One of my favorite books is “What the Dormouse Said: Lessons for Grown-Ups from Children’s Books.” Amy Gash cleverly compiled this collection of insightful quotes in 1999. I received the book as high school graduation gift from my first elementary school librarian.
Recently, I thought it would be fun to point out ten quotations in that collection that have unique implications for musicians.
On Improvisation and Creativity:
- “Every night the river sings a new song.” –The Land of Right Up and Down Eva-lis Wuorio
- “At first, people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done – then it is done and all the world wonders why it was done centuries ago.” –The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett
- “It is helpful to know the proper way to behave, so one can decide whether or not to be proper.” – Ella Enchanted Gail Carson Levine
On Ensembleship:
- “The qualities of leadership are not something you attain overnight.” –Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Betty MacDonald
On Performing:
- “Talent is something rare and beautiful and precious, and it must not be allowed to go to waste.” – The Cricket in Times Square George Selden
- “What you can do is often simply a matter of what you will do. – The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
- “It’s nearly as difficult to stay beautiful as it is to become so.” – The Wonderful Farm Marcel Aymé
On the Importance of Music:
- “You have to stop when you’re lonely and listen.” –If You Listen Charlotte Zolotow
- “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” The Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- “His heart will get heavey when his songs are all gone.” – “How They Broke Away to Go to the Rootabaga Country,” Rootabaga Stories Carl Sanburg
Thanks for reading! (Now go practice!)