Herb Alpert

I love it. When they stop imitating me then I’ll start wondering where I’m going wrong. Every day when I sit down to play, I learn something new.

Music and culture are intrinsically improvisational, existential.

I try to teach by example and not force ideas on a young musician. We’re here to be part of a process of exchange.

A beat is a moment in the life a groove.

You must own it to play it.

A great teacher stimulates his student’s creativity enough so that they go out and find the answers themselves.

Never play anything the same way twice.

Once in a while, the thumb that fits over the neck of the guitar kinda bothers me a little bit, but not that much yet. I figure in time I won’t do much because of my age.

I love it when people hear my music but can’t figure out what instrument I’m playing.

Most people use music as a couch; they want to be pillowed on it, relaxed and consoled for the stress of daily living. But serious music was never meant to be soporific.

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be Jazz.

Music has to be accessible.

I never really thought about becoming a professional musician.

It’s not what they think, it’s about what’s best for the music.

Music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion.