Music is about communication... it isn't just something that maybe physically sounds good or orally sounds interesting; it's something far, far deeper than that.

Percussion is the most adaptable family of instruments. The biggest challenge is to project percussion in a lyrical way.

A large part of my work has been collaborating with composers; I think we've commissioned about 140 pieces now, a lot of them percussion concertos.

Percussion is physical, as most instruments are. The body must function well in order to play the instruments well. Last year I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

I often play on the cello-bass side of the orchestra, because I prefer the deep sounds. I can't hear the violins well.

I am really quite fascinated by echo-locating bats and dolphins and have always wondered how sound affects the unconscious brain.

The thing about playing percussion is that you can create all these emotions that can be sometimes beautiful, sometimes really ugly, or sometimes sweet, sometimes as big as King Kong and so on. And so there can be a real riot out there, or it can be so refined.