Believe Quote by Missy Mazzoli
![“I don't think that those things [so called common practice] ever truly existed in the way that we like to believe that they do, the way we learn about them in music history class. Those things are defined at least decades after they happen. And even then, it's a fallacy because when you're in the…” quote by Missy Mazzoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f92/missy-mazzoli-30163_believe_i-don-t-think-that-those-things-so-calle_2568944.jpg)
“I don't think that those things [so called common practice] ever truly existed in the way that we like to believe that they do, the way we learn about them in music history class. Those things are defined at least decades after they happen. And even then, it's a fallacy because when you're in the moment, when you're in a thriving scene of musicians, inevitably everyone is going to be doing something completely different from everyone else”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Music History Podcast, 2020
Historical narratives are often constructed after events, making “common practice” a later invention rather than a lived reality.
In simple terms: History is written after the fact.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about “common practice.”
Themes
history
musicology
mythmaking
Mood
inquisitive
thoughtful
Type
critical
exploratory
When to use this quote
- academic research
- curriculum design
- archival work
Key Concepts
construction
revisionism
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we verify authentic practices?
- What sources can capture real‑time experiences?
A Different Perspective
Later definitions may oversimplify complex scenes.
