This fall I began teaching at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. My activities there include private students as well as a coaching at 7-piece jazz combo. It has been great fun so far, as well as very challenging. My combo (dubbed the “Atlantic” combo) just performed in their first concert of the year tonight. I am amazed and inspired by these students, who in four short weeks took themselves on a journey from being an amalgamation of somewhat randomly selected people of similar musical abilitiies to an actual group of musicians making actual music. As a musician, I find myself wondering what kind of progress I might be able to muster in any particular period of time—in this short hour I found time to practice before leaving for the gig, in the next month before a particular show, etc. I thank my students for reminding me how much progress can happen with the proper focus and openness to learning.