When you play competitive tennis you are competing against someone else and you have to win. Playing music I didn't have to win I had to become better within myself.

Composers can do things that weren't allowed in the 17th century. Until we had composers like Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff to break the rules.

You cannot do what I do for a living without having a thick skin.

When I create I don't think in technical or mathematical terms until the idea is formulated Musical composition is formulated in improvisation. Once a pianist like myself sits down and begins to play and start thinking about what I am writing all of a sudden a little tune will emerge, a little spot light and I'll go, "That's interesting."

I have a huge record and cd collection of all kinds of great classical, jazz and all music but I find the internet very accessible and quick.

When you play competitive tennis you are competing against someone else and you have to win. Playing music I didn't have to win I had to become better within myself.

The thing I learned from playing tennis is that I know what competition is. I can handle rejection.