And one of the things that I've realized is that while ALL these players and musicians have much to share and teach others - ultimately it's up to each of us to listen to the voice inside us and give it as much respect as we give to the masters.  

This is a fairly new realization for me.  

Getting back into music a few years ago, I naturally deferred to any and all experts.  Even then I was aware of the contradictions nearly everyone makes when they TALK about music - but I didn't have the inner foundation of self-trust to question them.  

The fact is - once people - even the masters - start talking about music - they're bound to say things that directly contradict not only OTHER masters-  but THEMSELVES.  And contradict not just things they say - but the things they play.  

I can't tell you how many times I've listened to really high end players talk about music - and then when they play they contradict their own guidance.   As a beginner I found this frustrating.  I was looking for absolutes - the ANSWERS.  These observations simply created more confusion for me.  

I don't need to give examples or names - it's something I first noticed when I was searching for an instructor a few years ago and continues in every masterclass I attend to this day.  Becoming aware of this has led me to begin to trust my own sense of things more and to watch the kinds of things I say about music in general.

Don't get me wrong - this is not a negative thing.  The phrase "talking about music is like dancing about architecture" is absurdly apt.  When we talk about music - we often talk about it in idealistic terms.  When we play - most of us are forced to play grounded much closer to reality.  

The fact is - being able to articulate what elements great music contains is 1 thing - (music critics that play NO instrument at all do that endlessly)  being able to bring those elements into existence is quite another.  There is no inherently causal relationship between "knowing" and "doing".  

This isn't a rant against talking about music - but trying to articulate things that are often intangible.  We reduce infinite mystery to words - concepts - labels - rules.  Some of this stuff is very helpful in learning - some of it takes our attention way far away from where music actually comes from.  An important skill to develop is the awareness of the difference.  

One thing I'm becoming aware of is that my own voice has grown and developed to the point where I no longer ignore it.  It's not that I exalt my own opinion above others - but I've stopped telling it to shut up.  I give it equal time.  That's new.  The key is to avoid taking it TOO seriously.  Or any other single voice for that matter.  

Balance - trusting our own sense of our art - and yet still remaining open to the ideas and observations of others - particularly those who have already walked the path we're on.

And while all our paths have much in common - they are also all fundamentally different - because they are personal. Pay attention to the masters - yet don't ignore the personal.

That's what I'm feeling these days.