“Music of the Heart” quotes

“- Roberta Guaspari: Is it my imagination, or does everybody here hate me?
- Isabel Vasquez: Look, it's hard to fit in when you're doing a special program. People figure you're not gonna be here very long, so they don't make the effort. It may take a while for folks to warm up to you, but they don't hate you.”

Meryl Streep - Roberta Guaspari
Gloria Estefan - Isabel Vasquez

“This beautiful concert that you've just heard could be the very last concert for the East Harlem Violin Program. The board of education and the district attorney think that music isn't important. But they are wrong! And they're gonna get a big fight!”

Meryl Streep - Roberta Guaspari

“- Roberta Guaspari: It's okay to cry.
- Ramon Olivas: Not for a man.
- Roberta Guaspari: My boys still cry. And they're big, strong young men now. And I'll betcha Justin's daddy cried.”

Meryl Streep - Roberta Guaspari
Jean-Luke Figueroa - Ramon Olivas

“I want you all to take a second and just... breathe. Deep breaths. Now listen to me. I want you all to play from your heart. Forget about the audience, watch me, you'll do just fine. Just play from here.”

Meryl Streep - Roberta Guaspari

“The good news is the tickets are selling like hotcakes. The bad news is the kids sound like shit.”

Meryl Streep - Roberta Guaspari