Music has a baking time. It has a mixing time, too – that’s rehearsal time.
When I put a loaf of bread in the oven, it can feel like I’m done. But if I turn off the oven too soon, or take the loaves out too early, then I won’t have the results I’m hoping for.
In just that way, some music needs a long time to bake – after we’ve done the work of getting it off the page. Maybe even after the first performance, it continues to bake on its way to its final version.
If you aren’t happy with the results at any point in the process, consider that maybe it just hasn’t baked long enough.