Can expressiveness in music be learned, or is it an innate gift, and you either have it or you don't?

Musical expression can be learned! The Essence of Music is an insight into what distinguishes musical artistry above and beyond excellent craft. This is a guide to expressive performance intended for all musicians (vocal or instrumental), conductors, teachers, and students at any level that may benefit from suggestions as to how they, or their ensemble, or their students, can perform with more musicality and expressiveness.

Robert Musser gives us a fresh look at how to break down expression into elements that can be explained and instructed, both on an individual and class level. The author presents an approach to phrasing and performing that, when learned and followed, will make any performance (solo or ensemble) more musical and expressive. He also looks at the artistic conventions and nuances (not tone quality and technique), which are essential to musical performance but often neglected or performed poorly.

With clear explanations and ample musical examples, he shows how to incorporate these ideas and techniques into one's performance or teaching.