How does an ordinary middle-class young man from Portland, Oregon forge the social currency to find himself rubbing elbows and making friendships with glitterati the likes of Anne Bancroft, T.V's Merv Griffin, artist extraordinaire Salvador Dali and musical greats Van Cliburn, Leonard Bernstien and Samuel Barber? Answer: the visible glow of a struggling artist's beat and relentless dedication to the art he loves. American pianist, Mark Westcott's fascinating and distinctive reflections on the tumultuous road to the world's concert stages offer not only entertaining reading but a provoking personal testament to the role of love in pursuing excellence, overcoming fear and disappointment, and even battling a disfiguring cancer. ""Playing With Love"" is a must read for inspiring artists, teachers, parents of talented children and any courageous soul attempting to accomplish a far reaching dream.