Choose your musical partners with the utmost care. The mismatching of personalities, ambitions, performance styles, technical abilities, quality of sound and/or musicianship is the greatest source of frustration, disappointment and unproductivity.

Always try to play with those who are on your same musical level and preferably with
those who are better than you are. To perform with lesser musicians will generally bring on disappointment and frustration.

There are many wonderful musicians with many different personalities and styles,
but playing with those of similar tastes and values is always an easier experience
than trying to mesh inherent dissimilarities.

You must perform often, and with the same partners, in order to perform consistently
well.

A great performance of great music with great musicians is a test of iron will and competitive strength. You and your instrument must be able to musically take what you want when it is time to take it. Since no one is going to give anything to you, you must have what it takes to hold your ground with quiet strength, yet have the ability to lead without straining.

In a successful musical partnership it is said that the player on the first part must
be a virtuoso, but that the player on the second part must be a real musician. You
must understand human nature as well as the nature of each musical role.

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