As far back as I can remember, there has been at least one person who actually came up to me after I conducted a concert or show to say something. Most of the time it was pleasant, but occasionally it was a passive-aggressive dig about something they didn’t like, usually shared as a “you could have done that better” demand. Or maybe even a blatant “I deserve my money back” complaint. This is music. Go figure. Here’s the thing: Everyone had space. Processing deeper thoughts, emotions and feelings Most people don’t realize it, but whether they’re silently listening to a gentle Adagio by Mahler, or yelling and screaming with lungs…

You can be a better musician by choosing to focus less on technical and functional precision, and more on what’s behind the music… the event, circumstance, environment, and combination of organized sounds, that create an as yet unexplained “goosebump moment.” Both are needed. But what’s your focus? It’s easier to make good music as a Brit. You may have heard that the British are generally a “reserved” people. We live on an island where, once upon a time, most everyone in the village knew your business. Therefore we learned to keep our lip tight and not divulge TMI (too much information) – especially gossip that is actually nobody’s business. Because…