Diki, you hit pretty close to home. I DO think that, for me and ONLY me, every music form pales next to jazz and classical, and often regret the fact that I wasn't committed enough to commit my life to it. Many of the players I admire are equally comfortable in both jazz and classical formats.

At least I had the sense to evaluate the lives of my heroes and decide that they were, in some cases, tortured souls.

I took the rational, safe route. Music was 1/3 of my interests. Art/graphics, film production, academic research and associated activities made up the rest. That's probably why I took the path I took. I liked other things as much as I did music. And I wanted to have a better life for me and my family than I had growing up.

Don't worry. The program we run is not completely jazz focused. I make sure of that. We start with talented disadvantaged kids, get them into a safe environment, give them a chance to earn a good quality instrument and connect them with a mentor who plays the kind of music they're interested in. Several early participants went on to the Eastman School of music, and a couple are successful gigging musicians in Chicago. Three now have their Masters in Music.

I have a personal satisfaction issue. Playing anything other than jazz is not fulfilling to me. When the check comes in for a sound score, the satisfaction is the money and the overall effectiveness of the film, not the final musical product (you heard one of my roughs...they're ALL that boring).

That's the great challenge, I think. Fulfilling work does not pay well,for me, at least, whether it's art, music, copy, graphics...whatever. Great paying work is often unimaginative, generic, etc.

The trick is to find a place where you're comfortable and enjoy it.

My problem is, I'm TOO comfortable and haven't accomplished anything noteworthy, at least in my mind, except for helping others.

I guess that's not all bad.


Russ