--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had an affinity for music and could…" description: "\"I had an affinity for music and could play anything I heard on the piano, but I wasn't scholastically advanced in any way. It was more of a habitual te..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/melody-gardot-4469_art_i-had-an-affinity-for-music-and-could-pl_1107293.jpg" --- # I had an affinity for music and could play anything I… ![“I had an affinity for music and could play anything I heard on the piano, but I wasn't scholastically advanced in any way. It was more of a habitual tendency. I would work on weekends at piano bars playing jazz when I was an art student, but the music wasn't mine - it was covers: everything from…” quote by Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/melody-gardot-4469_art_i-had-an-affinity-for-music-and-could-pl_1107293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/melody-gardot-4469_art_i-had-an-affinity-for-music-and-could-pl_1107293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/melody-gardot-4469_art_i-had-an-affinity-for-music-and-could-pl_1107293.jpg) > “I had an affinity for music and could play anything I heard on the piano, but I wasn't scholastically advanced in any way. It was more of a habitual tendency. I would work on weekends at piano bars playing jazz when I was an art student, but the music wasn't mine - it was covers: everything from Radiohead to really old jazz. But other than that, the only training I had was piano lessons from when I was nine until I was eleven.” [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Natural talent and habit can compensate for formal training; passion drives skill development despite limited instruction. **In simple terms:** Natural ability plus habit can outweigh formal schooling. Key Takeaway Cultivate habit and passion alongside practice. Themes talent habit self‑learning Mood introspective creative Type personal educational When to use this quote - learning an instrument - self‑teaching - performance gigs - artistic growth Key Concepts cognitive development music theory creativity Questions to Reflect On - What habits can you develop to improve? - How does informal learning shape your style? A Different Perspective Reliance on habit may limit technical depth without structured study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-lessons/) [Piano Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-wasn-583117/) [Radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiohead/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Training Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training-piano-2932334/) [Weekend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weekend/) [Weekends Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weekends-piano-2932335/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think what people realize is I've been through years and years and years of training - piano, dance, vocal lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-hogan/i-don-t-think-what-people-realize-is-i-ve-been-through-years-and/) [Brooke Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-hogan/) > [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/) > [I started classical piano when I was eight, but I wasn't a virtuoso. I just really liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-started-classical-piano-when-i-was-eight-but-i-wasn-t-a-virtuoso-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [In school I had piano lessons as a child for about two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/in-school-i-had-piano-lessons-as-a-child-for-about-two-years/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I was a huge Radiohead fan growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwan-rheon/i-was-a-huge-radiohead-fan-growing-up/) [Iwan Rheon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwan-rheon/) > [I love music, particularly Radiohead, TV on the Radio, The XX and Tribes - they're a great new band from Camden and well worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-treadaway/i-love-music-particularly-radiohead-tv-on-the-radio-the-xx-and-tribes/) [Luke Treadaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-treadaway/) > [With our website we didn't want people to come to our site and find out about Radiohead. We wanted them to come to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/with-our-website-we-didn-t-want-people-to-come-to-our-site-and-find/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [I jumped in the river, what did I see? Black-eyed angels swam with me A moon full of stars and astral cars And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-jumped-in-the-river-what-did-i-see-black-eyed-angels-swam-with-me-a/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Do you think Radiohead is my whole goddamn life? I also have a roadside cart where I sell apples and mincemeat pies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/do-you-think-radiohead-is-my-whole-goddamn-life-i-also-have-a/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Jackson Rathbone can really play the guitar. Our taste in music is not exactly the same, but we found common ground with Radiohead's Creep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/jackson-rathbone-can-really-play-the-guitar-our-taste-in-music-is-not/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I don't really listen to Radiohead. I listened to the albums and they just didn't move me in the way, say, John Prine does.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/i-don-t-really-listen-to-radiohead-i-listened-to-the-albums-and-they/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [What the hell am I doing here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/what-the-hell-am-i-doing-here/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I'm always happiest trying new instruments - and honestly enjoy playing, say, the glockenspiel with Radiohead as much as I do the guitar. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-greenwood/i-m-always-happiest-trying-new-instruments-and-honestly-enjoy-playing/) [Jonny Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-greenwood/) > [I just think Radiohead are f-in' miserable bastards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-just-think-radiohead-are-f-in-miserable-bastards/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [I'm a huge stadium rock fan, but I'm also a fan of everything from Massive Attack to Peter Gabriel, U2, the Police, Radiohead, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/i-m-a-huge-stadium-rock-fan-but-i-m-also-a-fan-of-everything-from/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) ## More by Melody Gardot > [Baby I'm a fool who thinks it's cool to fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/baby-i-m-a-fool-who-thinks-it-s-cool-to-fall-in-love/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [With someone like Cole Porter, Perry Como, Louis Armstrong, or Bessie Smith, you had people who understood emotion, could translate it into a melodic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/with-someone-like-cole-porter-perry-como-louis-armstrong-or-bessie/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Music is the universal language; it is the soundtrack to our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/music-is-the-universal-language-it-is-the-soundtrack-to-our-existence/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I'll write whenever I can and I'll use whatever instrument is around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-ll-write-whenever-i-can-and-i-ll-use-whatever-instrument-is-around/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [It's just incredible to be working alongside with the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, sharing the story of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/it-s-just-incredible-to-be-working-alongside-with-the-emmett-till/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I'm a bad walker but I can dance tango. You know why? Put your hand up. Push on my fingertips and just hold it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-m-a-bad-walker-but-i-can-dance-tango-you-know-why-put-your-hand-up/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Not doing music period is the death of a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/not-doing-music-period-is-the-death-of-a-musician/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Alber Elbaz really understands the female body and his designs are so flattering to the female form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/alber-elbaz-really-understands-the-female-body-and-his-designs-are-so/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I mostly wear black with occasional contrast and splashes of colour. I love my curves but I like fitted rather than tight clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-mostly-wear-black-with-occasional-contrast-and-splashes-of-colour-i/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I love how my life is turning out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-love-how-my-life-is-turning-out/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Do a Christmas record!' NO! Call Michael Buble! I'm not saying there's something wrong with that. But that's not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/do-a-christmas-record-no-call-michael-buble-i-m-not-saying-there-s/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Writing is something I take very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/writing-is-something-i-take-very-seriously/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I'm a free person. I don't want to be tied down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-m-a-free-person-i-don-t-want-to-be-tied-down/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [People can't accept when you change sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/people-can-t-accept-when-you-change-sometimes/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [I didn't ask to be a musician, but I see the responsibility of it and I am grateful for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-didn-t-ask-to-be-a-musician-but-i-see-the-responsibility-of-it-and/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) [Explore all 110 Melody Gardot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had an affinity for music and could play anything I heard on the piano, but I wasn't scholastically advanced in any way. 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