If you don't get feedback from your performers and your audience, you're going to be working in a vacuum.

I'm not actually teaching any more, but I am writing pieces for schools all the time, and for kids.

You don't underestimate either players or audience in any circumstances.

If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going to be caught out sooner or later as a composer.

If you don't get feedback from your performers and your audience, you're going to be working in a vacuum.

The present government is very insistent that business sponsorship should replace government sponsorship of the arts. Business sponsorship won't happen unless you make tax concessions, which they won't.

You can't pander to your audience. You might in the short term, but ultimately you can't hoodwink them, either.