--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can sit down at a piano or with a…" description: "\"I can sit down at a piano or with a guitar and just chug away for hours and be perfectly content with whatever comes out. But when it comes to somethin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/tom-scholz-11209_away_i-can-sit-down-at-a-piano-or-with-a-guit_1517997.jpg" --- # I can sit down at a piano or with a guitar and just chug… ![“I can sit down at a piano or with a guitar and just chug away for hours and be perfectly content with whatever comes out. But when it comes to something that somebody else is going to listen to, then I do feel a great deal of pressure to do something that's exceptional, at least in what I consider…” quote by Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/tom-scholz-11209_away_i-can-sit-down-at-a-piano-or-with-a-guit_1517997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/tom-scholz-11209_away_i-can-sit-down-at-a-piano-or-with-a-guit_1517997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/tom-scholz-11209_away_i-can-sit-down-at-a-piano-or-with-a-guit_1517997.jpg) > “I can sit down at a piano or with a guitar and just chug away for hours and be perfectly content with whatever comes out. But when it comes to something that somebody else is going to listen to, then I do feel a great deal of pressure to do something that's exceptional, at least in what I consider to be at the limits of what I can do.” [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal practice feels effortless, but performing for others creates pressure to excel. **In simple terms:** Practice is easy; performance is pressure. Key Takeaway Accept pressure as a sign of growth. Themes creativity performance pressure Mood reflective focused Type motivational analytical When to use this quote - live concerts - recording sessions - teaching music Key Concepts Perfectionism self‑doubt Questions to Reflect On - How does audience expectation affect your work? - What strategies reduce performance anxiety? A Different Perspective Pressure may stifle creativity if over‑emphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) ## Related quotes > [You can't be great if you don't feel great. Make exceptional health your #1 priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-can-t-be-great-if-you-don-t-feel-great-make-exceptional-health/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Before thinking or analyzing or judging, just look, listen, and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-thinking-or-analyzing-or-judging-just-look-listen-and-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be spacious. Open to listen and feel the other without prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-friend/be-spacious-open-to-listen-and-feel-the-other-without-prejudice/) [John Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-friend/) > [I want to be a voice people listen to and feel good or sad or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorja-smith/i-want-to-be-a-voice-people-listen-to-and-feel-good-or-sad-or-whatever/) [Jorja Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorja-smith/) > [Look at things and listen and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/look-at-things-and-listen-and-feel/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Everything you need to know is within you. Listen. Feel. Trust the body's wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/everything-you-need-to-know-is-within-you-listen-feel-trust-the-body/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“It’s no surprise we fail to tune into our children’s essence. How can we listen to them, when so many of us barely listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-tsabary/it-s-no-surprise-we-fail-to-tune-into-our-children-s-essence-how-can/) [Shefali Tsabary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-tsabary/) > [It's important for people to, instead of automatically assuming everything the opposite side says is incorrect, you have to at least listen and see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wolf/it-s-important-for-people-to-instead-of-automatically-assuming/) [Michelle Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wolf/) > [I never say no or yes. I just listen to how I feel and follow my emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/i-never-say-no-or-yes-i-just-listen-to-how-i-feel-and-follow-my/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [You would not hang out with people that talk to you the way you talk to yourself. So get out of your head! Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-robbins/you-would-not-hang-out-with-people-that-talk-to-you-the-way-you-talk/) [Mel Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-robbins/) > [All I have to teach you are feelings, the words don't matter much. But as you listen, feel the stillness of my mind, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/all-i-have-to-teach-you-are-feelings-the-words-don-t-matter-much-but/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Smile, when you don't want to. Give, when you feel you have nothing to give. Go for a walk, when you don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/smile-when-you-don-t-want-to-give-when-you-feel-you-have-nothing-to/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [“The good-natured arguing that got your heart pumping, made you think, made you listen, made you feel just that bit more alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/the-good-natured-arguing-that-got-your-heart-pumping-made-you-think/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Music has always carried me through times of loneliness. So when I make music, I like it to make people who listen to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/music-has-always-carried-me-through-times-of-loneliness-so-when-i/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [To the young members of the Church, I promise that if you will listen, you will feel the Spirit well up within you. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/to-the-young-members-of-the-church-i-promise-that-if-you-will-listen/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) ## More by Tom Scholz > [We need a free media, not just freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/we-need-a-free-media-not-just-freedom-of-speech/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I don't like the idea of having to reproduce a recorded song live that I sing. I have enough to do on stage. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-having-to-reproduce-a-recorded-song-live/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [Virtually every magazine, newspaper, TV station and cable channel is owned by a big corporation, and they've squashed stories that they don't want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/virtually-every-magazine-newspaper-tv-station-and-cable-channel-is/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm certainly aware of the fans. I'm always hoping that what I'm doing is something they'll like, because I do appreciate them. But, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-certainly-aware-of-the-fans-i-m-always-hoping-that-what-i-m-doing/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm a total rink rat. I can do the toe loop, the lutz, a flip, and the Scholz. That's one I invented. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-a-total-rink-rat-i-can-do-the-toe-loop-the-lutz-a-flip-and-the/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I don't work out a lead section and practice it for a day and then lay it down. I don't do that. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-don-t-work-out-a-lead-section-and-practice-it-for-a-day-and-then/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm going to say this as an ethereal effect, not something that people are necessarily aware of while it's happening, but my theory is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-going-to-say-this-as-an-ethereal-effect-not-something-that-people/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [Music is an escape for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/music-is-an-escape-for-me/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I played in a couple of really crummy bands, including one in the dorm I was in at MIT, for a year or two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-played-in-a-couple-of-really-crummy-bands-including-one-in-the-dorm/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I didn't touch a guitar until I was 20.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-didn-t-touch-a-guitar-until-i-was-20/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [The public has been sold a bill of goods about the free market being a panacea for mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/the-public-has-been-sold-a-bill-of-goods-about-the-free-market-being/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I'm never too ambitious when I go into the studio. I always know that I'm just going into the studio to work on or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-m-never-too-ambitious-when-i-go-into-the-studio-i-always-know-that/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [If things aren't going well, music is what I turn to so I can get away from it, to take my mind somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/if-things-aren-t-going-well-music-is-what-i-turn-to-so-i-can-get-away/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I was a fixer, a builder - an inventor - ever since I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-was-a-fixer-a-builder-an-inventor-ever-since-i-can-remember/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [There aren't a lot of cover bands that do Boston material or do it well, and the reason for that is that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/there-aren-t-a-lot-of-cover-bands-that-do-boston-material-or-do-it/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) [Explore all 61 Tom Scholz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) ## More Away quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-just-say-the-word-and-i-ll-make-the-rest-of-the-world-go-away-i/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [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/) > [Beauty fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-fades-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't kind of take away, you either do or you don't. If you kind of take away something you're a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/you-can-t-kind-of-take-away-you-either-do-or-you-don-t-if-you-kind-of/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [If you take away the predators in the prairies and the national parks, you suddenly have an explosion of elk, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/if-you-take-away-the-predators-in-the-prairies-and-the-national-parks/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) Browse all 4,933 Away quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can sit down at a piano or with a guitar and just chug away for hours and be perfectly content with whatever comes out. 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