--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having heard Clifford Brown play all…" description: "\"Having heard Clifford Brown play all those fast runs, I used to really practice Clarke trumpet exercises all day long so that I could play fast. That's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/wynton-marsalis-1721_brown_having-heard-clifford-brown-play-all-tho_2357831.jpg" --- # Having heard Clifford Brown play all those fast runs, I… ![“Having heard Clifford Brown play all those fast runs, I used to really practice Clarke trumpet exercises all day long so that I could play fast. That's all I wanted to do. I was like a child with a toy.” quote by Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/wynton-marsalis-1721_brown_having-heard-clifford-brown-play-all-tho_2357831.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/wynton-marsalis-1721_brown_having-heard-clifford-brown-play-all-tho_2357831.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/wynton-marsalis-1721_brown_having-heard-clifford-brown-play-all-tho_2357831.jpg) > “Having heard Clifford Brown play all those fast runs, I used to really practice Clarke trumpet exercises all day long so that I could play fast. That's all I wanted to do. I was like a child with a toy.” [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A musician’s drive to master speed, likening practice to a child’s pure joy with a toy. **In simple terms:** Practicing fast to emulate a hero. Key Takeaway Practice with childlike curiosity. Themes dedication skill development musical ambition learning playfulness Mood determined joyful inspired Type instructional personal musical When to use this quote - learning a new instrument - improving speed - pursuing a musical dream - maintaining enthusiasm Key Concepts mastery musical technique inspiration growth Questions to Reflect On - What does speed mean to you in music? - How can playfulness sustain long‑term practice? A Different Perspective Focus on speed can neglect musicality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Toys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toys/) [Trumpet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trumpet/) ## Related quotes > [I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-got-my-first-trumpet-when-i-was-six-years-old-from-al-hirt-my/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [The nerves are a problem on trumpet, because when you mess up everyone can hear it. Just remember most people are too polite to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/the-nerves-are-a-problem-on-trumpet-because-when-you-mess-up-everyone/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Trumpet players are just belligerant, and cocky, and you know, just hard-headed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/trumpet-players-are-just-belligerant-and-cocky-and-you-know-just-hard/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I'm not a person who writes really abstract things with oblique references. I look at abstraction like I look at condiments. Give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-a-person-who-writes-really-abstract-things-with-oblique/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/trumpet-players-see-each-other-and-it-s-like-we-re-getting-ready-to/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I played saxophone and trumpet. Pretty nerdy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-played-saxophone-and-trumpet-pretty-nerdy/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [Music was the one thing I could control. It was the one world that offered me freedom. When I played music, my nightmares ended.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/music-was-the-one-thing-i-could-control-it-was-the-one-world-that/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I studied trumpet for almost 15 years and was performing with a professional concert marching band in parades and rodeos. I was headed back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-carlos-nakai/i-studied-trumpet-for-almost-15-years-and-was-performing-with-a/) R. Carlos Nakai > [I played trumpet for about two weeks. Sixth grade. And I didn't practice. Maybe a little longer than two weeks, but I didn't practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-played-trumpet-for-about-two-weeks-sixth-grade-and-i-didn-t/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [ I got to trumpet, finally. 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My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-dad-s-father-was-a-white-star-line-trumpet-player-in-the-20s-it/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Whoever keeps an open ear For tattlers will be sure to hear The trumpet of contention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/whoever-keeps-an-open-ear-for-tattlers-will-be-sure-to-hear-the/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [ \[Louis Armstrong\] could play a trumpet like nobody else, then put it down and sing a song like no one else could. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-condon/louis-armstrong-could-play-a-trumpet-like-nobody-else-then-put-it/) [Eddie Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-condon/) > [By itself, practice does not make perfect. Those of us with a ten-year-old son practicing the trumpet may understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-hanley/by-itself-practice-does-not-make-perfect-those-of-us-with-a-ten-year/) Daniel Hanley > [Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/look-man-all-i-am-is-a-trumpet-player/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## More by Wynton Marsalis > [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I always read all these books about the slaves. My mother is very educated. My father would talk to us like we were grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-always-read-all-these-books-about-the-slaves-my-mother-is-very/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [“The best musicians know this music isn't about "schools" at all. Like my father says, "There's only one school, the school of 'Can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/the-best-musicians-know-this-music-isn-t-about-schools-at-all-like-my/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Louis Armstrong is jazz. He represents what the music is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/louis-armstrong-is-jazz-he-represents-what-the-music-is-all-about/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [And that's the soulful thing about playing: you offer something to somebody. 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The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [In the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra we play such a diversity of music, with 10 arrangers in the band, we don't really worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/in-the-jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra-we-play-such-a-diversity-of/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Commercialism that has absolutely no relationship to quality whatsoever, only quantitative assessment of a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/commercialism-that-has-absolutely-no-relationship-to-quality/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Instead of imposing your will on every situation...focus on including everyone else, and just that little adjustment of attitude gives you the space to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/instead-of-imposing-your-will-on-every-situation-focus-on-including/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I'm not afraid of you being yourself. That's America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-afraid-of-you-being-yourself-that-s-america/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [“I noticed that religion gave some people a way to escape dealing with the world: “Things will be better when you die,” the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-noticed-that-religion-gave-some-people-a-way-to-escape-dealing-with/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/trumpet-players-see-each-other-and-it-s-like-we-re-getting-ready-to/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) [Explore all 213 Wynton Marsalis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) ## More Brown quotes > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. 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