I think by the time I finished college I was calling myself a professional because I was, you know. I was making a living playing music.

We have a society that wants somebody to come out of college with a degree that will make them a slave for whatever discipline they're in.

If you enjoy learning, if you enjoy the curiosity of music and what can be done with it, and stop looking at it as something you have to do because someone says this is what you have to do to be a professional, you know, learn it because you're curious about it and then I think you'll have a much better creative sense and enable this inner voice to come out. These things are not taught and are not encouraged.

From the time I started playing solo drums, doing clinics and stuff, you know I think one of the largest selling clinics I ever did was in Chicago.

You just chip away until the puzzle is complete.

When I was in eighth grade said sit in at a graduation party and I played 'Boys' by The Beatles and fifty people were standing around with their mouths open. And you kind of get the hint, well maybe I should do this because I'm not very good at sports, I'm not that popular, I'm not very smart, and I'm not very good looking, but when I played the drums, everybody liked it.

I think by the time I finished college I was calling myself a professional because I was, you know. I was making a living playing music.