Quotes

Thanks to Hannah Phillips who compiled these quotes from several sessions, workshops and masterclasses given by Nicholas and Sien Vallis-Davies

‘As classical musicians in our own way we can help civilise society - firstly by directly communicating in the universal language of music and secondly in our non-musical influence both verbally and in our actions, in the rest of our lives.

We are so fortunate to be immersed in the musical language of beauty. We make daily contact with an elegant artform.

Setting an example of inner strength and control is a valuable aim in society - we are sharing the good influence of music indirectly’

‘Our philosophy is based on gradually wearing away any ego based - or personality based - competitiveness or comparison and recognising that each individual has something very special to express from their own heart.

‘Remember that the music on this page is just a series of symbols. These symbols are to be interpreted and woven into a beautiful soundworld reflecting your life experience - an exploration into imagination and free expression...an expression of love’

‘Your desire, as the performer must be to serve the music and present it to your audience with sincerity, humility and commitment’

‘Your mission as musicians must be to express love. This is the noblest pursuit. Why not choose the highest ideal and make the world a better place?‘

‘As teachers, you can suppress the negative tendencies of your students. Competitiveness, over excitedness, aggression can give way to the positive aspects such as kindness, gentleness, peacefulness, generosity. We can be agents of change through music’

‘At its best, performing music is all about expressing love and honouring the talent we have been given and in which we have invested years and years in developing. Music is something to be taken seriously.

It is a universal language - a force for good - and an intangible which transcends the mundane’