I try to practise guitar in the auditorium at Netherhall, with its fantastic acoustics which allow me to hear every nuance of my playing. Today evening, I went over to the auditorium intending to practise, only to find that there was someone already there, practising on the piano (Netherhall often invites musicians from outside to practise and give concerts at our auditorium).

I was a bit annoyed because that meant I had to go elsewhere to practise, so I grudgingly picked up my guitar and equipment from where it was lying. The guy was playing Chopin's polonnaise from his Andante Spiniato and Grand Polonnaise, a piece which I'm familiar with (I love Chopin in general), and he was so involved and clearly enjoying his playing that he barely noticed my presence. He was playing very well, with excellent articulation and phrasing, although he played a couple of wrong notes here and there. However, I could tell that it was still a relatively new piece to him as he still had the music in front of him (if he had been playing it for some time he would have already had it memorised).

I wanted to hear him play, but it's generally impolite to sit in when someone's practising, so I went just outside the auditorium and propped the door open slightly to listen. The pianist was very clearly enjoying himself and I could hear the joy in his music, and I was drawn into it as well even though I was surreptitiously listening in from outside. I stood there for a good 10 minutes before he finished the Chopin and I finally left.

It was an interesting musical experience. I often find that I'm most receptive to music when it's unexpected, and this often comes from the many musicians who come to practise at Netherhall. In contrast, if I have to sit down to listen to a formal concert, I find my attention easily wavering.

Also, the pianist was playing ina joyful and carefree manner of someone thoroughly enjoying his music, which I rarely hear in concerts and recordings. The reason is simple: when one is playing for an audience or microphone, stage fright and the musician's own ego immediately becomes an obstacle. I feel it is when listening to someone playing in private, that one really gets to hear truly great music.