Perfection rules. Or does it?

Perfection rules at this time of year: competitions, recitals, exams. Having physical disability, I was unable to do as I was expected to do. As the disability was not visible that seemed to confound people, peers and pedagogues alike. But here I am, at 87, enjoying music more than ever in the company of extraordinarily gifted colleagues who, because they could produce brilliantly according to the rules, were not encouraged to notice the other part of music: its inherent mysteries, its magic.

These were always apparent to me, starting at a very early age. No end in sight or sound.