>> I think the thing I like the most
about what I do is working with the kids.
I'm very -- even today we had a
rehearsal this morning for our jazz band.
And I had alumni come back, just walked in
the room, and all they said was can I play?
I just want to do this again.
Some of them are going into their own university
experiences or whatever and miss what's going on
and miss that camaraderie,
miss that feeling that we had.
I talk to my graduates when they
leave, and the first thing I say
to them is you're still our family.
You're always part of us.
And I said the graduation year is just a number.
You're always part of my ensemble.
And I think that connection, to know that I a
few years ago was in a former student's wedding,
I actually stood there and got to
perform in the student's wedding.
And that was the greatest thing to
know that this little girl who I had
in sixth grade invited me to
come back and be in her wedding.
And that it meant that much to her
that I had that much of an influence.
And I think with music we get that more
because we're hitting an emotional vein.
And I think another thing I like about
what I do is just watching the kids mature
and seeing them achieve.
Because the greatest thing in the world
is when you do a last note of a concert,
and the kids know they did it and
you do not have to say a word.
They just know.
And you can see it in their eyes.