--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mother gave me a choice. She said…" description: "\"My mother gave me a choice. She said, 'Would you like to take singing lessons or piano.' I'm glad I chose piano.\" — McCoy Tyner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mccoy-tyner-30081_choices_my-mother-gave-me-a-choice-she-said-woul_1426402.jpg" --- # My mother gave me a choice. She said, 'Would you like to… ![“My mother gave me a choice. She said, 'Would you like to take singing lessons or piano.' I'm glad I chose piano.” quote by McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mccoy-tyner-30081_choices_my-mother-gave-me-a-choice-she-said-woul_1426402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mccoy-tyner-30081_choices_my-mother-gave-me-a-choice-she-said-woul_1426402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mccoy-tyner-30081_choices_my-mother-gave-me-a-choice-she-said-woul_1426402.jpg) > “My mother gave me a choice. She said, 'Would you like to take singing lessons or piano.' I'm glad I chose piano.” [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mother offered a choice between singing and piano; the speaker chose piano. **In simple terms:** Mother gave a music choice; piano was selected. Key Takeaway Embrace the path you choose. Themes music choice family Mood nostalgic reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - music education - career decisions - personal growth Key Concepts personal development artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if you chose the other? - How do early choices shape identity? A Different Perspective Limited options may restrict exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [“The greatest gift love ever gave was a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-eileen-hake/the-greatest-gift-love-ever-gave-was-a-choice/) [Kelly Eileen Hake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-eileen-hake/) > [If you gave me a choice between being married and being a baseball player, that's a no-brainer. I would be married any day. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-berkman/if-you-gave-me-a-choice-between-being-married-and-being-a-baseball/) [Lance Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-berkman/) > [“Because he knew we’d never rebel on our own, so he gave us no choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/because-he-knew-we-d-never-rebel-on-our-own-so-he-gave-us-no-choice/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [And then a new screen, one I had never seen before, never even heard of popped up. It gave me a choice. I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/and-then-a-new-screen-one-i-had-never-seen-before-never-even-heard-of/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [There's always a choice,' said Torak, and walked backward off the cliff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-paver/there-s-always-a-choice-said-torak-and-walked-backward-off-the-cliff/) [Michelle Paver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-paver/) > [If somebody had told me that you have a choice of being a rock star or playing left field for the Tigers, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/if-somebody-had-told-me-that-you-have-a-choice-of-being-a-rock-star/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [Jem shook his head. "You bit de Quincey" he said. "You fool. He's a VAMPIRE" "I had no choice" said Will " He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jem-shook-his-head-you-bit-de-quincey-he-said-you-fool-he-s-a-vampire/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“But the old woman said that some have no choice. She said that for the poor any choice was a gift with two faces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/but-the-old-woman-said-that-some-have-no-choice-she-said-that-for-the/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“The look in his eyes turned a little wild. "That's the only reason I'm letting you go. If I had any choice--" "You do,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/the-look-in-his-eyes-turned-a-little-wild-that-s-the-only-reason-i-m/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“It had seemed too whimsival on the occasions when she'd worn it, a quirky and impractical gift from a husband who hadn't lived to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/it-had-seemed-too-whimsival-on-the-occasions-when-she-d-worn-it-a/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“Thanks, for saving me.” “I didn’t have a choice,” he said softly. “Everyone has a choice.” “Then mine was easy.” “Easy?” He chuckled. “Olivia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jettie-necole/thanks-for-saving-me-i-didn-t-have-a-choice-he-said-softly-everyone/) [Jettie Necole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jettie-necole/) > [“I'm an outsider by choice, she said, but I'm hoping that won't be my choice forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/i-m-an-outsider-by-choice-she-said-but-i-m-hoping-that-won-t-be-my/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [“What are you going to wear?” “My badass face.” “Good choice,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/what-are-you-going-to-wear-my-badass-face-good-choice-he-said/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Whoever hurt you had a choice to hurt you or love you. It was his choice whoever he is, not yours. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-richards/whoever-hurt-you-had-a-choice-to-hurt-you-or-love-you-it-was-his/) [Sarah Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-richards/) > [“We made our choice, he said. We hunted for them, we guarded their brats. God knows, we helped them make a civilization, didn't we?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/we-made-our-choice-he-said-we-hunted-for-them-we-guarded-their-brats/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) ## More by McCoy Tyner > [To me living and music are all the same thing. And I keep finding out more about music as I learn more about myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/to-me-living-and-music-are-all-the-same-thing-and-i-keep-finding-out/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [The piano is like an orchestra - I'm very fortunate that I chose it as my instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/the-piano-is-like-an-orchestra-i-m-very-fortunate-that-i-chose-it-as/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I really do enjoy accompanying people - it's a challenge and a joy when you get it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-really-do-enjoy-accompanying-people-it-s-a-challenge-and-a-joy-when/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [Jazz is not gonna be a dinosaur and stay around in one form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/jazz-is-not-gonna-be-a-dinosaur-and-stay-around-in-one-form/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I try not to look back too much, but sometimes it's nice to reflect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-try-not-to-look-back-too-much-but-sometimes-it-s-nice-to-reflect/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [With all the travelling and performing I've been doing, it's hard to find time to practice! But seriously, I probably did most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/with-all-the-travelling-and-performing-i-ve-been-doing-it-s-hard-to/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [When a man's faith is never tried, I don't think he'll ever learn anything. You have to have trial and tribulation, or what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/when-a-man-s-faith-is-never-tried-i-don-t-think-he-ll-ever-learn/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [You have to listen to what someone is doing and help them get to where they want to go, musically speaking. I play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/you-have-to-listen-to-what-someone-is-doing-and-help-them-get-to/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I remember coming home from school - I couldn't wait to get to the piano so I could play and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-remember-coming-home-from-school-i-couldn-t-wait-to-get-to-the/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I try to play what comes naturally at the moment and let it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-try-to-play-what-comes-naturally-at-the-moment-and-let-it-happen/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I really love the piano and I feel very fortunate that I am able to play and travel all over the world as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-really-love-the-piano-and-i-feel-very-fortunate-that-i-am-able-to/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [Sometimes it's nice to try different instruments because they have a different sound to offer and therefore your approach changes a little bit. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/sometimes-it-s-nice-to-try-different-instruments-because-they-have-a/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I'll just try to keep my mind open to whatever comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-ll-just-try-to-keep-my-mind-open-to-whatever-comes-my-way/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [I think it was a natural step to start recording my own music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-think-it-was-a-natural-step-to-start-recording-my-own-music/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) > [Every performance is different, but I try to approach them in the same way and give it my all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/every-performance-is-different-but-i-try-to-approach-them-in-the-same/) [McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) [Explore all 17 McCoy Tyner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mother gave me a choice. 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