“Listen to all kinds of music, for one thing. Practice a lot. Listen to people who have made a success out of it. Listen to everybody you can, especially people who are successful to a degree and practice regularly. If you’re a jazz player, put together jam sessions with those who have like minds about it and play as often as you can. Go through all your books, too, scales and such. Be nice.” -Urbie Green, speaking in a 2014 Allegro interview.