Bill Evans on learning and dedication

Visuals by Stanka / written by Alen Mischael Vukelić

Inspiring message from Bill Evans

Have you ever had thoughts like: “I’m too old for this to learn”, “I should have started earlier”, “I’m not a natural”, “I’m too slow”, “Others seem to get it so fast, but I…”, “It’s too late, anyway, maybe in my next life”.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had these kinds of thoughts many times, and they destroyed much of my motivation to go further down the path.

However, when you find such an inspiring message, like this one from Bill Evans (considered one of the finest jazz pianists in jazz history), you start working immediately, with a new enthusiasm, freed from negativity and dullness.

This is what he has to say on this:

“I always like people who have developed long and hard, especially through introspection and a lot of dedication. I think what they arrive at is usually…deeper and more beautiful…than the person who seems to have that ability and fluidity from the beginning.

I say this because it’s a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to. You hear musicians playing with great fluidity and complete conception early on, and you don’t have that ability. I didn’t. I had to know what I was doing.

And yes ultimately it turned out that those people weren’t able to carry their thing very far. I found myself being more attracted to artists who have developed through the years and become better and deeper musicians.” (Williams, n. p.)

Bill Evans

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