When I began taking piano lessons at the age of eight, I never imagined music would affect me in the way that it has.  Playing music has become my destiny, my responsibility, my aspiration.  Music is not more important to me than God or family, though as I study why God created music it has become evident to me how serious music is as a career choice.  The fact that the body can use an instrument made by man and instantaneously create sounds which cause others to feel emotion is incomprehensible to me.

          More amazing to me, particularly in jazz, one can improvise sounds and still create music pleasing to the ear.  When I think about the music I play and what happens when it is performed, I realize I am not creating it all on my own strength.  It is true I must spend countless hours in practice and preparation, but there is a "Spiritual" aspect to music I do not totally control.