I love exploring musical interpretation with students. I love it because it’s empowering, I love it because it’s educational, and I love it because it’s engaging.
But I try not to do this musical exploration unless I have an opinion myself. I need to have done my work before I open it up to the students for discussion and exploration.
That doesn’t mean it ends up my way – students are amazing at coming up with novel ideas, and as long as I feel they are musically defensible, I’ll give up my opinion to pursue theirs.
BUT this exploration isn’t a shortcut to avoid interpreting the music myself. That comes first.