I am indebted to several people for helping me bring this project to completion:

To my wonderful wife, Susie, for her support and encouragement. Despite her incredibly busy schedule administrating and teaching graduate students at California State University, Sacramento, I kept leaving pages for her to look at as I tried to put my ideas down on paper. Her reactions and critique have been invaluable. But most of all, for over 35 years, Susie has encouraged and supported me when I was eager to pick up the baton of leadership and face a new piece of music when it would have been much easier for her if I had just tried to keep things as they were.

To my son Thom and his wife Amy, who have encouraged me to complete this dream that I have had for years. They not only kept asking me about it, but also have spent significant time proofing and editing the book. Without them this project would still be in my head rather than on paper.