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I say to string players in small chamber orchestras, 'it's always easy to become a passenger on the journey in sound, just adding volume to the whole. But if you play in an individual way, it makes the difference between good and great sound in an orchestra.'
Itzhak Perlman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Playing individually and with creativity elevates the overall sound of a group.

This quote by Itzhak Perlman emphasizes the importance of individual expression within a collective musical setting. He urges string players in orchestras to avoid merely blending in by increasing their volume, and instead encourages them to bring their unique interpretations and artistry to the music, which can transform a good performance into a great one.

Themes

IndividualityExpressionOrchestraMusicCreativity

In practice

Example use cases

A music teacher might use this quote to inspire students to find their unique sound.

More from Itzhak Perlman

In difficult times, people just like to hear music. They like to be moved by what they hear. And music speaks different languages.
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Sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.
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For every child prodigy that you know about, at least 50 potential ones have burned out before you even heard about them.
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Whenever I play recitals, the part where I talk about music and my experiences of music, audiences always like it. They feel more involved with an artist who talks to them. It's a nice experience for me as well.
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I am playing the violin, that's all I know, nothing else, no education, no nothing. You just practice every day.
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Israel is the country of my birth. When I come here, I feel I'm coming home.
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