I can say, "I understand a piece of music" just like I can say "I understand a close friend of mine"

But that does not by any means mean that I know EVERYTHING about my friend and how they are feeling deep down inside their heart.

Just like people.... understanding a great pieces of music is never finished- there is always something else you can add, something more you could learn, realise, delve into, discover, spot (or even just remembering after 20 years of playing the same old piece, how it felt to hear it for the first time.)

How do you keep learning a piece you know so well? I guess, like a relationship, keep working on it and you'll dig deeper- and just be careful not to fall into habits that lead to stale moments.

Very few things in this world are still, they either progress or regress.
 
 
Creativity is to allow one self to make mistakes

Art is just knowing which mistake to keep

:)
 
 
I recently heard about a new technique of communicating with someone at the pub or coffee shop; literally prepare a set of conversations and pre plan the route that'll you'll take them on, almost like a lecture- this way, you'll NEVER have unplanned difficult silences...... mmmm.... maybe....

It struck me that I find the best most open conversations just happen without planning them or restricting them, and it made me wonder about how a musician can allow fellow musicians to be in a similar place to make music OPENLY :)

Surely the same open gesture needs to be present? How often though a rehearsal is lead from the front without allowing space for conversation, or even an input into the direction of where you're going. It might be a slower process to operate on, but at least the group will be functioning as one in a direction that you all want to go in.

I don't think many people when sat over coffee with their best friend would talk for 3 hours straight and then just leave without even listening to any responces- why should an ensemble/musician/orchestra do any differently?
 
 
I saw this video and couldn't help but agree with it all :) Why don't more people just ADORE classical music!?

 http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/286

He is VERY right about NO one being tone deaf.... Infact, everyone has amazing ears, they just don't really know how to trust them. 
 
 
A conductor and a violist are standing in the middle of the road. which one do you run over first, and why?

The conductor. Business before pleasure.
 
 
One of my favourite things to do is to surprise people.

In general, it is very easy to respond to people with the energy that they contact you with..... for example, if someone barges into you in the supermarket with a trolley (by accident or otherwise!) but then rapidly apologises very politely, its very difficult to send back anything other than, "that is quite alright.... it was my fault really!!" or at least words similar!

On the other hand, (the same) someone barges into you with in the supermarket with a trolley by accident (it really was this time) and THEN rapidly mutters a comment like, "get out of my way you fat idiot!!" ...... Well, you get the idea! You might not react directly back to them, but you are filled with such negative energy that you ignore them and complain to someone later about it- or you bottle up that feeling and let it start to manifest inside yourself.

I enjoy making the cashiers in Tesco smile by talking to them or even just genuinely asking them how their day was (and listening to their response!) You'd be amazed at how many of them just can't believe that you're talking to them!

It reminds me somewhat of the amazing reaction that Jesus gives those who literally hated him so much they wanted to kill him- he just turns round and loves them straight back.

Now- that's amazing, and actually, why can't we all just do that?

Love inspite, not love because!
 
 
I have hung out with some incredibly wonderful and clever folk who know how to use words...... and yet, I think to myself, words can only ever say so much!?

Maybe I'm in favour of music and the lack of words because I spend all day in it, and thats the way I'm strung up.... but can we ever truly understand love through words alone? Or emotions or feelings? Surely happy can't even begin to describe it that feeling of adoration and contentment of falling in love and happiness that it brings!?

I guess thats where experiences can come in to help us, like the feeling of sitting in the middle of the most powerful and mighty forceful orchestra can be like diving off a 10 meter diving board and submerging yourself in all that water..... and that word to describe it could just plain and simply be surrounded.

And yet, you understand what I'm saying here, and change can happen from what is written in the worlds' newspapers and actually, they have so much power- I just hope that they know just how powerful they truly are :) ...
 
 
I admit it.... I'm a chocoholic...... lock me up..... take me to chocoholics anonymous!..... I'm guilty as charged.....

BUT- what makes chocolate so good?

Is it the milk, or fairtrade sugar, cocoa butter or vegetable fat that is in my yummy regular 230 gram cadbury bar next to my bed......

Now, my point is, its not the serotonin levels or the release of endorphins- as I get this feeling with a few other things too.... like a tin of peaches.... or my mothers lamb

I think its got something to do with having it before- knowing that expectation and locking into it. For example, in my mind I relate peaches with an enormous treat when I was little and having it for pudding.... now I have them whenever I like..... but maybe its the same feeling I get of feeling special?

Is that the same as maybe why one person becomes closer to you than another.... or in fact as close as soul mates. I think Hannah (my girlfriend) and I have this sort of relationship of feeling so special when we're together. Like the feeling of eating chocolate or peaches

And this morning was the first time in a week or so that I got to play chamber music with my trio and in particular feathers, my flute player. We were improvising and instantly, despite the early morning and painstaking potential of other factors, we clicked back together. It was like the opening of Debussy (check out my recordings if you're that interested) that we've played probably getting onto over a thousand times in rehearsal and performance.... How priceless this was..... it was amazing.... and yet it was just taken for granted.... our sounds blend...

I guess for all of us its different isn't it. We all have our own personal things. Our own favourite foods or comforts..... our own special friends and incredible connections with people..... sounds silly but worth noting I think..... and also those special folk that you can make gorgeous music with..... The best thing lately has been a discovery of a pianist who just fits me..... Early signs are REALLY good.... will keep you updated....

In the mean time..... what makes your body crave chocolate or a relationship and why?!?!

Thoughts MOST welcomed :)
 
 
Been wondering about doing a PhD on leadership from the  viola and genuine collaboration, and had it thrown into conversation again the other day. Not sure where to go to do such a silly venture- but that will become clear in time.

To lead, there must be someone to follow, otherwise its not leading.

Every action, must have an equal and opposite reaction....

Just like leading- if there is no reaction, there is no action in the first place....... without a follower, then you're not a leader.... you're just nothing.....

This collaboration works in SOOOO many ways.....

Between chamber musicians, with friends, with other art forms, but maybe most importantly ... with an audience...... genuine collaboration with an audience means you lead them the ways you want them to go..... including sometimes even controlling their breathing.

Have you ever noticed at the boring concerts how a great number of the audience members so happen to contract a cough or a fidgeting disorder?!?

Mmmmmm, food for thought..... comments MOST welcomed....
 
 
I am just in Somerset with Marene (my actress.... see The Renaissance to find out more) and finding rehearsals so so exciting at the moment.... We're building something really exciting. Watching the two art forms combine is hugely exciting and not stamping on each others toes and allowing the other to develop and push for an even more emotional outcome is extraordinary.

Chamber music is just like this. Understanding where the other person is, relating to it.... and then going on a journey together once you've established where you are together....

I guess its alot like real life and how we make friends and loved ones. Comes to an understanding together, commuicate and start the journey of being friends together..... If that makes any sense?

Hannah (my girlfriend) and myself are really amazingly close, however, when for one reason or another (I'm away on tour, or we're just not free at the same time) we don't communicate with each other, we do begin a horrible process of not knowing each other. Now, the funny thing is, this is on such a superficial level that it just doesnt matter, because when the two of us come back together, its so clear that the love we have for each other is far beyond the conversation of, "what have you done today" and knowing all the tiny details about each other that you can only get from spending HOURS on the phone to each other every night.

Do you have to know EVERYthing about the other to love them? To play music with them? To communicate to an audience with?

Just a thought.... I wrote this some time ago... but thought I'd share it with you now

:)