John Corigliano Quotes

My parents were both high-school music teachers.

The quality of instruction is very high at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. It's not about being a rock star. It's about the fundamentals of music, theory and technique on a particular instrument, and playing in an ensemble or private setting.

I'm very interested, for instance, in music in education - getting young people not only to listen to, but participate in the music that I write. I consider this one of the most vital aspects of my work.

They taught us because they wanted to pass the knowledge on and educate young musicians. It was not because they had to teach because they failed as musicians. There is a huge difference in the reasons why someone is teaching and what they can offer and what they cannot offer.

I'm a huge fan of music in schools and music education because that's how I grew up.

I think music should be the basis of an education, not just something you do once a week.

The main thing is that I've been studying composition for the last four years. I'd say it's the life experience combined with the lessons that enabled me to go much further.

My mom is an elementary-school music teacher. For her, music is an educational tool.

Teaching the guitar is a constant source of inspiration. I sometimes think I get more out of the lessons than my students.

When I wanted to be a music teacher, I wanted to help people through voice. Now, I get to help people out through song.

I have to say I have an incredible musical education because of my father.

And my career, the things that have happened have happened because of my music education background.

When I was a teenager, I learned to play the trumpet. Music became my passion.

Just so people know, the Silverlake Conservatory of Music is not at all about celebrity or fame or being a star. It's an academic music school.

When I was a young musician, the only option available to pursue secondary education in music was to attend a classical conservatory.

There was the best teachers from the Czech Philharmonic, highly dedicated people, some of the best musicians in the world passing on the knowledge about the country, about the principles, and about the music.

When I graduated high school, I bought a guitar and, at first, didn't really think I'd get into the songwriting thing as much as I did. But after learning a few songs of other people's to play on the guitar, I got bored with that and just started writing songs on my own, and that's kinda how it came about.

And, you know, my dad would show me some things sometimes, but the best things that I got to do were to actually see really good players play up close. That gives you an idea of fingering and technique and what not.

When I was four years old, my mother put me into a school for early music education where you get perfect pitch and harmony and composition.

There happened to be guitar classes at the college, and there was a guitar teacher there with whom I used to play. In addition, I also would go out into country schools and teach little kids basic guitar and singing a few times a week.

I studied music at the most remedial level when I was a kid, through the Los Angeles public schools, with a little private instruction.

I'd like to expand on doing what I love and venture out a bit more. I would like to play consistantly good music. Eventually someday I would like to open up a school and teach kids about music.

Both of my parents are actually music teachers.

High school music teachers... nobody makes a living off it.

Working as a musician, I have to constantly generate new material, so school keeps me sharp. Reading and writing all the time helps me to be a better songwriter.