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There have been countless hours when I sit with my saxophone in my fingers, then unsure, as they grasp each key in the tiresome effort of learning a new audition piece. At those times, all I do is stare despairingly at the long road of practicing, which faces me. The slow progression to a finished piece seems unmanageable and my only wish is that I could just play and play as naturally as I breathe. …

…I know that had everything come easily, I would not have gained anything. I would not have gained the discipline, the satisfaction, and the confidence that came with the effort. As the famous jazz composer Duke Ellington once said, "I like any and all of my associations with music – writing, playing, and listening. We write and play from our perspective, and the audience listens from its perspective. If and when we agree, I am lucky."