The essential elements of singing are voice, musicianship, and story. It is the rare artist that has all three in abundance.
Linda RonstadtRead
Ninety-nine percent of singing is listening and hearing, and so then 1 percent of it is singing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Effective singing requires more listening than actual performing.
In this quote, Linda Ronstadt emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding in the art of singing. She suggests that to be a great singer, one must first hone their ability to hear and analyze music, which constitutes the vast majority of the process, while the act of singing itself plays a comparatively minor role.
Themes
SingingListeningMusicPerformanceArt
In practice
Example use cases
During a workshop on vocal technique, I shared this quote to stress the importance of ear training.
More from Linda Ronstadt
All quotes βI don't record (any type of genre of music) that I didn't hear in my family's living room by the time I was 10. It just is my rule that I don't break because ... I can't do it authentically ... I really think that you're just hard-wiring (synapses) in your brain up until the age of maybe 12 or 10, and there are certain things you can't learn in an authentic way after that.
Linda RonstadtRead
I miss singing every day. I can't sing anymore. My voice doesn't work. I have Parkinson's disease, and it sometimes takes my words away from me.
Linda RonstadtRead
I first knew Laurie Lewis by her considerable reputation as a fiddle player and a writer of songs. When an opportunity came along to sing with her I seized it. Getting to know her as a singer and a person has been pure pleasure. Her voice is a rare combination of grit and grace, strength and delicacy. Her stories are always true.
Linda RonstadtRead
Songwriting wasn't my gift. I think you have to cultivate a gift; you have to practice and develop craft around your gift so that you can execute it in more convenient, efficient ways.
Linda RonstadtRead
Ninety-eight percent of the singing I did was private singing - it was in the shower, at the dishwasher, driving my car, singing with the radio, whatever. I can't do any of that now. I wish I could. I don't miss performing, particularly, but I miss singing.
Linda RonstadtRead
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