--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always felt a great affinity with…" description: "\"I've always felt a great affinity with music. I've felt myself to be more of a musician than anything else, though I'm not proficient in any one instru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/sam-shepard-2232_experience_i-ve-always-felt-a-great-affinity-with-m_1088028.jpg" --- # I've always felt a great affinity with music. I've felt… ![“I've always felt a great affinity with music. I've felt myself to be more of a musician than anything else, though I'm not proficient in any one instrument. But I think I have a musical sense of things... and writing seems to me to be a musical experience - rhythmically and in many other ways.” quote by Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/sam-shepard-2232_experience_i-ve-always-felt-a-great-affinity-with-m_1088028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/sam-shepard-2232_experience_i-ve-always-felt-a-great-affinity-with-m_1088028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/sam-shepard-2232_experience_i-ve-always-felt-a-great-affinity-with-m_1088028.jpg) > “I've always felt a great affinity with music. I've felt myself to be more of a musician than anything else, though I'm not proficient in any one instrument. But I think I have a musical sense of things... and writing seems to me to be a musical experience - rhythmically and in many other ways.” [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer feels a deep connection to music, seeing writing as a rhythmic, musical experience despite not mastering an instrument. **In simple terms:** Writing feels musical and rhythmic to the author. Key Takeaway Embrace rhythm and flow in your writing. Themes creativity music writing artistic identity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - authoring - songwriting - poetry workshops - creative retreats Key Concepts rhythm expression interdisciplinary art Questions to Reflect On - How does musical sense influence narrative pacing? - Can rhythm improve reader engagement? A Different Perspective Not all writers can achieve musicality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experience Rhythmically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-rhythmically-2798189/) [Felt Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-musician-2798190/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-experience/) [Musical Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-sense-1217208/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-musical-1056700/) ## Related quotes > [I always felt that the musician's job was to provide an alternative source of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-always-felt-that-the-musician-s-job-was-to-provide-an-alternative/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I'm musical in the sense that I can write a song, but I realised when I was learning the piano as a child that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/i-m-musical-in-the-sense-that-i-can-write-a-song-but-i-realised-when/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [Well, I really enjoyed drama classes at school, but I left at 16 and started writing a musical with my brother. Because of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-hope-fletcher/well-i-really-enjoyed-drama-classes-at-school-but-i-left-at-16-and/) [Carrie Hope Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-hope-fletcher/) > [I'm writing a musical. I am. I was able to buy the rights to 'The Preacher's Wife,' which starred Whitney Houston... I'm writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-m-writing-a-musical-i-am-i-was-able-to-buy-the-rights-to-the/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [I could hear music playing in the background of works by certain authors, like Poe and Shakespeare. And I discovered Nikki Giovanni when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-could-hear-music-playing-in-the-background-of-works-by-certain/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [It's much easier to write a song for a musical than just writing a song because, writing for a musical, you know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-bricusse/it-s-much-easier-to-write-a-song-for-a-musical-than-just-writing-a/) [Leslie Bricusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-bricusse/) > [I feel very much a part of what I'm writing about, and I'm writing about things that concern me on a daily basis. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-feel-very-much-a-part-of-what-i-m-writing-about-and-i-m-writing/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [We decided we didn't want to do a musical for TV because the idea of writing a musical that would be seen on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-tennant/we-decided-we-didn-t-want-to-do-a-musical-for-tv-because-the-idea-of/) [Neil Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-tennant/) > [Deciding what is to be sung and what is not to be sung is really what writing a musical is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/deciding-what-is-to-be-sung-and-what-is-not-to-be-sung-is-really-what/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Anything we were studying in school, like math, or understanding somebody's behavior outside of school, kind of worked its way into something I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mills/anything-we-were-studying-in-school-like-math-or-understanding/) [Blake Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mills/) > [The Ultimate Rule ought to be: 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchin'; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty. The more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-ultimate-rule-ought-to-be-if-it-sounds-good-to-you-it-s-bitchin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Digital music boils down the actual musical experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-le-bon/digital-music-boils-down-the-actual-musical-experience/) [Simon Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-le-bon/) > [Going through this musical experience really helped us to understand the core of the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-huppert/going-through-this-musical-experience-really-helped-us-to-understand/) [Isabelle Huppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-huppert/) > [Each person comes to have this musical experience, this moment with us, where they get to sink into our world for a little while.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-welch/each-person-comes-to-have-this-musical-experience-this-moment-with-us/) [Gillian Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-welch/) > [The most consistent musical experience I had growing up was church music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-grant/the-most-consistent-musical-experience-i-had-growing-up-was-church/) [Amy Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-grant/) ## More by Sam Shepard > [I guess what I like is mostly country & western or else stuff that has a real blues feel to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-guess-what-i-like-is-mostly-country-western-or-else-stuff-that-has/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [You can write 16 plays and not make as much money as you did doing one movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/you-can-write-16-plays-and-not-make-as-much-money-as-you-did-doing/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [It's funny, in a way the actor is a writer. It's not like the two things are so separate as to be like apples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/it-s-funny-in-a-way-the-actor-is-a-writer-it-s-not-like-the-two/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Character is an essential tendency. It can be covered up, it can be messed with, it can be screwed around with, but it can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/character-is-an-essential-tendency-it-can-be-covered-up-it-can-be/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Why would you want to be be counseled in your grief? It's too private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/why-would-you-want-to-be-be-counseled-in-your-grief-it-s-too-private/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Farm country -- you know, hay, horses, cattle. It's the ideal situation for me. I like the physical endeavors that go with the farm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/farm-country-you-know-hay-horses-cattle-it-s-the-ideal-situation-for/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I think comedy's harder to pull off on the screen than on the stage, anyway. Tragedy is easier on the screen... oddly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-think-comedy-s-harder-to-pull-off-on-the-screen-than-on-the-stage/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [“Those are the most monotonous fuckin' crickets I ever heard in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/those-are-the-most-monotonous-fuckin-crickets-i-ever-heard-in-my-life/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [All good writing comes out of aloneness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/all-good-writing-comes-out-of-aloneness/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [When I first started in film, I was terrified of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/when-i-first-started-in-film-i-was-terrified-of-the-camera/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I'll develop my own image. I'm an original man. A one and only. I just need some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-ll-develop-my-own-image-i-m-an-original-man-a-one-and-only-i-just/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [When I just sit around my house and work, I can work two, three hours, and then I go off and ride a horse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/when-i-just-sit-around-my-house-and-work-i-can-work-two-three-hours/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Hollywood is geared toward teenage idiocy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/hollywood-is-geared-toward-teenage-idiocy/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [It's my private life, and it's not up for grabs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/it-s-my-private-life-and-it-s-not-up-for-grabs/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Keep away from fantasy. Shake off the image,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/keep-away-from-fantasy-shake-off-the-image/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) [Explore all 176 Sam Shepard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) [Michael Bugeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bugeja/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always felt a great affinity with music. I've felt myself to be more of a musician than anything else, though I'm not proficient in any one instrument. 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