You can never play well enough

I went to my first master class a week ago. It was put on by the Young Artist World Piano Festival, and I think my mom and I were the only ones there that weren't kids at the camp or parents of kids at the camp. Regardless of that, it was fascinating. First of all, I am apparently not a particularly advanced pianist. 13 year olds were playing Beethoven Sonatas better than I've ever played any piece in my entire life. I'm not exactly demoralized by this, but if I wasn't humble about my ability on the piano before...I am now. (^_^) The master was Dr. Daniel Rieppel from Southwest State University. He said something toward the end of the two hour class. "Great music is defined as music you can never play well enough." Don't take that the wrong way. It doesn't mean great music is music you can't play well ever. It means that great music, no matter how well you can play it, can still be interpreted beautifully and completely different by somebody else. There is never just one best interpretation. I like that. You can think 'oh I could never play that piece like that' all you like. And you're probably right. You never could. So it's a good thing music is not meant to be played the same every time. One of the reasons I love music is because it is so malleable. It doesn't get old or tired or boring unless you let it. So, in what should be the immortal words of Dr. Rieppel, "Don't just be nimble with your fingers; be nimble with your mind and emotions as well."