I can make a song up about anything: garbage, the weather, things in the news.

You mustn't underestimate an audience's intelligence.

Let's say music is needed for only 43 seconds of film. You have to score it so it is an entity, so it won't bother anyone when it ends so quickly. Or if a song runs 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but the titles run a minute longer, you have to arrange that song so it doesn't get repetitious.

As I get older, I'm slowing down and, yes, calming down in my desire to be taken seriously. That I can be entertaining and funny and high nervous energy can work against me as a serious composer, slowly but surely you'll see me be quieter just so that people will listen.

My show business career doesn't mean I can't write a symphony. It just means I was never asked to write one.

If I'm within reach and can be helpful, I have a tendency to say 'Yes.' It's hard to say 'No.

My whole thing is not just to play music for people, but to make them part of the evening.