We had been thrown out of a couple of places that we had lived in when I was a kid and all the family photos and records and toys were long since gone. But I think somebody had given us a couple of records.

Another classical music teacher from Performing Arts that I've stayed in contact with is Jonathan Strasser.

Life and success are about what you choose to believe.

I have to say, music was always my self preservation survival technique. This sort of sacred space in my life and in my mind.

Don't chase success. Decide to make a difference and success will find you.

I've been thankful to work with some wonderful people and sort of combine forces with some folks that... like in recent years, working with Alan Ferber or his brother Mark who's a wonderful drummer.

I had a great year with Bob Mintzer [at Laguardia School of Arts]. Bob is great. We could have just brought the clarinet or dealt with classical stuff, or brought the flute or just dealt with comp and arranging... what a great teacher.