My People Are Americans. My Time Is

I Didn't Even Start Playing The Piano Until I Was About 13 Or 14. I Guess I Must Have Had A Little Talent Or Whatever-you-call-it, But I Practised Regularly, And That's What Counts.

All Great Composers Of The Past Spent Most Of Their Time Studying. Feeling Alone Won't Do The Job. A Man Also Needs Technique.

Writing Music Is Not So Much Inspiration As Hard Work.

Porgy Is...an Interesting Example Of What Can Be Done By Talent In Spite Of A Bad Setup. With A Libretto That Should Never Have Been Accepted On A Subject That Should Never Have Been Chosen, A Man Who Should Never Have Attempted It Has Written A Work That Has A Considerable Power.

Jazz Is The Result Of The Energy Stored Up In America.