--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned music from a book on piano…" description: "\"I learned music from a book on piano theory. I was only interested in knowing about chords. From that, and from the 'Harvard Dictionary of Music,' I le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg" --- # I learned music from a book on piano theory. I was only… ![“I learned music from a book on piano theory. I was only interested in knowing about chords. From that, and from the 'Harvard Dictionary of Music,' I learned everything I wanted to know.” quote by Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg) > “I learned music from a book on piano theory. I was only interested in knowing about chords. From that, and from the 'Harvard Dictionary of Music,' I learned everything I wanted to know.” [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning music through theory books, focusing on chords, and using a dictionary to self‑educate shows self‑directed learning. **In simple terms:** Self‑study chords via books and dictionary. Key Takeaway Study theory to master music independently. Themes self‑education music theory chords independent learning Mood educational practical instructive Type music learning When to use this quote - learning piano - songwriting - teaching music Key Concepts autodidacticism musical structure resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply theory to practice? - What resources complement self‑study? A Different Perspective May miss practical playing experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-piano-333911/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Knowing Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-chords-4893108/) [Learned Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-music-795875/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-learned-505451/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-theory-3801509/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) ## Related quotes > [Never mind, put any book on the piano, and someone can turn from time to time, so I need not look as though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-mendelssohn/never-mind-put-any-book-on-the-piano-and-someone-can-turn-from-time/) [Felix Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-mendelssohn/) > [See my father knew a lot about music, he played the piano and he would do theory and stuff like that, but I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fahey/see-my-father-knew-a-lot-about-music-he-played-the-piano-and-he-would/) [John Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fahey/) > [I was doing experimental noise-based music and I learned a number of things about performance. I was playing small shows - sometimes without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-m-anderson/i-was-doing-experimental-noise-based-music-and-i-learned-a-number-of/) [Erika M. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-m-anderson/) > [It's interesting to do other people's music - that's how I learned to play, by learning other people's songs. It's nice to delve into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/it-s-interesting-to-do-other-people-s-music-that-s-how-i-learned-to/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [When I was 12 or 13, my dad taught me a couple of different chords, and once I learned chords, I never learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-rhett/when-i-was-12-or-13-my-dad-taught-me-a-couple-of-different-chords-and/) [Thomas Rhett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-rhett/) > [I used to not really know any other people when I was young that wanted to play music - that's why I learned everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berry/i-used-to-not-really-know-any-other-people-when-i-was-young-that/) [Matt Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berry/) > [Artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Albert King, Ann Peebles, Isaac Hayes, and so many more gave me hope when I was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rodgers/artists-like-otis-redding-sam-dave-albert-king-ann-peebles-isaac/) [Paul Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rodgers/) > [I had 10 years of lessons at the conservatory in Belgium, studying classical music. I learned how to sing, play the piano, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-fabian/i-had-10-years-of-lessons-at-the-conservatory-in-belgium-studying/) [Lara Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-fabian/) > [I was just a huge fan of music, so that's how I learned how to rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amine/i-was-just-a-huge-fan-of-music-so-that-s-how-i-learned-how-to-rap/) [Amine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amine/) > [It's really hard to teach me anything. I can't read music. I never learned how to read music. I read books about things and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/it-s-really-hard-to-teach-me-anything-i-can-t-read-music-i-never/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [The music that I have learned and want to give is like worshipping God. It's absolutely like a prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/the-music-that-i-have-learned-and-want-to-give-is-like-worshipping/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [Music will still be a big part of our environment. The Bible talks about choirs of angels and how there is singing in Heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/music-will-still-be-a-big-part-of-our-environment-the-bible-talks/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [“Once, he'd been satisfied by the music alone. Now he had learned about friendship...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/once-he-d-been-satisfied-by-the-music-alone-now-he-had-learned-about/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [Anytime I'm playing music or getting ready to record, Duane Allman will enter my thoughts, and so will Berry Oakley. It's part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dickey-betts/anytime-i-m-playing-music-or-getting-ready-to-record-duane-allman/) [Dickey Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dickey-betts/) > [“What if instead of reading, you wrote? Instead of watching TV, you made videos? Instead of listening to music, you learned how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-jarvis/what-if-instead-of-reading-you-wrote-instead-of-watching-tv-you-made/) [Paul Jarvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-jarvis/) ## More by Walter Becker > [Cynicism, I contend, is the wailing of someone who believes that things are, or should be, or could be, much, much better than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/cynicism-i-contend-is-the-wailing-of-someone-who-believes-that-things/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [If it feels like we're re-creating something rather than creating something, we don't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/if-it-feels-like-we-re-re-creating-something-rather-than-creating/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [There's a great freedom in writing by yourself. You can write anything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/there-s-a-great-freedom-in-writing-by-yourself-you-can-write-anything/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [Most of our songs are about relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/most-of-our-songs-are-about-relationships/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [That's sort of what we wanted to do: conquer from the margins, sort of find our place in the middle based on the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/that-s-sort-of-what-we-wanted-to-do-conquer-from-the-margins-sort-of/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [You have a kid, and it's like, 'He's gotta go to college! Gotta have some clothes!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/you-have-a-kid-and-it-s-like-he-s-gotta-go-to-college-gotta-have-some/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I think what television and video games do is reminiscent of drug addiction. There's a measure of reinforcement and a behavioural loop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-think-what-television-and-video-games-do-is-reminiscent-of-drug/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I guess actually playing on the records and touring is a great forced practice regimen for me. And you learn a lot playing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-guess-actually-playing-on-the-records-and-touring-is-a-great-forced/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [We are constantly competing with the monsters from the id.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/we-are-constantly-competing-with-the-monsters-from-the-id/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I love guys like Charlie Parker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-love-guys-like-charlie-parker/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > ['Deacon Blues' was special for me. It's the only time I remember mixing a record all day and, when the mix was done, feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/deacon-blues-was-special-for-me-it-s-the-only-time-i-remember-mixing/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [It seemed like the more complex the music we were playing, the less able we were to guarantee its consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/it-seemed-like-the-more-complex-the-music-we-were-playing-the-less/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [Our career had a sort of funny shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/our-career-had-a-sort-of-funny-shape/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I think that there's the self-imposed pressure to come up with something that's good. For guys like us, that's much more important than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-think-that-there-s-the-self-imposed-pressure-to-come-up-with/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [I can never believe how much time and energy and money and talent and everything else is being poured into horrible ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-can-never-believe-how-much-time-and-energy-and-money-and-talent-and/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) [Explore all 77 Walter Becker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned music from a book on piano theory. I was only interested in knowing about chords. From that, and from the 'Harvard Dictionary of Music,' I learned everything I wanted to know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Becker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-theory-i-was-only-interested-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-theory-i-was-only-interested-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/walter-becker-8870_books_i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-the_1398401.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned music from a book on piano theory. I was only interested in knowing about chords. From that, and…” — Walter Becker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter Becker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned music from a book...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-theory-i-was-only-interested-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/i-learned-music-from-a-book-on-piano-theory-i-was-only-interested-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```