The reason why people go to a music workshop is so that they can play music with other people in a group, rather than playing and learning on their own at home. This piece explores the nature of the group as a musical unit. People react with each other in different ways, and each group has its own unique chemistry. The nature of the music produced in this piece will reflect the group itself, the way in which its members interact, and their attitudes to the music and to each other.

The sounds produced by performing this piece can vary enormously from group to group - it may sound very spacious with long sustained notes. On the other hand, there may be very few silences in it, the players interjecting and changing constantly, since the group is energised and everyone wants to play.

The group may need to negotiate its own concept of silence - for example, how long for resonating piano strings, bass strings etc. The piece requires a great deal of alertness in realising whether you are 'in' or 'out'. Be musical about it! Try to express yourself in the space rather than just filling it up.

If there are problems with this piece these will serve to highlight any musical problems and relationships within the group. For example, if someone is hardly able to play a note in this piece, perhaps they are unable to assert and express themselves musically within this group. Similarly, if a small number of people, or one individual, dominate the piece (using all the space) this reflects their attitude to the music and to the group as a whole. 'Dot Piece' (page 87) can be useful when faced with such problems.

I THE piece starts from relative silence - it is left to people's discretion when they begin to play.

II ONLY play when there is a silence - there should only be one person playing at a time.

III WHILE a performer is playing, the other people in the group wait for gaps in the music, no matter how small (eg when a horn player takes a breath, or in a break In a phrase).

IV IF two people start playing at the same time, they must both drop out, since neither of them is playing in a silence.

V IF you are playing and someone mistakenly interrupts you, both people must stop. However, if you are alert, it may be that someone has just played one note in a small gap, and you can then continue.

VI TRY to make sure that a silence really is a silent space. If you manage to 'jump in' in that space, then the space is yours. Be as fluent and musical as you can within it.

VII IN this piece there is no conscious interaction with the other performers. Obviously, the music may influence you, but do not consciously try to play with, or reply to, other people.