Personally, I think young musicians need to learn to play more than one style. Jazz can only enhance the classical side, and classical can only enhance the jazz. I started out playing classical, because you have to have that as a foundation.
Meaning of the quote
As a musician, Doc Severinsen believes that young musicians should learn to play different styles of music, not just one. He thinks that learning jazz can make your classical playing better, and learning classical can make your jazz playing better. Severinsen himself started by learning classical music, because he thinks that's an important foundation for being a well-rounded musician.
About Doc Severinsen
Doc Severinsen, the legendary American jazz trumpeter, is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Born in 1927, Severinsen had a long and illustrious career as a musician, known for his flamboyant style and virtuosic performances.
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My goodness, everyone is planting grapes, even a neighbor with only five acres.
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I still play jazz, and I’ve always got that trumpet very handy, but I’m coming to feel the classical venues are where my main focus is, in the realm of symphonic pops.
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Personally, I think young musicians need to learn to play more than one style. Jazz can only enhance the classical side, and classical can only enhance the jazz. I started out playing classical, because you have to have that as a foundation.
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Now I’m having the time of my life being on the road with one of the world’s all-time great big bands, and performing with symphonies. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
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He was a very private person, but then, you know, he belonged to the whole United States. The United States thought they owned Johnny Carson.
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Television is so influential that when an audience sees you day-in and day-out there’s a certain acceptance that sets in; you’re no longer a threatening personality. They become more willing to accept whatever you present.
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