---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, when I was in elementary…"
description: "\"Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up and play this solo. And I said, 'Oh m..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg"
---

#  Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a…

![“Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up and play this solo. And I said, 'Oh man, what is that! That must be fantastic!'” quote by Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg)

> “Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up and play this solo. And I said, 'Oh man, what is that! That must be fantastic!'”

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A childhood encounter with a saxophone solo sparked awe and curiosity about music.

**In simple terms:** A sax solo amazed me as a child.

Key Takeaway

Nurture early artistic curiosity.

Themes

music inspiration learning

Mood

wonderful inspired

Type

educational personal

When to use this quote

- music education
- performance
- personal growth

Key Concepts

creative spark musical appreciation

Questions to Reflect On

- What first artistic moment shaped you?
- How can early awe be cultivated?

A Different Perspective

May not translate to sustained interest.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Elementary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementary-school/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [ My grammar school graduating class in 1941 had a little party for 13 or 14 year-old kids. \[Trumpeter\] King Kolax's band played for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-griffin/my-grammar-school-graduating-class-in-1941-had-a-little-party-for-13/)

Johnny Griffin

> [My son is pre-K and my daughter is in elementary school. So they don't watch the show. But my son knows that I'm on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-brandt/my-son-is-pre-k-and-my-daughter-is-in-elementary-school-so-they-don-t/)

[Betsy Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-brandt/)

> [In elementary school, I think all my report cards said, 'Emily plays well alone.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-hampshire/in-elementary-school-i-think-all-my-report-cards-said-emily-plays/)

[Emily Hampshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-hampshire/)

> [I went to a French immersion school, and French-Canadian improv is a big thing, and we had an improv team at school, and 12…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-went-to-a-french-immersion-school-and-french-canadian-improv-is-a/)

[Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/)

> [When I was little, I went to a Jewish community day school for most of elementary school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-mamet/when-i-was-little-i-went-to-a-jewish-community-day-school-for-most-of/)

[Clara Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-mamet/)

> [John Denver I listened to when I was in elementary school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-close/john-denver-i-listened-to-when-i-was-in-elementary-school/)

[Eric Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-close/)

> [Something happened when I was in elementary school. A Disney artist named Bruce McIntyre retired, and he had done drawings for 'Pinocchio' and 'Snow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stromberg/something-happened-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-a-disney-artist/)

[Robert Stromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stromberg/)

> [The elementary school must assume as its sublime and most solemn responsibility the task of teaching every child in it to read. Any school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/the-elementary-school-must-assume-as-its-sublime-and-most-solemn/)

[William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/)

> [Was Sen. Barack Obama a Muslim? Did he ever practice Islam? The presidential candidate officially rejects the claims, but the issue of Obama's personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-klein/was-sen-barack-obama-a-muslim-did-he-ever-practice-islam-the/)

[Aaron Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-klein/)

> [I went to elementary school in Ottawa, and then to a private secondary school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-went-to-elementary-school-in-ottawa-and-then-to-a-private-secondary/)

[Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/)

> [The senseless killing of 20 children and their teachers and principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School was not part of God's grand plan. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/the-senseless-killing-of-20-children-and-their-teachers-and-principal/)

[Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/)

> [We are all busy. It's easy to find excuses for not reaching out to others, but I imagine they will sound as hollow to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/we-are-all-busy-it-s-easy-to-find-excuses-for-not-reaching-out-to/)

[Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/)

> [I taught elementary school and painted apartments for ten years. Now I write full-time and never have to change a thing I write. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/i-taught-elementary-school-and-painted-apartments-for-ten-years-now-i/)

[Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/)

> [Even though Jack Kennedy and I were about the same age and lived in the same neighborhood and attended the same elementary school, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/even-though-jack-kennedy-and-i-were-about-the-same-age-and-lived-in/)

[Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/)

> [My mother was an elementary school teacher for 35 years and taught at the Nixon School in New Jersey. I was raised as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/my-mother-was-an-elementary-school-teacher-for-35-years-and-taught-at/)

[Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/)

## More by Ornette Coleman

> [Jerry Garcia was one of the original American icons. He played naturally and beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/jerry-garcia-was-one-of-the-original-american-icons-he-played/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [That's why I haven't been so anxious. But now, lots of people write and say, 'I want to find out what you're doing.' So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/that-s-why-i-haven-t-been-so-anxious-but-now-lots-of-people-write-and/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [No one has to learn to spell to talk, right? You see a little kid holding a conversation with an adult. He probably doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/no-one-has-to-learn-to-spell-to-talk-right-you-see-a-little-kid/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-ve-never-had-a-relationship-with-a-record-executive-i-always-went/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/music-has-many-uses-and-i-think-the-most-perfected-use-that-music-has/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [Musicians tell me, if what I'm doing is right, they should never have gone to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/musicians-tell-me-if-what-i-m-doing-is-right-they-should-never-have/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [I'm interested in music, not in my image. If someone plays something fantastic, that I could never have thought of, it makes me happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-m-interested-in-music-not-in-my-image-if-someone-plays-something/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [When I have them working together, it's like a beautiful kaleidoscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/when-i-have-them-working-together-it-s-like-a-beautiful-kaleidoscope/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/it-was-when-i-found-out-i-could-make-mistakes-that-i-knew-i-was-on-to/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/after-i-left-texas-and-went-to-california-i-had-a-hard-time-getting/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-think-that-those-elements-light-and-sound-are-beyond-democratic/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [I don't really live like a musician myself. I think music is just something that I do, but I'd like to be doing lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-don-t-really-live-like-a-musician-myself-i-think-music-is-just/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [I remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-remember-once-i-read-a-book-on-mental-illness-and-there-was-a-nurse/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

> [Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/most-of-my-relationships-have-been-like-that-with-record-companies-i/)

[Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

[Explore all 54 Ornette Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/)

## More Actually quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/)

[Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/)

> [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/)

[David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/)

> [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/)

[Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

> [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/)

[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/)

> [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/)

[Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/)

> [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/)

[Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/)

> [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/)

[Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/)

> [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/)

[Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up and play this solo. And I said, 'Oh man, what is that! That must be fantastic!'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ornette Coleman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-i-saw-a-saxophone-a-band/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actually"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-i-saw-a-saxophone-a-band/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/933/ornette-coleman-12578_actually_actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school_1696247.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy…” — Ornette Coleman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ornette Coleman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Actually, when I was in elementary...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-i-saw-a-saxophone-a-band/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-i-saw-a-saxophone-a-band/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
