I live almost seven miles north of a small, New England town that only has five stoplights (although it does have an Ivy League college, which keeps things interesting). It's expensive to live out of town; gas prices have almost tripled in the time that we've lived here (I won't let this turn into a political rant. Politics are out of bounds in this forum), but it's worth it for the wildlife and birdsong that surrounds us in the summer and fall, and for the silence of the winter. It's not unusual to go outside during a sub-zero night and discover that the only sound that you can hear is your own breathing. Hold your breath and you can actually hear your pulse.
Silence is vitally important to every musician. All music comes from silence and we measure our voice against it. Consider for a moment an unaccompanied piece like Takemitsu's PATHS -- the "dramatic" moments are mostly the silent ones. Many of you will be taking auditions soon at your various schools. Some are taking professional auditions as well. I suggest that you take time and listen carefully to the silence before you play. It will help you to focus your ideas and engage your imagination -- qualities that every audition committee will hear in your program and respect.
Best,
EC
"Paintings must be like miracles."
-Mark Rothko