--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If, while at the piano, you attempt to…" description: "\"If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little melodies, that is very well; but if they come into your mind of themselves, when you are not practis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/robert-schumann-11519_desire_if-while-at-the-piano-you-attempt-to-for_336377.jpg" --- # If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little… ![“If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little melodies, that is very well; but if they come into your mind of themselves, when you are not practising, you may be still more pleased; for the internal organ of music is then roused in you. The fingers must do what the head desires; not the…” quote by Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/robert-schumann-11519_desire_if-while-at-the-piano-you-attempt-to-for_336377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/robert-schumann-11519_desire_if-while-at-the-piano-you-attempt-to-for_336377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/robert-schumann-11519_desire_if-while-at-the-piano-you-attempt-to-for_336377.jpg) > “If, while at the piano, you attempt to form little melodies, that is very well; but if they come into your mind of themselves, when you are not practising, you may be still more pleased; for the internal organ of music is then roused in you. The fingers must do what the head desires; not the contrary.” [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spontaneous musical ideas are more satisfying than forced ones; let the mind lead the fingers. **In simple terms:** Let natural inspiration guide your playing. Key Takeaway Trust your inner musical sense. Themes creativity music discipline inspiration Mood reflective inspirational Type musical creative When to use this quote - practicing piano - composing - performing - teaching Key Concepts improvisation musical intuition mind-body connection Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance intuition with technique? - When should you refine a spontaneous melody? A Different Perspective Spontaneous ideas may lack structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Organs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organs/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [In the same way that rain breaks into a house with a bad roof, desire breaks into the mind that has not been practising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/in-the-same-way-that-rain-breaks-into-a-house-with-a-bad-roof-desire/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Eventually I had so many little melodies and ideas that, you know, that they were all songs to me and I threw in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/eventually-i-had-so-many-little-melodies-and-ideas-that-you-know-that/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I've always got these little melodies running around in my head, although most of them aren't worth much, and I understand structure and formulas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-ve-always-got-these-little-melodies-running-around-in-my-head/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [The melodies come out so strong that I'm like, "Oh, crap." It's really better if they could both be kind of able to compromise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/the-melodies-come-out-so-strong-that-i-m-like-oh-crap-it-s-really/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [The melodies I come up with, they're not normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/the-melodies-i-come-up-with-they-re-not-normal/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [I feel like when I get into most rooms, melodies come really easily to me, and they sound good in my head. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-feel-like-when-i-get-into-most-rooms-melodies-come-really-easily-to/) [Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/) > [You can study orchestration, you can study harmony and theory and everything else, but melodies come straight from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/you-can-study-orchestration-you-can-study-harmony-and-theory-and/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-legrand/i-have-a-very-strange-melodic-gift-melodies-come-to-me-effortlessly/) [Michel Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-legrand/) > [Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-legrand/here-is-how-i-work-when-i-think-that-a-film-needs-to-have-a-principal/) [Michel Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-legrand/) > [Gay sexuality inevitably involves brutal physical abusiveness and the unnatural imposition of alien substances into internal organs, orally and anally, that inevitably suppress the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/gay-sexuality-inevitably-involves-brutal-physical-abusiveness-and-the/) [Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/) > [He appeared before me and departed. We were not able to speak to or touch each other. But in that short interval, he transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/he-appeared-before-me-and-departed-we-were-not-able-to-speak-to-or/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Gymn says your fine. He's examined your internal organs and found nothing lacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donita-k-paul/gymn-says-your-fine-he-s-examined-your-internal-organs-and-found/) [Donita K. Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donita-k-paul/) > [I have seen women walk right past a TV set with a football game on and - this always amazes me - not stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-have-seen-women-walk-right-past-a-tv-set-with-a-football-game-on/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [When anger is not trampling roughshod through our nervous system, it is sitting sullenly in some unspecified internal organ. "She's got a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/when-anger-is-not-trampling-roughshod-through-our-nervous-system-it/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) > [Exercise stimulates your circulation, massages your internal organs, stretches and strengthens your muscles, and energizes you. Exercise is also a great way to discharge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/exercise-stimulates-your-circulation-massages-your-internal-organs/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) ## More by Robert Schumann > [“By means of industry and perseverance you will rise higher and higher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/by-means-of-industry-and-perseverance-you-will-rise-higher-and-higher/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [When you play, never mind who listens to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/when-you-play-never-mind-who-listens-to-you/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [A fiery, good beginner always stands higher than a master in mediocrity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/a-fiery-good-beginner-always-stands-higher-than-a-master-in-mediocrity/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Music induces nightingales to sing, pug dogs to yelp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/music-induces-nightingales-to-sing-pug-dogs-to-yelp/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [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/) > [Play always as if in the presence of a master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/play-always-as-if-in-the-presence-of-a-master/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [You should neither play bad compositions, nor, unless compelled, listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/you-should-neither-play-bad-compositions-nor-unless-compelled-listen/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Art was not created as a way to riches. Strive to become a true artist; all else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/art-was-not-created-as-a-way-to-riches-strive-to-become-a-true-artist/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Music - so different from painting - is the art which we enjoy most in company with others. 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I do not see things as they are, but according to my own subjective impression, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/the-poet-sees-better-than-other-mortals-i-do-not-see-things-as-they/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Without enthusiasm nothing great can be effected in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/without-enthusiasm-nothing-great-can-be-effected-in-art/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [That first concept is alway the most naturally and best. The mind errs, the emotion never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/that-first-concept-is-alway-the-most-naturally-and-best-the-mind-errs/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Does it not seem as if Mozart's works become fresher and fresher the oftener we hear them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/does-it-not-seem-as-if-mozart-s-works-become-fresher-and-fresher-the/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) [Explore all 59 Robert Schumann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. 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