When do you first recall being drawn to the vibraphone?

I think that I must have been 12 years old (7th grade) when I became really interested in the vibes. I started music lessons in first grade on piano and drums in 4th grade, so it was a fairly natural progression to move to the vibraphone. By 7th grade, I had become very interested in jazz music and when I saw Milt Jackson of the Modern Jazz Quartet and also Gary Burton play vibes, I knew that I was going to become a vibraphonist. I've often wondered if you pick your instrument or does your instrument pick you? I loved the sound of the vibes from the very beginning and I still do.

When you compose, do you actually compose on the vibraphone?

When I compose, I generally use the piano, which was the first instrument that I studied. When I write my songs, I'm more efficient (and comfortable) sitting at the piano, as opposed to standing at the vibes. However, if I want to write something specifically for the vibes, I'll write those parts or songs at the vibraphone.

Tell us a little bit about Auracle.

I started Auracle with our drummer, Ron Wagner, during our Sophmore year (1973) at the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, New York. Auracle was intended to feature the composing and performing talents of pianist, John Serry; flutist and saxophonist, Steve Kujala; trumpeter, Rick Braun; vibist and percussionist, Steve Raybine; drummer, Ron Wagner. Our bassist, Bill Staebell, did not compose. While students at Eastman, we won the Notre Dame Jazz Festival (Best Combo--1975); The New York State Battle of the Bands' Contest (1975), which enabled us to record our first LP at Columbia Records, entitled "Inner Vision." We produced our second LP entitled "Auracle" in 1976.

In the fall of 1976, we moved to Los Angeles and ultimately recorded two LP's on Chrysalis Records entitled GLIDER and CITY SLICKERS. We also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1978 and a Jazz Festival in Sopot, Poland the same year. We performed at numerous prestigious jazz venues in L.A. and Southern California including Donte's; The original Baked Potato; The Lighthouse; The Golden Bear and various colleges and universities. At one point or another, we opened for George Benson; Dave Brubeck; Stephen Bishop and Orleans.

Auracle received a great deal of critical praise in jazz from many sources during our 8 year tenure together. We were essentially a jazz fusion band that incorporated elements of Jazz; Classical; Latin; Rock and World Music influences. I loved performing with Auracle because the talent level was so terrific and our music was very innovative for its time.

You spend your days surrounded by music with writing, recording and instructing. Can you give us a day in the life of Steve Raybine?

During the school year (mid August-June 1st) my days begin quite early (6:15am-7:15am) as I am part of a car pool that shuttles the children of four different families (including my own kids) to-and-from school. After that is finished, I begin my teaching schedule by 8am for some of my elementary school students.

At 9am, I exercise and then eat breakfast and read USA Today. Between 10am and 2:45pm I do various things that includes the following, which varies depending upon the day:
1) do family-related chores
2) assemble music for my various students (classical and jazz piano; vibe and drumset)
3) do music business-related chores (visit or email website designer--Chris Cooke; phone/email music attorney--Rob Laughlin; pursue and follow-up on gigs; book musicians when needed for gigs; assemble and send out press materials; contact the parents of my students if they require a scheduling change, etc.; contact potential new students; book keeping for teaching and performing income and CD sales; email music associates ; write things for my website
4) practice--it's important to stay sharp
5) compose
6) teach some adults and home-schooled kids
7) eat lunch around 12pm-1pm
8) personal, non music-related chores
Approximately 3pm, prepare to pick up high school kids after school--school dismissed at 3:20pm I begin my after-school teaching at 4pm and end at 9pm (generally speaking), with a family dinner break included. Note: I teach about 8-10 students per day (Monday-Thursday) in my home studio; 4-5 students on Friday and 8-10 on Sunday. No students on Saturday--family day. I teach over 2,500 private lessons in a year. Friday and Saturday evenings are either family events or a possible gig. After 9pm on Monday-Thursday, I either help with the boys' homework (if I can--my wife, Beth, is the primary academic assistant) or help get my sons (David, 16 years old and Sam, 14 years old) ready for school the next day. I also might practice again or will read something or watch TV to relax before bed... and so ends another action-packed day.

My summer schedule is similar to the academic school year, but with my sons and my students on summer break, everything is somewhat more chaotic and modified in order to accommodate everyone's schedule.

Name three favorite recording artists of all time and three favorite new recording artists.

I have many favorite recording artists of all time, but here are three that I've always enjoyed:
1) The Duke Ellington Orchestra
2) Miles Davis
3) The Modern Jazz Quartet

Three favorite contemporary (newer) artists of the last 20-35 years would include:
1) The Rippingtons
2) Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
3) Michael Brecker (greatest tenor saxophonist of his generation who was recently deceased)

Where do you like to spend your time when you're not working?

I enjoy going to restaurants; movies; book stores; sporting events and shopping at 'cool' stores. When I have the opportunity to go on vacation, which isn't very often, I like to be somewhere near a lake or the ocean, although I do enjoy the mountains in winter.