How should musicians emulate physicians?
First, do no harm.
Those are the words attributed to Hippocrates, though they don’t appear in the Hippocratic Oath.
And they’re a great takeaway for musicians.
Do no harm – don’t alienate your music students or inhibit their love of music.
Do no harm – don’t play the music in the wrong room, turning off an otherwise appreciative audience.
Do no harm – don’t write your music in a way that makes it hard to read or scares off other musicians.
Do no harm – don’t make lifestyle choices that impede your own development as a musicians.
Do no harm – don’t play the music poorly.
“First, do no harm” is a great motto for music-making, actually.