T. Monk’s Advice (Translated for Writers by M. Stevens)

A friend recently alerted me to Thelonious Monk’s “Advice” for fellow musicians.

It’s so cool.

I mean, Thelonious Monk!

Yes, I’m more of a rock and roll guy than a jazz dude, but Monk’s artistry is unmatched. Certainly his insights and advice could be useful for other creative types. So I dug deep into Monk’s advice and translated his wisdom for us writers.

I hope this is helpful.

T. Monk: Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to keep time.
M. Stevens: Hard to improve on that.

T. Monk: Pat your foot and sing the melody in your head when you play.
M. Stevens: Totally.

T. Monk: Stop playing all that bullshit, those weird notes, play the melody!
M. Stevens: Yeah.

T. Monk: Make the drummer sound good.
M. Stevens: Good reminder.

T. Monk: Discrimination is important.
M. Stevens: The right kind, yes.

T. Monk: You’ve got to dig it to dig it, you dig?
M. Stevens: Well, yeah.

T. Monk: All reet!
M. Stevens: All reet!

T. Monk: Always know.
M. Stevens: Like, always.

T. Monk: It must be always night, otherwise they wouldn’t need the lights.
M. Stevens: Night rocks.

T. Monk: Let’s lift the bandstand!!
M. Stevens: Rock those words.

T. Monk: I want to avoid the hecklers.
M. Stevens: And one-star reviews on Amazon, too.

T. Monk: Don’t play the piano part, I am playing that. Don’t listen to me, I am supposed to be accompanying you!
M. Stevens: Do your thing.

T. Monk: The inside of the tune (the bridge) is the part that makes the outside sound good.
M. Stevens: Mushy middles no more!

T. Monk: Don’t play everything (or every time); let some things go by. Some music just imagined.
M. Stevens: Less is more.

T. Monk: What you don’t play can be more important than what you do play.
M. Stevens: Less is good, too.

T. Monk: A note can be small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.
M. Stevens: Same thing with a word.

T. Monk: Stay in shape! Sometimes a musician waits for a gig and when it comes, he’s out of shape and can’t make it.
M. Stevens: Skip the donuts, work in a salad every now and then.

T. Monk: When you are swinging, swing some more!
M. Stevens: Keep writing, write some more.

T. Monk: (What should we wear tonight?) Sharp as possible!
M. Stevens: If you find yourself outside, make sure you’re wearing more than underwear.

T. Monk: Always leave them wanting more.
M. Stevens: Hang readers by fingernails on the edge of the proverbial cliff.

T. Monk: Don’t sound anybody for a gig, just be on the scene.
M. Stevens: Write it. They will come.

T. Monk: Those pieces were written so as to have something to play and to get cats interested enough to come to rehearsal!
M. Stevens: Write well; draw crowds.

T. Monk: You’ve got it! If you don’t want to play, tell a joke or dance, but in any case, you got it! (To a drummer who didn’t want to solo)
M. Stevens: Shed all fear. Keep writing.

T. Monk: Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along and do it. A genius is the one most like himself.
M. Stevens: Oh, man. I can’t top that.

T. Monk: They tried to get me to hate white people, but someone would always come along and spoil it.
M. Stevens: Racism sucks.