[observation, 2017, on deciding to study at the New England Conservatory after high school ] Psychologically , it had a positive impact on my life, and maybe even the longevity of my career. Musically, it exposed me to different styles that I hadn't been exposed to before - a lot of jazz and free improvisation, and more-in depth work on my own music. Those musical experiences expanded my ear and prepared me for the different musical situations that I find myself in now. To be thrown into something completely different makes you look differently at what you do.
