--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never been one to learn scales and…" description: "\"I've never been one to learn scales and do exercises. Maybe I'm lazy, but I just don't take to that kind of thing. Learning other people's songs is enj..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/mat-kearney-3612_exercises_i-ve-never-been-one-to-learn-scales-and_1303828.png" --- # I've never been one to learn scales and do exercises… ![“I've never been one to learn scales and do exercises. Maybe I'm lazy, but I just don't take to that kind of thing. Learning other people's songs is enjoyable, and my fingers tend to go to new places because I'm not playing my music, the stuff that comes naturally to me.” quote by Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/mat-kearney-3612_exercises_i-ve-never-been-one-to-learn-scales-and_1303828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/mat-kearney-3612_exercises_i-ve-never-been-one-to-learn-scales-and_1303828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/mat-kearney-3612_exercises_i-ve-never-been-one-to-learn-scales-and_1303828.png) > “I've never been one to learn scales and do exercises. Maybe I'm lazy, but I just don't take to that kind of thing. Learning other people's songs is enjoyable, and my fingers tend to go to new places because I'm not playing my music, the stuff that comes naturally to me.” [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding formal practice limits growth, but informal learning can spark creativity. **In simple terms:** Skipping practice limits growth but can inspire. Key Takeaway Incorporate both structured and spontaneous practice. Themes music learning creativity discipline Mood motivational reflective Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - daily scales - improvisation sessions - genre exploration - collaborative jams Key Concepts neuroplasticity skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you blend practice with improvisation? - What benefits arise from disciplined study? A Different Perspective Relying solely on spontaneity may hinder technical mastery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [You don't train for only the 100-meter dash and you don't practice only the excerpts. When I prepared for auditions, I spent most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rogers/you-don-t-train-for-only-the-100-meter-dash-and-you-don-t-practice/) [Jim Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rogers/) > [Similarly for marking exercises, quantitative exercises, maybe not so much in mathematics, but certainly problem sets in physics, chemistry, and engineering and things like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/similarly-for-marking-exercises-quantitative-exercises-maybe-not-so/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [Rock & Roll is the physical thing that just comes out of you .. the other stuff you have to sit down and learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/rock-roll-is-the-physical-thing-that-just-comes-out-of-you-the-other/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [I had piano lessons when I was younger, but I quit because I didn't want to sit and learn the scales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-maynard/i-had-piano-lessons-when-i-was-younger-but-i-quit-because-i-didn-t/) [Conor Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-maynard/) > [When you learn an instrument, it takes an awful lot of time to just learn the scales, and then eventually when you have completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/when-you-learn-an-instrument-it-takes-an-awful-lot-of-time-to-just/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [When I first started playing guitar, I would sit in my room for hours and learn scales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/when-i-first-started-playing-guitar-i-would-sit-in-my-room-for-hours/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I don't force myself to exercise; I find going to gyms really boring. I find it easier to go for a fast walk or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/i-don-t-force-myself-to-exercise-i-find-going-to-gyms-really-boring-i/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [We do scales, vocal exercises every day. I run the voice up and down, get as high as I can and as low as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/we-do-scales-vocal-exercises-every-day-i-run-the-voice-up-and-down/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [Frankly, I've never considered my own figure so exceptional; until quite recently, I seldom gave it any thought at all. My biggest single concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/frankly-i-ve-never-considered-my-own-figure-so-exceptional-until/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Sometimes, things are just exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/sometimes-things-are-just-exercises/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [“These exercises are the squat, deadlift, bench press, and military press, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-matthews/these-exercises-are-the-squat-deadlift-bench-press-and-military-press/) [Michael Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-matthews/) > [“I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-believe-that-every-human-has-a-finite-number-of-heart-beats-i-don-t/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I did weightlifting and bodyweight-focused exercises such as chin-ups, pull-ups and press-ups with my personal trainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-did-weightlifting-and-bodyweight-focused-exercises-such-as-chin-ups/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [I like to do varied exercises, even just going for a hike with my friends or taking my dog for a walk, then going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maxwell/i-like-to-do-varied-exercises-even-just-going-for-a-hike-with-my/) [Stella Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maxwell/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## More by Mat Kearney > [My dad was a scratch golfer growing up. When I'm on the road, I always bring my clubs with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/my-dad-was-a-scratch-golfer-growing-up-when-i-m-on-the-road-i-always/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [With 'City of Black & White,' I wanted a record that would make you feel good, that would sort of take you up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/with-city-of-black-white-i-wanted-a-record-that-would-make-you-feel/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [The first year I moved to Nashville, I started playing these songwriter nights with people like Nickel Creek, Duncan Sheik, and even Ryan Adams...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/the-first-year-i-moved-to-nashville-i-started-playing-these/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [When we tour, there's always this unique quality to every town you visit... Touring, you get a sense of a collective identity for different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/when-we-tour-there-s-always-this-unique-quality-to-every-town-you/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [I meant what I said when I said until my dying day.I'm holding on to you, holding on to me.Maybe it's all gone black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-meant-what-i-said-when-i-said-until-my-dying-day-i-m-holding-on-to/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [God found me when I was at my lowest point. That was the first time in my life when I really felt like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/god-found-me-when-i-was-at-my-lowest-point-that-was-the-first-time-in/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [It's not the circumstances that determine who you're gonna be but how you deal with these problems and pains that come your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/it-s-not-the-circumstances-that-determine-who-you-re-gonna-be-but-how/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [I'm really influenced by '90s hip hop. A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul were my heroes growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-m-really-influenced-by-90s-hip-hop-a-tribe-called-quest-and-de-la/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [Well, I never made a record to be in the Christian market. So when I made my record it was to exist in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/well-i-never-made-a-record-to-be-in-the-christian-market-so-when-i/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [I guess we're all one phone call from our knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-guess-we-re-all-one-phone-call-from-our-knees/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [I love creating moments that feel bigger than just like an artist on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-love-creating-moments-that-feel-bigger-than-just-like-an-artist-on/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [Just because you've written a song doesn't mean that you have pulled through. There are definitely songs where I embodied someone else's pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/just-because-you-ve-written-a-song-doesn-t-mean-that-you-have-pulled/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [It's silly to throw things out or label things. You know, is U2 a Christian band, or was Johnny Cash a Christian country singer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/it-s-silly-to-throw-things-out-or-label-things-you-know-is-u2-a/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [Generally, the songs that are the scariest ones are the ones that people connect to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/generally-the-songs-that-are-the-scariest-ones-are-the-ones-that/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [I never got too specialized but did like the Southern Gothic writers like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-never-got-too-specialized-but-did-like-the-southern-gothic-writers/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) [Explore all 126 Mat Kearney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) ## More Exercises quotes > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I like to do varied exercises, even just going for a hike with my friends or taking my dog for a walk, then going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maxwell/i-like-to-do-varied-exercises-even-just-going-for-a-hike-with-my/) [Stella Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maxwell/) > [I did weightlifting and bodyweight-focused exercises such as chin-ups, pull-ups and press-ups with my personal trainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-did-weightlifting-and-bodyweight-focused-exercises-such-as-chin-ups/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [“I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-believe-that-every-human-has-a-finite-number-of-heart-beats-i-don-t/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [“These exercises are the squat, deadlift, bench press, and military press, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-matthews/these-exercises-are-the-squat-deadlift-bench-press-and-military-press/) [Michael Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-matthews/) > [Sometimes, things are just exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/sometimes-things-are-just-exercises/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [Frankly, I've never considered my own figure so exceptional; until quite recently, I seldom gave it any thought at all. My biggest single concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/frankly-i-ve-never-considered-my-own-figure-so-exceptional-until/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [We do scales, vocal exercises every day. I run the voice up and down, get as high as I can and as low as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/we-do-scales-vocal-exercises-every-day-i-run-the-voice-up-and-down/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [I don't force myself to exercise; I find going to gyms really boring. I find it easier to go for a fast walk or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/i-don-t-force-myself-to-exercise-i-find-going-to-gyms-really-boring-i/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [“The simple act of putting your truth on paper, only you and your thoughts, is one of the most powerful exercises you can do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/the-simple-act-of-putting-your-truth-on-paper-only-you-and-your/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [St. Benedict said to take care of your mind, body and soul. I swim for an hour every morning, do 15 minutes of Tibetan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brunello-cucinelli/st-benedict-said-to-take-care-of-your-mind-body-and-soul-i-swim-for/) [Brunello Cucinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brunello-cucinelli/) > [“Yoga exercises are the best connecting tools for unity, human dignity, health, equality, global peace and compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/yoga-exercises-are-the-best-connecting-tools-for-unity-human-dignity/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [If a gym is not available, wherever I am, I do my free hand exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/if-a-gym-is-not-available-wherever-i-am-i-do-my-free-hand-exercises/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [I take a multivitamin, I take extra C, I take chondroitin and glucosamine for my joints, I take calcium for my bones. And by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-welch/i-take-a-multivitamin-i-take-extra-c-i-take-chondroitin-and/) [Raquel Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-welch/) > [All exercises that you do with your own bodyweight are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/all-exercises-that-you-do-with-your-own-bodyweight-are-great/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) Browse all 118 Exercises quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never been one to learn scales and do exercises. Maybe I'm lazy, but I just don't take to that kind of thing. 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