Everyone joins a band in this life.
-- The Spirit of Music (chapter 3 paragraph 1)

Importance: This quote embodies the novel's main theme of interconnectedness between all people. Bands are not just musical; they're relationships that inevitably shape us and influence others. The line is repeated throughout the book, showing the rhythm-like relationship music has to life.

Aurora means dawn.
-- Frankie (chapter 43 paragraph 4)

Importance: This quote captures the importance of new beginnings. Every time Frankie returns to Aurora, he says these words. It represents how he starts fresh several times over the course of his life.

Music is pain.
-- El Maestro (chapter 8 paragraph 14)

Importance: This quote shows the novel's theme that true beauty comes from great suffering. Frankie's pop star songs enjoy fame but no real critical acclaim after his first album. His greatest compositions all come from his pain and trauma.

You must decide what you're going to be-- a great singer or a great guitar player (…) Being both means being neither.
-- El Maestro (chapter 11 paragraph 6)

Importance: This quote shows the importance...