I can't stand loud guitars that make me deaf.

Jazz is a white term to define black people. My music is black classical music.

There are all kinds of things that can be done. You can change rhythms, you can change chords, you can change whole concepts. But it will only work, on a record or in a performance, if you can make the people buy it.

Through music you can become sad, joyful, loving, you can learn. You can learn mathematics, touch, pacing... Oh my God! Ooh... Wow... You can see colors through music. Anything!

It's time to take a look at my failures and stop calling them successes. Now I can start working at something that can use me best.

I was reared in the church from the age of three. I've played piano since I was three. I performed at revivals and for my people around North Carolina for several years. People around town collected money to send me to school.

That's a very high goal to have, study eight hours a day to be a concert pianist.