You never know where a good tip is going to turn up. Recently, a friend sent along some words of advice from the world of music.

The author of these tips is the late, great jazz piano player Thelonious Monk. Monk's piano style was best described as musical assault. He pounded the keys like they were his worst enemy, but still managed to produce some of the most thoughtful works ever created by an American musician.

When Monk was not playing, no one knows much about what he was thinking. Even close friends said he would sometimes go for hours or even days without speaking a word. He let the piano do his talking.

But that doesn't mean Monk wasn't thinking. After his death, friends came across a collection of spiral notebooks in which Monk had made notes about everything from harmony to human rights.

Monk's writings are notes to himself about the music he wrote and musicians he played with and how to make each better.

But whether he knew it or not, Monk's notes have a universal appeal. Reading them today, you get a sense that if some of Monk's musical advice were applied to daily life, we might all be a lot better off.

For instance, one of Monk's notes said: "Don't play everything ... or every time. Let some things go by. Some music is imagined ... what you don't play can be more important than what you do."

This tidbit could easily apply to everyday conversation. A lot of us could do a lot better job of communicating if we didn't say everything that came to mind. We've all been in situations where leaving something unsaid would have produced much better results.

Another Monk gem was: "A note can be small as a pin or as big as the world ... it depends on your imagination."

Now substitute the word "idea" for Monk's word "note." If more of us spent more time expanding our ideas, imagine what wonderful new things could be created and enjoyed.

Monk also believed in physical fitness, musical style. He said, "Stay in shape. Sometimes a musician waits for a gig and when it comes he's out of shape and can't make it."

Or in layman's terms, "When opportunities arise, make sure you've prepared to take advantage of them." Sound advice for everyone.

We've heard this one in different forms over the years, but back in the 1940s, Thelonious Monk was wise enough to say, "Whatever you think can't be done, somebody will come along and do it."

We all know people whose first reaction to a new proposal is listing the reasons it is bound to fail. If more of us looked for new ways to get things done, imagine what progress we could make.

Most of us toss the word "genius" around without really knowing what it means. We wonder what set people like Mozart or Einstein apart from the rest of us. Monk may have gotten it right when he said, "A genius is the one most like himself." My favorite Monk-ism is on the subject of race relations. Growing up in segregated America, Monk knew hatred the way he knew his musical scales. But he was wise enough not to jump to conclusions about anyone.

He summed it up this way: "They tried to get me to hate white people, but someone would always come along and spoil it."

You may not be a musician, but I'll bet if you put some of Monk's advice to work, you'll be singing a sweeter tune in no time.

(Send your e-mail comments to: alex@newnan. com)