I was absolutely fascinated to stumble upon this page of “Advice” from the legendary jazz pianist/composer, Thelonious Monk. The soprano saxophonist, Steve Lacy, is the person who actually wrote these quotes down during rehearsals as a member of Monk’s band in the early 1960’s.
Reading these points provides an amazing insight into the mind of this creative genius. And, while I’m no creative genius, I do resonate with a number of his observations.
Check out this article to see the complete list typed out, but here are three that really got me:
Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep time.
The way I understand this is that every musician (or singer, if we’re talking choir) has got to be all in. Not just listening to someone else do it, but actually and actively fully engaged yourself.
Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along & do it. A genius is the one most like himself.
Someone in the comments shared this quote by e. e. cummings: “The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.”
Personally, I found myself thinking of how Swami Kriyananda encouraged Ananda members to be original, but in the true sense of originality: coming from one’s origin, from deep within, instead of from ego. In fact, one of Swamiji’s songs says, “Dare to be different! Dare to be free.”
(What should we wear tonight?) Sharp as possible!
I like this because it tells me that Monk saw himself as a serious professional and expected the same from his band members. I feel similarly with our music on Sundays: we should be “sharp as possible” because we have the privilege of presenting our music to the whole world as part of Sunday service. I mean, what an honor!