Classical music is one of the best things that ever happened to mankind. If you get introduced to it in the right way, it becomes your friend for life.

My teacher, my great cello teacher Leonard Rose, was such a great cellist, and nurturing man, very patient. But I grew up not only admiring him, but obviously Casals, Rostrotovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and many others, including many of my peers and contemporaries.

We may be coming to a new golden age of instrument making.

When your heart and your mind are engaged, you cannot go wrong.

Many of the Central Asians know Russian, and Ted Levin speaks it fluently. I speak Chinese, but Mongolian is completely different, so we had to have translators.

I think there are so many ways to become interested in music. I believe signs of sustained interest gives a sense of the right time. Music, if thought of as a language, would perhaps indicate that as early as possible is not so bad. I do believe that a really nurturing first teacher that makes the child love something is crucial.

Culture opens our hearts to one another. And the currency in culture is not money, but trust.