-studied-piano-since-i-was-13-but-i_2473007.jpg) > “I had studied piano since I was 13, but I was surrounded by students who'd been playing since they were 5. I realized I was never going to be anything but mediocre.” [Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on feeling average despite early training, noting the impact of peer comparison on self‑confidence. **In simple terms:** Feeling average among more experienced peers. Key Takeaway Focus on personal progress, not comparison. Themes self‑doubt comparison mediocrity Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - music education - competitive environments - career aspirations Key Concepts confidence building mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe mediocrity into growth? - What steps build confidence in a skilled group? A Different Perspective Comparisons can diminish motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [It takes character to sit there with all that cash and do nothing. 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I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/i-m-trying-to-find-the-truth-in-myself-to-play-somebody-else-doesn-t/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [“It takes character to sit with all that cash and to do nothing. I didn't get top where I am by going after mediocre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-t-munger/it-takes-character-to-sit-with-all-that-cash-and-to-do-nothing-i-didn/) [Charles T. Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-t-munger/) > [My grandmother was a classical pianist, so I grew up with Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven. I studied piano as a kid. My musical background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/my-grandmother-was-a-classical-pianist-so-i-grew-up-with-schubert/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [I studied piano for seven years and play for my own enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/i-studied-piano-for-seven-years-and-play-for-my-own-enjoyment/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [Well, first I studied piano. I wasn't very satisfied because I though my teachers were dumb... and repressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-ferrari/well-first-i-studied-piano-i-wasn-t-very-satisfied-because-i-though/) [Luc Ferrari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-ferrari/) > [Music is, of course, a universal emotional experience, cutting across cultures and languages. I studied piano for ten years as a child and consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/music-is-of-course-a-universal-emotional-experience-cutting-across/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [I'd studied piano first and switched over to cello when I was about seven. I played mostly chamber and solo classical music. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-machover/i-d-studied-piano-first-and-switched-over-to-cello-when-i-was-about/) [Tod Machover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-machover/) > [I studied with Felix Blumenfeld, who had studied piano with Anton Rubinstein and composition with Tchaikovsky. Felix, my professor, was the right hand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-horowitz/i-studied-with-felix-blumenfeld-who-had-studied-piano-with-anton/) [Vladimir Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-horowitz/) > [I studied piano for many years, and I still play. 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