Artie Shaw: Advice is bad #advice

Artie Shaw: Advice is bad. Form your own judgment, and then trust it.

Ask two different world-class musicians for help.
You might get two completely opposing bits of advice in return.

Many musicians have experienced this.

Remember, there are many paths to the top.

People can tell you what they did to get there.
But that's them. They're not you.

You are completely unique.

You have a unique personality, a unique physicality.
What works with someone else's mind and body might not apply to you.

Form your own highly informed opinion.

Don't trust. Verify.

Be willing to change, but don't be easily swayed.

The great ones have clear, determined judgment.
Bad advice can’t throw them off.


Artie's formula goes like this:

 Listen closely to as much music as you can.

 Seek informed opinion.

 Determine what you like and what you don't like.

 Form your own clear judgement,
 a vision of what you want to sound like

 Practice until that sound becomes a reality

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Artie Shaw (clarinet) was one of history's greatest "Big Band" leaders.

The rock stars of their day, the top big band leaders of the 1930s and 40s attracted fanatical crowds and crazed fans everywhere they went.

The clarinet was that generation's electric guitar, and Artie was a master on it.

Artie married eight times. Two of those marriages were to the hot Hollywood starlets Lana Turner and Ava Gardner (who later married Frank Sinatra).

A fascinating guy with fascinating opinions. Highly recommended checking out  this whole interview.

#advice #artieshaw #clarinet #jazz