When I got into high school, clarinet was not really in fashion. Everybody had electric bands.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The clarinet has always been my baby. I just didn't know that for a while.
Then when I was in grammar school I played the clarinet, and then, after clarinet I played the flute in college orchestra - besides singing in the college chorus and things like that.
The clarinet chose me more than I chose the clarinet.
I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records.
Clarinet is an incredible instrument. It's a great, expressive instrument.
Clarinet is often associated with certain genres, like swing or folk music. I combine the old and new, using the clarinet as an expressive tool and not in one genre. I'm just happy that people are drawn to what I do.
Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That's why I wanted the clarinet.
I was in every band class I could get in, like after school jazz band and marching band, and that's where I really learned to read music from elementary all the way through junior high and high school.
I played trombone for 10 minutes, and then I was in an accordion band in school for even less.
I got in the school band and the school choir. It all hit me like a ton of bricks, everything just came out. I played percussion for a while, and stayed after school forever just tinkering around with different things, the clarinets and the violins.