• When he was a kid, he learned to play the violin and the viola

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• After college he played a lot of Jazz and Rock music

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• He started a band called "Faboulistics"

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• Before he composed music for movies, he wrote music for lots of commercials

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• He has composed music to over 50 movies

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• He has worked closely with another well known composer - Hans Zimmer

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• He specializes in animated films

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• He runs a company that makes music for commercials called "Thinking Music"

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• He earned his first Academy Award for his music in "How to Train your Dragon"

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• His music is known for using instruments from around the world

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