Charlie Parker

"The saxophone told me things I couldn't say with words."

"Don't play what's there. Play what's not there yet."

"Every mistake is just a note that wants to be played differently."

"The real jazz is in the spaces between the notes, not in the notes themselves."

"If you're afraid to take risks in music, you're not really playing jazz."

"The greatest compliment you can get is when another musician wants to learn from you."

"Music is the only honest language. You can't lie when you're really playing."

"I never played a solo the same way twice because life never happens the same way twice."

"Your instrument is only as good as your ability to listen to yourself."

"The secret to improvisation is preparation combined with letting go."

"Every great musician has failed more times than most people have tried."

"You can't buy soul. You can't manufacture it. You either have it or you don't."

"Music teaches you patience better than any other discipline."

"The notes are just ink on paper. The music is what's inside you."

"Playing jazz is like having a conversation where no one interrupts and everyone listens."

"Don't be afraid of the wrong notes. Be afraid of playing without passion."

"The music business will test your character, so make sure you have one worth testing."

"You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up on the bandstand, forget all that and just play."

"Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn."

"Don't play the saxophone. Let it play you."

"The real pleasure is in the work."

"You can't just play what's written down. You have to play what isn't written down."

"Get the notes right, and the music will take care of itself."

"Technique is something you acquire through constant repetition and dedication."

"If you don't have freedom, you haven't got nothing."

"I've been taking heroin for a long time, and I've got to get it out of my system."

"The only way to change things is to do something different."

"When you realize you've made a mistake, make amends and move forward."

"Every day I wake up and I am grateful for the chance to play music."

"Your personal life shouldn't interfere with your art."