--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know a famous violinist who told me he…" description: "\"I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. So, when he starts thinking of a note, an existing piece immed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/natalie-portman-1515_compose_i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he_128833.jpg" --- # I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose… ![“I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. So, when he starts thinking of a note, an existing piece immediately comes to mind. Just starting out, one of your biggest strengths is not knowing how things are supposed to be.” quote by Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/natalie-portman-1515_compose_i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he_128833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/natalie-portman-1515_compose_i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he_128833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/natalie-portman-1515_compose_i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he_128833.jpg) > “I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. So, when he starts thinking of a note, an existing piece immediately comes to mind. Just starting out, one of your biggest strengths is not knowing how things are supposed to be.” [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novice creators benefit from lack of preconceptions, allowing fresh ideas without being constrained by existing works. **In simple terms:** Beginners can be more original because they don’t know the rules. Key Takeaway Value the freedom of not knowing. Themes creativity learning originality Mood inspired curious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - artistic brainstorming - software prototyping - writing first drafts Key Concepts novelty cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance fresh perspective with learning fundamentals? - What practices keep you open yet informed? A Different Perspective Too much ignorance can lead to naive mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Starting out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-out/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Violinist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violinist/) ## Related quotes > [“When Tchaikovsky finished writing his Violin Concerto in 1878, he asked the famous violinist Leopold Auer to give the premier performance. Auer studied the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-colvin/when-tchaikovsky-finished-writing-his-violin-concerto-in-1878-he/) [Geoff Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-colvin/) > [“Suicide. It's something I've been thinking about. Not too seriously, but I have been thinking about it.” That's the note. Word for word. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/suicide-it-s-something-i-ve-been-thinking-about-not-too-seriously-but/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to-2/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Every violinist has a different style, so it's important to be able to recognise their styles. You don't have to like everyone's style but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruggiero-ricci/every-violinist-has-a-different-style-so-it-s-important-to-be-able-to/) [Ruggiero Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruggiero-ricci/) > [One thing I always say about my mom is we were so poor, but she always made sure that we got whatever we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/one-thing-i-always-say-about-my-mom-is-we-were-so-poor-but-she-always/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [A lot of my joy this year has been to give away awards to young people, no matter of race, creed or color, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-kirkland/a-lot-of-my-joy-this-year-has-been-to-give-away-awards-to-young/) [Sally Kirkland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-kirkland/) > [When we listen to improvisational jazz, or solo classical violinists, the way they phrase and inflect melodies feels vocal, like they’re talking to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-mcferrin/when-we-listen-to-improvisational-jazz-or-solo-classical-violinists/) [Bobby McFerrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-mcferrin/) > [The way you hold the bow, the way that violinists are trained to produce a note, is really different. I'm not an expert in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-molsky/the-way-you-hold-the-bow-the-way-that-violinists-are-trained-to/) [Bruce Molsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-molsky/) > [In my youth I wanted to be a concert violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/in-my-youth-i-wanted-to-be-a-concert-violinist/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [“where do you want to go? Back to violinist. I want to hear songs about suicide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-griffin/where-do-you-want-to-go-back-to-violinist-i-want-to-hear-songs-about/) [Bethany Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-griffin/) > [The mastery of one's phonemes may be compared to the violinist's mastery of fingering. The violin string lends itself to a continuous gradation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-mastery-of-one-s-phonemes-may-be-compared-to-the-violinist-s/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-knew-i-could-never-match-my-father-as-a-violinist-and-there-were/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [My Sims family is called the Cholly family. I don't know why I picked that name, it's kinda of random.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/my-sims-family-is-called-the-cholly-family-i-don-t-know-why-i-picked/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [I'm really just a frustrated violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/i-m-really-just-a-frustrated-violinist/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More by Natalie Portman > [I'm going to college. I don't care if it ruins my career. I'd rather be smart than a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-going-to-college-i-don-t-care-if-it-ruins-my-career-i-d-rather-be/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I'd basically have trouble with any job that doesn't require me to wear silly clothes and talk in funny voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-d-basically-have-trouble-with-any-job-that-doesn-t-require-me-to/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [ Even \[Donald Trump\] presence was bullying, was lurking, and was just mainly creepy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/even-donald-trump-presence-was-bullying-was-lurking-and-was-just/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Your relationship with your husband should be an important part of your private life, but publicly you should be able to define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/your-relationship-with-your-husband-should-be-an-important-part-of/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I'm not really much of a genre guy. I think that audiences don't need that anymore where you just need a very specific genre.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-not-really-much-of-a-genre-guy-i-think-that-audiences-don-t-need/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [To have to watch myself in a way that was constructively critical was really good for me because it made me a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/to-have-to-watch-myself-in-a-way-that-was-constructively-critical-was/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I am more a teenager than anyone else I know. One minute I feel really adult and the next minute I say, 'Let's play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-am-more-a-teenager-than-anyone-else-i-know-one-minute-i-feel-really/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Hillary Clinton is incredibly prepared and smart on all of the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/hillary-clinton-is-incredibly-prepared-and-smart-on-all-of-the-issues/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Hillary Clinton has really strong plans, in terms of the economy, extending health care even further, making education more affordable, making smart gun law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/hillary-clinton-has-really-strong-plans-in-terms-of-the-economy/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Social networking is playing a huge role in creating awareness and mobilizing support for all kinds of common interests. What better way to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/social-networking-is-playing-a-huge-role-in-creating-awareness-and/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I also feel I'm a positive role model by not putting my education on hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-also-feel-i-m-a-positive-role-model-by-not-putting-my-education-on/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I do think there is a sort of natural balance in nature between men and women, and that it's being thrown off-balance by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-do-think-there-is-a-sort-of-natural-balance-in-nature-between-men/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Girls have girl/guy relationships because we are expected to be so emotional and sensitive and stuff, and sometimes you just don't feel like being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/girls-have-girl-guy-relationships-because-we-are-expected-to-be-so/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [It really wasn't my thing. It still isn't my thing, the whole science-fiction action thing. I prefer simpler, character-based movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/it-really-wasn-t-my-thing-it-still-isn-t-my-thing-the-whole-science/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Some relationships aren't true relationships. And it's usually when the other person does something really terrible that you realize it. And that's when it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/some-relationships-aren-t-true-relationships-and-it-s-usually-when/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) [Explore all 233 Natalie Portman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) ## More Compose quotes > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [Every song that I compose has to satisfy the music director in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gopi-sundar/every-song-that-i-compose-has-to-satisfy-the-music-director-in-me/) [Gopi Sundar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gopi-sundar/) > [I don't meditate before I play or compose, but I see playing and composing as meditative acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-swallow/i-don-t-meditate-before-i-play-or-compose-but-i-see-playing-and/) Steve Swallow > [Even in front of nature one must compose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/even-in-front-of-nature-one-must-compose/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [One of the challenges is creating characters. I am trying to compose my sentences to express epic events happening to ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hirata/one-of-the-challenges-is-creating-characters-i-am-trying-to-compose/) [Andrea Hirata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hirata/) > [I got to compose for a full symphony orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-got-to-compose-for-a-full-symphony-orchestra/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [To compose is to remember music that has never been written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/to-compose-is-to-remember-music-that-has-never-been-written/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [If I pick up a fiddle, I don't compose on it, so much as I just play whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-amidon/if-i-pick-up-a-fiddle-i-don-t-compose-on-it-so-much-as-i-just-play/) [Sam Amidon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-amidon/) > [I've been a full-time composer for many years, and I'm still learning all the time. There is always more than one musical "solution" to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keltonic/i-ve-been-a-full-time-composer-for-many-years-and-i-m-still-learning/) [John Keltonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keltonic/) > [Works of art inspire me to compose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/works-of-art-inspire-me-to-compose/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [I am not just a singer, I am a composer as well. Because I'm balancing both, it takes me longer to compose a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/i-am-not-just-a-singer-i-am-a-composer-as-well-because-i-m-balancing/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [I am talented enough to compose internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/i-am-talented-enough-to-compose-internationally/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [Only when I experience do I compose - only when I compose do I experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-mahler/only-when-i-experience-do-i-compose-only-when-i-compose-do-i/) [Gustav Mahler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-mahler/) > [“we compose our life in stories we tell ourselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-geddes/we-compose-our-life-in-stories-we-tell-ourselves/) [john j geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-geddes/) > [Time did not compose her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/time-did-not-compose-her/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) Browse all 103 Compose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. 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