I started piano lessons when I was 4 ½. I did the classical thing from then to about age 20, when I dropped out of University of the Pacific Conservatory to devote my time to anti-war protests and hitchhiking. Along the way, at around age 11, I had started playing blues and boogie-woogie at my dad's request. He was from Texas, and being somewhat tired of hearing only classical music, suggested I might want to expand my musical horizons. Thank goodness I listened to him. By the time I was at the conservatory, I had begun to explore improvisation, jazz, and ragtime. I was increasingly uncomfortable focusing on the required course of study for classical piano majors, so, after two years I bailed and sailed off into the real world, or at least, my version of it at that time (1970.)
It took me many years to stop thinking in the genre-specific mindset. When I had occasion to perform, I would always keep different styles of music separated and on different programs. I finally stopped doing that and just started playing whatever I felt like playing. In the beginning, it might have been a little disconcerting for some listeners, since we have all been programmed for corporate music consumption following strict stylistic boundaries. It's less of a problem now, as more and more people have become accustomed to genre bending and crossover.
I have composed, and still do compose in the traditional manner. My focus has been piano, vocal, electronic music, and chamber music. My wife, Maggie, is a poet, and we have collaborated on many projects. We live in Mystic, CT USA, where I continue to teach, compose, and perform.
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