What drew me to the violin was mastering the instrument technically, which I'm continuing to do. You want to push boundaries, to not always be in your comfort zone. If you don't, you get stale. So you have to find areas of growth.

I associate music with fun and joy.

I write arrangements. I'm sort of a wannabe composer.

You're a constant student, as a musician.

The violin sings.

Over the years, I’ve collected a lot of musical friends.

If you mess up the tiniest little thing in the Beethoven concerto, or the phrasing isn’t just exactly perfectly executed, Beethoven brings out the worst in the best violinist. You almost never hear a satisfying performance, because it doesn’t play itself.

Kids need to be structured in some way, but you don’t want to force something down their throats that they have no interest in. You have to find the right balance.

I like working with kids because I enjoy seeing the looks on their faces and, it’s kind of selfish, I want a future audience.

There are some great teachers who have had great students, but they themselves can’t play a note. I don’t understand it, because the most I learned from my teacher was just hearing him play.