Aaron Copland

For me, the most important thing is the element of chance that is built into a live performance. The very great drawback of recorded sound is the fact that it is always the same. No matter how wonderful a recording is, I know that I couldn’t live with it–even of my own music–with the same nuances forever.

I no longer feel the need of seeking out conscious Americanism. Because we live here and work here, we can be certain that when our music is mature it will also be American in quality.

The main thing is to be satisfied with your work yourself. It’s useless to have an audience happy if you are not happy.

Some twenty years ago, during the course of a memorable evening at the Stravinskys’ home in Los Angeles, the venerable maestro turned to me and said in no uncertain terms: ‘My dear, you should conduct your own music. All composers should conduct their own music!

Listening to the Fifth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow for 45 minutes.

Mozart tapped the source from which all music flows, expressing himself with a spontaneity and refinement and breathtaking rightness.

Musicianship is using your two ears.

And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.

The radio makes hideous sounds.

People always ask, “Why jazz?” and I’m like “Why not?” It’s kind of like asking Seurat, “Why so many dots?” I imagine if you asked Bjork, “Why the Tibetan bells?” She’d probably be like “That’s just what I heard.” It’s the same thing. This is just the way I see music.

Music is everybody’s possession. It’s only publishers who think that people own it.

Learn the tunes by playing the masters, learn expression by playing yourself.

Musicians should never forget we’re blessed. We have a special gift that people enjoy through us.

Start well and end well. The middle will look after itself.

Eliminating the piano means that I’ve always worked closer with the bass than most players.

After you’ve done all the work and prepared as much as you can, what the hell, you might as well go out and have a good time.

I was a singing disc jockey who heard every type of music there was – and loved it all.

When you hear somebody with balls, that’s me.

I have no elitist concepts about Jazz. I would not be the musician I am today without experiencing invaluable music styles that are at the roots of African American black life and culture.

Notes are expensive… spend them wisely!

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music.