A band is only as good as its euphonium section. John Philip Sousa More Quotes by John Philip Sousa More Quotes From John Philip Sousa The red and white and starry blue John Philip Sousa shields white blue I am happy now, to recall that I was not only his son but his companion, and whenever there was a hunting expedition or any other pleasure, I was always with him. John Philip Sousa hunting travel son Dance as though no one is watching. Love as though you've never been hurt. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth. John Philip Sousa inspirational love life Anybody can write music of a sort. But touching the public heart is quite another thing. John Philip Sousa music heart writing I have always believed that 98% of a student's progress is due to his own efforts, and 2% to his teacher. John Philip Sousa effort teaching teacher I firmly believe that we have more latent musical talent in America than there is in any other country. But to dig it out there must be good music throughout the land, a lot of it. Everyone must hear it, and such a process takes time. John Philip Sousa land believe country From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else. John Philip Sousa childhood real desire Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains. John Philip Sousa free-jazz music feet I forsee a marked deterioration in American musicand a host of other injuries to music in its artistic manifestations, by virtue—or rather by vice—of the multiplication of the various music-reproducing machines John Philip Sousa deterioration machines vices Is it not the business of the conductor to convey to the public in its dramatic form the central idea of a composition; and how can he convey that idea successfully if he does not enter heart and soul into the life of the music and the tale it unfolds? John Philip Sousa soul heart ideas The office of President is a great one; to every true American it seems the greatest on earth. And to me, as I was engaged in weaving a background of music for the pageantry of it, there came a deeper realization of the effect of that office on the man. John Philip Sousa office president men I can almost always write music; at any hour of the twenty-four, if I put pencil to paper, music comes. John Philip Sousa twenties paper writing There is much modern music that is better adapted to a wind combination than to a string, although for obvious reasons originally scored for an orchestra. If in such cases the interpretation is equal to the composition the balance of a wind combination is more satisfying. John Philip Sousa orchestra balance wind There is one thing that freezes a musician more than the deadliest physical cold, and that is the spiritual chill of an unresponsive audience! John Philip Sousa cold musician spiritual Remember always that the composer's pen is still mightier than the bow of the violinist; in you lie all the possibilities of the creation of beauty. John Philip Sousa bows beauty lying I still feel the impulse to give young writers a hearing, and I believe I have played more unpublished compositions than any other band leader in the country. John Philip Sousa giving believe country The vocal cord will be eliminated by a process of evolution, as was the tail of man when he came from the ape. John Philip Sousa apes tails men Any composer who is gloriously conscious that he is a composer must believe that he receives his inspiration from a source higher than himself. John Philip Sousa conscious inspiration believe America can well expect to develop a goodly amount of composers for she has a goodly number of people. John Philip Sousa numbers america people Composers are the only people who can hear good music above bad sounds. John Philip Sousa composer sound people
