Dedication

Dedication:

I first dedicate this book to my students, past, present, and future. It is through them that I have any perspective and it is also through them that I often find myself asking the most present and important questions of myself and my art.

I also dedicate this book to the loving memory of my father, composer William Thomas McKinley (1938-2015) who not only helped me discover my musical spark by always keeping the light of music shining in my house as I grew up. Many of his ideas helped shape my own and some are reflected both directly and indirectly throughout this book.

Of course, this book represents a cross-section of my experience as a composer and musician and I’ve stood upon the shoulders of many, not the least of whom the cadre of amazing teachers and musical mentors who’ve taken the time to share their wisdom and perspectives with me, helping guide me both musically and personally over all my years of making a life in music. Malcolm Peyton, George Balch Wilson, William Bolcom, Alex Lubet, David Gompper, Doug Geers, Michael Daugherty, George Tsontakis, Thomas Oboe Lee, Joe Maneri, and John McNeil, thank you.

I also wish to thank all of my amazing musical peers and friends who have helped me and who also supported me in this effort: Peter Smucker, Erich Stem,

And to my current and former students who have helped me in forming the idea to write this book, but who also served as readers and testers: Nathaniel Akers, Logan DeSousa, Joshua Stiano,

Finally, but by no means any less significant than all mentioned above, this book could not exist without the enduring love and support of my wife Helen. She is always there to support all of my efforts, even my bad habit of being a musician.