This entry contains legacy content from the earler Phish.net's FAQ file and/or from earlier editions of The Phish Companion. It may be incomplete and/or out-of-date, but we hope to update it soon.

Paul Asbell was Trey's guitar teacher at the University of Vermont, and wrote the following foreword for the second edition of The Phish Companion:

                Making music has always been the single most important, enduring obsession in MY life. I'm truly grateful for what music has given back to me in return for my attentions. Teaching others often reminds me how much i long to live in a world that values music as i do. I was raised in a "real folk" household where I saw music played regularly by my Dad and his friends... it helped me to form the understanding that music was created by real humans with practiced skills, as opposed to originating from the radio. Our culture often seems to send the message that the importance of music is found in the grandeur of the spectacle, the celebrity of the performers, or the number of units sold. I think this unfortunate message can be offset by passionate music professionals and teachers who kindle the flame, "pass the torch" to others to follow, and in the process build more discerning, "tuned in" audiences to play for. Here's hoping it continues!