--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After playing now for 60 years, it's…" description: "\"After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png" --- # After playing now for 60 years, it's still very… ![“After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in the proper way.” quote by Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png) > “After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in the proper way.” [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even after decades, mastering precise timing and clean execution on an instrument remains a demanding challenge. **In simple terms:** Long‑term skill mastery stays difficult. Key Takeaway Practice consistently to refine technique. Themes music skill perseverance Mood determined focused Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - instrument practice - live performance - recording sessions Key Concepts timing technique musical expression Questions to Reflect On - What specific exercises improve timing? - How do you stay motivated after many years? A Different Perspective Physical fatigue and mental focus can limit practice quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [60 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/60-years/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Clean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing 60](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-60-1453648/) [Reeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reeds/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-melody-1080315/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Touch Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-reed-5912367/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Challenging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-challenging-1311983/) ## Related quotes > [I did six series for the BBC and that was enough. I've been writing for ten years, which is more challenging artistically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-did-six-series-for-the-bbc-and-that-was-enough-i-ve-been-writing/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I did an episode on the TV show 'Awake,' and I thought, 'Wow, that's really hard.' To do that so fast and to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-zurer/i-did-an-episode-on-the-tv-show-awake-and-i-thought-wow-that-s-really/) [Ayelet Zurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-zurer/) > [As a driver, you have to accept that some years are more challenging than others. That's part of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-stroll/as-a-driver-you-have-to-accept-that-some-years-are-more-challenging/) [Lance Stroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-stroll/) > [There's a certain vibe at Eden Gardens... Playing in front of 60,000 people is special and it makes a massive difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/there-s-a-certain-vibe-at-eden-gardens-playing-in-front-of-60-000/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [I was playing 60, 70 matches a year in college. In the pros, unless you're winning, you're not playing that many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-was-playing-60-70-matches-a-year-in-college-in-the-pros-unless-you/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I never thought I'd be playing 60 games a season for City, I knew I would be playing half of that if I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabian-delph/i-never-thought-i-d-be-playing-60-games-a-season-for-city-i-knew-i/) [Fabian Delph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabian-delph/) > [When I had a lot of injuries on the pitch, I couldn't find that excitement level of going on, playing in front of 60,000.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicklas-bendtner/when-i-had-a-lot-of-injuries-on-the-pitch-i-couldn-t-find-that/) [Nicklas Bendtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicklas-bendtner/) > [Writing a simple melody can take weeks to get it right where I want it, but I do quite enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-rabin/writing-a-simple-melody-can-take-weeks-to-get-it-right-where-i-want/) [Trevor Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-rabin/) > [All my music is very simple in that melody is usually clearly stated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/all-my-music-is-very-simple-in-that-melody-is-usually-clearly-stated/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) > [Like a Star' has a very simple melody, and when you play it, it's only about three notes for ages, and it's quite boring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/like-a-star-has-a-very-simple-melody-and-when-you-play-it-it-s-only/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [Basically, country is my kind of music - the simple melody, the simple lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/basically-country-is-my-kind-of-music-the-simple-melody-the-simple/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [My style is simple. It is out and out melody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/my-style-is-simple-it-is-out-and-out-melody/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) > [Melodies can be good depending on the context. You can have a simple melody, and if the harmony behind it is interesting, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/melodies-can-be-good-depending-on-the-context-you-can-have-a-simple/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [Someone who lives meaningfully for 30 years has lived a much longer Life than one who drifted through Life for 60 years.-RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/someone-who-lives-meaningfully-for-30-years-has-lived-a-much-longer/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-have-always-believed-that-everyone-should-play-by-the-same/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Lee Konitz > [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/) > [I always felt as a horn player, a jam session wasn't satisfying enough for me. I should have been a rhythm section player, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-always-felt-as-a-horn-player-a-jam-session-wasn-t-satisfying-enough/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-hear-many-extra-musical-things-somehow-in-coltrane/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [A first love always occupies a special place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/a-first-love-always-occupies-a-special-place/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [It's very demanding to make up your own music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/it-s-very-demanding-to-make-up-your-own-music/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I have been able to get a small audience. It's not the huge audience, but it's enough to make it possible to play. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-have-been-able-to-get-a-small-audience-it-s-not-the-huge-audience/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I could stop and say, Well that was a D minor, G seven, but I really don't want to know that. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-could-stop-and-say-well-that-was-a-d-minor-g-seven-but-i-really-don/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [Labels don't mean anything to me. I'm trying to play as passionately as I'm able to. If they want to call that cool, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/labels-don-t-mean-anything-to-me-i-m-trying-to-play-as-passionately/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [Out of Coltrane's whole history, there are things which I think are great from all the periods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/out-of-coltrane-s-whole-history-there-are-things-which-i-think-are/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [We all learn from each other, and I never really hung out with guys in that way, so I missed out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/we-all-learn-from-each-other-and-i-never-really-hung-out-with-guys-in/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That's why I wanted the clarinet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/benny-goodman-was-one-of-the-big-influences-as-a-clarinet-player-that/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I just completed a tour in Europe. I played every night. This requires traveling some days for six hours in a van or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-just-completed-a-tour-in-europe-i-played-every-night-this-requires/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-d-like-to-feel-that-whatever-i-play-is-a-result-of-whatever-i-ve/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I love Indian music very much, but I haven't studied that specifically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-love-indian-music-very-much-but-i-haven-t-studied-that-specifically/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [You just keep playing. If someone special comes along and organizes it in a new way, then you'll have another approach and everybody will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/you-just-keep-playing-if-someone-special-comes-along-and-organizes-it/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) [Explore all 29 Lee Konitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) [Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in the proper way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Konitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-still-very-challenging-for-me-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-still-very-challenging-for-me-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/lee-konitz-21497_challenges_after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-stil_2383633.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean…” — Lee Konitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lee Konitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After playing now for 60 years,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-still-very-challenging-for-me-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/after-playing-now-for-60-years-it-s-still-very-challenging-for-me-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```