--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got this saxophone, it became a…" description: "\"When I got this saxophone, it became a religion. There wasn't TV, there wasn't much money, and there was just a real dedication… I never thought of it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/stan-getz-15717_art_when-i-got-this-saxophone-it-became-a-re_2450819.jpg" --- # When I got this saxophone, it became a religion. There… ![“When I got this saxophone, it became a religion. There wasn't TV, there wasn't much money, and there was just a real dedication… I never thought of it as an art. It was just work that I loved. Not just work, but work that I loved. I loved it so much, I would play it if nobody listened to it. Any…” quote by Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/stan-getz-15717_art_when-i-got-this-saxophone-it-became-a-re_2450819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/stan-getz-15717_art_when-i-got-this-saxophone-it-became-a-re_2450819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/stan-getz-15717_art_when-i-got-this-saxophone-it-became-a-re_2450819.jpg) > “When I got this saxophone, it became a religion. There wasn't TV, there wasn't much money, and there was just a real dedication… I never thought of it as an art. It was just work that I loved. Not just work, but work that I loved. I loved it so much, I would play it if nobody listened to it. Any jazz musician, if there's nobody around to listen, would play just for the sheer joy of improvising music.” [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The saxophone became a personal devotion, a source of joy beyond commercial success, driving pure creative expression. **In simple terms:** Music was a personal devotion, not a job. Key Takeaway Embrace work you love regardless of audience. Themes passion music dedication creativity Mood introspective inspired Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - solo practice - late night jam sessions - teaching music - personal meditation Key Concepts jazz improvisation intrinsic motivation artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain passion when external validation is absent? - What role does discipline play in pure enjoyment? A Different Perspective May overlook practical needs or financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Dedication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedication/) [Got Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-saxophone-569073/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Improvising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvising/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-music/) [Jazz musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-musician/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Listened Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listened-jazz-569072/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Musician Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician-listen-569074/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone/) [Saxophone Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone-religion-569071/) [Sheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheer/) [Sheer joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheer-joy/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) ## Related quotes > [Actually, my ambition at eight or nine years old was to be one of Little Richard's sax players, and that's when I got my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/actually-my-ambition-at-eight-or-nine-years-old-was-to-be-one-of/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I wanted an electric train for Christmas but I got the saxophone instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-clemons/i-wanted-an-electric-train-for-christmas-but-i-got-the-saxophone/) [Clarence Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-clemons/) > [When you feel like a musician you listen to is like you, then they don't feel so far away, and whatever you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-simz/when-you-feel-like-a-musician-you-listen-to-is-like-you-then-they-don/) [Little Simz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-simz/) > [There is nothing more beautiful for a musician to listen and see harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adnan-sami/there-is-nothing-more-beautiful-for-a-musician-to-listen-and-see/) [Adnan Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adnan-sami/) > [There's so much excellent new music around that I can't afford to buy it all and I haven't the time to review as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wilson/there-s-so-much-excellent-new-music-around-that-i-can-t-afford-to-buy/) [Malcolm Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wilson/) > [I'm a musician and I listen to music all the time. 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I only listened to jazz and classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/at-a-certain-point-i-became-a-kind-of-musician-that-has-tunnel-vision/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I've listened to Jazz since I was born and always knew I'd be a Jazz singer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-monheit/i-ve-listened-to-jazz-since-i-was-born-and-always-knew-i-d-be-a-jazz/) [Jane Monheit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-monheit/) > [I've never listened to jazz. It's just not something I ever paid attention to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-never-listened-to-jazz-it-s-just-not-something-i-ever-paid/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Listen, there's been times in my life like the two years that I only listened to jazz, and probably nothing after 1966. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-luke/listen-there-s-been-times-in-my-life-like-the-two-years-that-i-only/) [Dr. Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-luke/) > [The first time I listened to jazz was when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromi-uehara/the-first-time-i-listened-to-jazz-was-when-i-was-8/) [Hiromi Uehara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromi-uehara/) > [That's kinda what happened to me: I listened to jazz, country, R&B, rock 'n' roll. And when I sat down to write a song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/that-s-kinda-what-happened-to-me-i-listened-to-jazz-country-r-b-rock/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I've always listened to jazz or folk or blues. I was always listening to the prophets. I don't really go for...I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-ve-always-listened-to-jazz-or-folk-or-blues-i-was-always-listening/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) ## More by Stan Getz > [Records used to be documents, but now record companies want product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/records-used-to-be-documents-but-now-record-companies-want-product/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [Hearing myself so much all the time, I don't think I sound that special all the time because it's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/hearing-myself-so-much-all-the-time-i-don-t-think-i-sound-that/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [I cannot play a lie. I have to believe in what I play or it won't come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/i-cannot-play-a-lie-i-have-to-believe-in-what-i-play-or-it-won-t-come/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [Life is too full of distractions nowadays. When I was a kid we had a little Emerson radio and that was it. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/life-is-too-full-of-distractions-nowadays-when-i-was-a-kid-we-had-a/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [The saxophone is an imperfect instrument, especially the tenor and soprano, as far as intonation goes. The challenge is to sing on an imperfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/the-saxophone-is-an-imperfect-instrument-especially-the-tenor-and/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [If you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. At its best it's like the human voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/if-you-like-an-instrument-that-sings-play-the-saxophone-at-its-best/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [You don't rehearse jazz to death to get the camera angles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/you-don-t-rehearse-jazz-to-death-to-get-the-camera-angles/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [Interaction is what jazz music is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/interaction-is-what-jazz-music-is-all-about/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [Switch to piano! No. Really, if you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. At its best it's like the human voice. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/switch-to-piano-no-really-if-you-like-an-instrument-that-sings-play/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [I appreciate men like Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/i-appreciate-men-like-ben-webster-and-coleman-hawkins-very-much/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [People think that I play effortlessly. I remember doing a record date with Bill Evans and afterwards he said to me, you make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/people-think-that-i-play-effortlessly-i-remember-doing-a-record-date/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [There are four qualities essential to a great jazzman. they are taste, courage, individuality, and irreverence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/there-are-four-qualities-essential-to-a-great-jazzman-they-are-taste/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [When I'm alcohol-free now and even to see the world around me, I appreciate it, but I never truly enjoy too much of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/when-i-m-alcohol-free-now-and-even-to-see-the-world-around-me-i/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [I've always regretted the fact that I've never formally studied and learned the mechanics of writing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/i-ve-always-regretted-the-fact-that-i-ve-never-formally-studied-and/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [You can read all the textbooks and listen to all the records, but you have to play with musicians that are better than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/you-can-read-all-the-textbooks-and-listen-to-all-the-records-but-you/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) [Explore all 42 Stan Getz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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There wasn't TV, there wasn't much money, and there was just a real dedication… I never thought of it as an art. It was just work that I loved. Not just work, but work that I loved. I loved it so much, I would play it if nobody listened to it. 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