Charlie Parker quotes

You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail. (Charlie Parker)
Don't play the saxophone. Let it play you. View quote
Charlie Parker
I realized by using the high notes of the chords as a melodic line, and by the right harmonic progression, I could play what I heard inside me. That's when I was born. View quote
Charlie Parker
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. View quote
Charlie Parker
Any musician who says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced, is a plain, straight liar. When I get too much to drink, I can't even finger well, let alone play decent ideas. You can miss the most important years of your life, the years of possible creation. View quote
Charlie Parker
l'd been getting bored with the stereotyped changes that were being used all the time at the time, and I kept thinking there's bound to be something else. I could hear it sometimes but I couldn't play it. ... I found that by using the higher intervals of a chord as a melody line and backing them with appropriately related changes I could play the thing I'd been hearing. I came alive. View quote
Charlie Parker
They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. View quote
Charlie Parker
If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn. View quote
Charlie Parker
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. View quote
Charlie Parker
I could hear it sometimes, but I couldn't play it. I'd been getting bored with the stereotyped changes that were being used. I found that by using the higher intervals of a chord as a melody line and backing them with related changes, I could play the thing I'd been hearing. View quote
Charlie Parker