--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a singer, not a vocal stylist. My…" description: "\"I'm a singer, not a vocal stylist. My breathing is correct; my enunciation is precise. Because of that, I can sing anybody's music. Yet there are styli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ronnie-milsap-19869_breathing_i-m-a-singer-not-a-vocal-stylist-my-brea_1374231.png" --- # I'm a singer, not a vocal stylist. My breathing is… ![“I'm a singer, not a vocal stylist. My breathing is correct; my enunciation is precise. Because of that, I can sing anybody's music. Yet there are stylists whose technical skills are so underdeveloped they can sing only their own songs their own way. They might be remembered for their hits longer…” quote by Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ronnie-milsap-19869_breathing_i-m-a-singer-not-a-vocal-stylist-my-brea_1374231.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ronnie-milsap-19869_breathing_i-m-a-singer-not-a-vocal-stylist-my-brea_1374231.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/ronnie-milsap-19869_breathing_i-m-a-singer-not-a-vocal-stylist-my-brea_1374231.png) > “I'm a singer, not a vocal stylist. My breathing is correct; my enunciation is precise. Because of that, I can sing anybody's music. Yet there are stylists whose technical skills are so underdeveloped they can sing only their own songs their own way. They might be remembered for their hits longer than I am. I'll probably be working longer than they are. I can sing whatever the times and the trends demand.” [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technical mastery lets a singer adapt to any style, while limited skill confines an artist to their own niche. **In simple terms:** Skill lets you sing any song; limited skill ties you to one style. Key Takeaway Focus on technique to stay versatile. Themes versatility skill career longevity artistic identity industry trends Mood confident reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - recording sessions - live performances - genre crossover - career planning - music education Key Concepts musical technique adaptability artistic authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does technical skill affect personal artistic voice? - Can versatility outweigh a unique style? A Different Perspective Technical skill alone may not guarantee artistic distinctiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Precise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Technical skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technical-skills/) [Trends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trends/) ## Related quotes > [The 'human situation,' in all its guises, is what good films are all about, and technical skill counts for nothing if it is used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dmytryk/the-human-situation-in-all-its-guises-is-what-good-films-are-all/) [Edward Dmytryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dmytryk/) > [As a child, I played on the road against bigger players. Due to my technical skills, I've always got by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/as-a-child-i-played-on-the-road-against-bigger-players-due-to-my/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [A leader should never compare his technical skills with his employee's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/a-leader-should-never-compare-his-technical-skills-with-his-employee-s/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Financial intelligence is made up of these four main technical skills: 1. Accounting Accounting is financial literacy, or the ability to read numbers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/financial-intelligence-is-made-up-of-these-four-main-technical-skills/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [When it came down to technical skill and ability of the two teams, Croatia were far superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mullery/when-it-came-down-to-technical-skill-and-ability-of-the-two-teams/) Alan Mullery > [It's no good starting out by thinking one is a heaven-born genius- some people are, but very few. No, one is a tradesman -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-s-no-good-starting-out-by-thinking-one-is-a-heaven-born-genius/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Lately, because computer technology has made self-publishing an easier and less expensive venture, I'm getting a lot of review copies of amateur books by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/lately-because-computer-technology-has-made-self-publishing-an-easier/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [Air power alone does not guarantee America's security, but I believe it best exploits the nation's greatest asset - our technical skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyt-vandenberg/air-power-alone-does-not-guarantee-america-s-security-but-i-believe/) Hoyt Vandenberg > [“The idea that the material is safe because it is encrypted is shockingly naïve: it is child's play for a sophisticated adversary to place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lucas/the-idea-that-the-material-is-safe-because-it-is-encrypted-is/) [Edward Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lucas/) > [“He said that I had creative talent, but what I really needed to do if I wanted to be successful was to become technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodriguez/he-said-that-i-had-creative-talent-but-what-i-really-needed-to-do-if/) [Robert Rodríguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rodriguez/) > [There are myths about kids spending time online - that it is dangerous or making them lazy. But we found that spending time online…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mizuko-ito/there-are-myths-about-kids-spending-time-online-that-it-is-dangerous/) Mizuko Ito > [Research shows that for jobs of all kinds, emotional intelligence is twice as important an ingredient of outstanding performance as cognitive ability and technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/research-shows-that-for-jobs-of-all-kinds-emotional-intelligence-is/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/after-a-certain-high-level-of-technical-skill-is-achieved-science-and/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [They are both all over physical sports that require being focused, accurate and having good strength. They are both fast with big consequences if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/they-are-both-all-over-physical-sports-that-require-being-focused/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [Mastering music is more than learning technical skills. Practicing is about quality, not quantity. Some days I practice for hours; other days it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/mastering-music-is-more-than-learning-technical-skills-practicing-is/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) ## More by Ronnie Milsap > [The last time I saw Elvis was when I played my second New Year's Eve show for him in 1970.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/the-last-time-i-saw-elvis-was-when-i-played-my-second-new-year-s-eve/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [Music is not just my passion it's my companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/music-is-not-just-my-passion-it-s-my-companion/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I learned when I started to study piano that I could play by ear. I could hear a song on the radio a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-learned-when-i-started-to-study-piano-that-i-could-play-by-ear-i/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I remember my uncle and my father telling me that my mother didn't want me because I was blind. She thought being blind was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-remember-my-uncle-and-my-father-telling-me-that-my-mother-didn-t/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [You can walk out on me tonight, if you think that it ain't feeling right, but darling, there's no getting over me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/you-can-walk-out-on-me-tonight-if-you-think-that-it-ain-t-feeling/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I don't see here on this side; but I will see on the other side. I know I'll get to see. I know I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-don-t-see-here-on-this-side-but-i-will-see-on-the-other-side-i-know/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I was fortunate to be raised by loving grandparents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-was-fortunate-to-be-raised-by-loving-grandparents/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [For a long time, I was shy about recording gospel music, because I didn't necessarily want to show the inside of my soul, Milsap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/for-a-long-time-i-was-shy-about-recording-gospel-music-because-i-didn/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [This business is always changing. If you're going to be a leader, you've got to take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/this-business-is-always-changing-if-you-re-going-to-be-a-leader-you/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [It's great to have all this stuff at home. But when you want to make it for real, there's still nothing like making music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/it-s-great-to-have-all-this-stuff-at-home-but-when-you-want-to-make/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [The last time I saw Elvis was when I played my second New Years Eve show for him in 1970.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/the-last-time-i-saw-elvis-was-when-i-played-my-second-new-years-eve/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I often thought that if I had been working with Mark James at American Studios, I would have had a pop hit before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-often-thought-that-if-i-had-been-working-with-mark-james-at/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I am a Christian. I know I am a Christian, knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-am-a-christian-i-know-i-am-a-christian-knowing-that-jesus-christ-is/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I was signed to RCA to be a country singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-was-signed-to-rca-to-be-a-country-singer/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [I had 12 years of classical music as a child, playing piano competitions as a teenager, playing in blues bands and rock 'n' roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-had-12-years-of-classical-music-as-a-child-playing-piano/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) [Explore all 32 Ronnie Milsap quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a singer, not a vocal stylist. My breathing is correct; my enunciation is precise. Because of that, I can sing anybody's music. Yet there are stylists whose technical skills are so underdeveloped they can sing only their own songs their own way. They might be remembered for their hits longer than I am. I'll probably be working longer than they are. 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