Vijay-isms!

Here's some quotes made by Vijay Singh, the greatest conducter I've met in my life so far:
Good musicians cheat whenever possible.
It's this "damned" section...
We're having a big estro-fiesta...
I'm gonna go and shave my legs tonight!
One of the keys to blend is rhythmic unification!
No lunch break!
Silence = intensity.
Ornamentation ATTRACTS attention.
To tell a story in character is the only way it should be done.
*insert part here* have the money note!
The dignity of walking the line between pain/sorrow and hope...
MA LAWD.
Pick-up notes are a runway of intensity.
I want you to gain 500 gazillion hundred pounds.
Never be afraid to make a mistake.
To be a parent is an extraordinary thing.
I want mommas!
The surprise isn't chocolate... *Andre Thomas* I don't know about that...
We need to let the words lead us.
I know the composer [of Upon Julia's Voice] really well... I'll tell him what a fantastic job you did.
The music must BREATHE!
Milk it for all it's worth!
The last note of every phrase is especially important!
Overtones are our friends!
Pitch is absolute, intonation is not.
A 'But' turns everything around 180 degrees!
Bloom!
Pass the baton!
Indulge.
It's about the edumication!
Use consonants to propel into the vowel.
Musicians love homework.
Many artists move backwards so they can move forwards.
[Speaking of Jesus] I like that word. I like what it stands for, and I like to honor it in the text.
I was absolutely tickled when I found out I was coming here to conduct you guys.
[About Joy] We're gonna roll up our sleeves and LEARN this sucker!
[About Joy] This isn't something some dead guy wrote. We're CREATING, not RECREATING![About the word 'sing'] I love that word.
Sing smarter!
Isn't it great that in music you can be unique?
Eyes on me!
Be my 'Home Alone Choir'!
Perfect pitch is often an imperfect thing.
In music, the feeling is equally if not more important than the fact.
We live in a society that is oftentimes bereft of allowing young people to express themselves.
I'm an honorary chick now!
FF=FREAKING FORTE
MW=Mezzo Wimpy
Num num num. That's tasty...
Better than breakfast!
From the ideas of babes we learn so much!!!
Musicians get paid to communicate this art!!
[After we did "tutto..."] "That was exactly how I heard it in my head. It slayed me. It's uncomfortable to conduct my own music, usually, but this was an incredible gift. I will remember this forever."
Wait for the music to stop. Wait until it tells you to stop.
Student: What was on your mind when you wrote "Tutto..."?
vijay: Whell.... what was on my mind?
Student: yeah.... 'How does that make you feel'?
The Hierarchy of words: 1. Adjectives ("the sky" vs. "the deep, blue sky")
2. Verbs
3. Important Nouns
4. Groupings of words
5. Connector words (prepositions or conjunctions) with the exception of "but" because it turns things around.
We are different from instrumentalists because we can use language!!
If there is a person who doesn't go out feeling anything, we haven't done our job.
In an a capella song, there is no where to hide.
Silence and space are very powerful because they create tension and anticipation.
Compare an ordinary Hershey bar to an expensive, exquisite, rich dark chocolate Swiss Truffle!!!
Don't be Russian. don't "russian" to next measure!!
The pitch nazi shall come tomorrow! No wrong notes or I will give you fifty lashes with a wet noodle!!
Never be afraid to make a mistake. We are so terrified of it! As long as you can identify it and fix it, there is no need to be afraid of a mistake.
About tutto: The damned burst forth!!
When we repeat something, it means what we are saying is important enough to say twice. Christina, stop. Christina, stop! CHRISTINA, STOP!!!
The one thing I learned about marching band was how to internalize time through marching and using your body.
[He played the clarinet!]
["ive never been to heaven..."] Well if you get angry about it, you won't get there!!
If we don't know people by the time we leave here, we've missed an opportunity.
Tell me a story, Piglett! Please!!