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Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma Quotes

Cellist

Yo-Yo Ma, born on October 7, 1955, is a world-renowned cellist. His unique playing style, which blends Eastern and Western musical elements, has won him the admiration of audiences worldwide. Ma began his musical studies at a young age and has since won numerous international music awards, becoming one of the most influential musicians of our time.

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Famous Yo-Yo Ma Quotes

“I think anybody who goes away finds you appreciate home more when you return.”

Thinking Home Return Appreciate

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“I think one of the great things about being a musician is that you never stop learning.”

Thinking Musician Great Things Never Stop Learning

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“I think that peace is, in many ways, a precondition of joy.”

Thinking Way Joy

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“People will ask, 'Are you famous?' And I always answer, 'My mother thinks so.'”

People Thinking Mother Asks Answers

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“When we have a good balance between thinking and feeling... our actions and lives are always the richer for it.”

Thinking Feelings Action Balance Our Actions

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“I love grocery shopping when I'm home. That's what makes me feel totally normal. I love both the idea of home as in being with my family and friends, and also the idea of exploration. I think those two are probably my great interests.”

Thinking Feels Two Ideas Home Interest Normal My Family Exploration Shopping Family And Friends Groceries Great Idea Friend Love Grocery Shopping

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“I think of a piece of music as something that comes alive when it is being performed, and I feel that my role in the transmission of music is to be its best advocate at that moment.”

Thinking Feels Moments Roles Pieces Alive Music Is That Moment Transmission

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“I think the purpose of a piece of music is significant when it actually lives in somebody else. A composer puts down a code, and a performer can activate the code in somebody else. Once it lives in somebody else, it can live in others as well.”

Thinking Wells Purpose Pieces Music Is Significant Code Performers Composer Activate

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“I think there are so many ways to become interested in music. I believe signs of sustained interest gives a sense of the right time. Music, if thought of as a language, would perhaps indicate that as early as possible is not so bad. I do believe that a really nurturing first teacher that makes the child love something is crucial.”

Ifs Thinking Way Giving Firsts Believe Children Language I Believe Interest Teacher Crucial Right Time Nurturing Children Love

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“The tradition of classical music and the opera is such that it used to be the place where social intercourse could take place between all parts of society: politicians, industrialists, artists, citizens, etc. That tradition, I think, still exists, but it's much, much more diluted.”

Thinking Stills Used Artist Social Citizens Politician Tradition Used To Be Etc Opera Classical Music Intercourse

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“What came up at age 49 is I realized that of all the things I'm interested in, the thing I'm most interested in is figuring out what makes people tick, why people think the way they do, why they act the way they do. And I realized that music is such a great way to investigate why people do what they do.”

People Thinking Way Age Music Is I Realized Tick

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

“Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children's education.”

People Ifs Thinking Feels Children Helping Connections Our Children Depth

Author:Yo-Yo Ma

About the Author

Born: October 7, 1955
Known for: Cellist
Quotes: 72

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