At the age of 11, he entered the University of Washington to study composition privately with George Frederick McKay and John Verrall and piano with Madame Berthe Poncy Jacobson.
Když mu bylo 11 let, začal soukromě studovat kompozici na University of Washington, u Georga Fredericka McKaye a Johna Verralla a klavír s Madame Berthe Poncy Jacobsonovou.