Miles

           Miles Davis (1926 - 1991)

Miles Davis had a lot to say about his music

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With a slight shift of thinking (and maybe changing a word or two), his observations could apply well to writing. 

Always listen for what you can leave out.

  

Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.

 

Anybody can play. The note is only 20 percent. The attitude of the motherfucker who plays it is 80 percent.

 

 First you imitate, then you innovate.

 

There are no wrong notes in jazz: only notes in the wrong places.

 

  It's not the notes you play, it's the notes you don't play.

 

If you're not nervous then you're not paying attention.

  

You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.

  

Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one.

  

Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.

  

Play what you know and then play above that.

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Miles Davis (1926 – 1991) was an American musician (trumpet), and composer. One of the top musicians of his time, Davis repeatedly changed the course of jazz in the 1950’s through 1990’s. He is considered one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music.