The more context you can understand, the better.
When I read a poem, it’s not enough to know the definitions of the words. I need to know the context of the poet, the references they’re using, their life and experiences, the history of their poetic form. All of these help contextualize.
It also helps to know what happened in the previous stanza.
I could write similar paragraphs about contextualizing novels, paintings, architecture, or plays. You need to understand context, in the overarching themes and in the details.
To get there, we have to intentionally widen our aperture to see more and do the deep study of the artwork.
In my experience, young musicians need help with both parts of this contextualization.
Some musicians need help to understand how their part sets up the next phrase.
Some musicians need help to recognize the form of the piece.
Some musicians need help to see how their part harmonizes with others’.
Some musicians need help to contextualize where the downbeat is.
So many young musicians are still developing these contextualizing skills; until they do, they’ll blithely play or sing their part without really understanding. It’s on us to help them want to contextualize, understand how to contextualize, and then practice contextualizing.