Ben Verdery: I generally like to work closely with the person I'm writing for, letting him or her give me as much input as they would like to make the piece work for them. If they want to change this or that I really try to stay open to their suggestions because often their input will make it a better piece. Great performers can be formidable teachers for any composer. They have an innate sense of what works best on the concert stage in a way that many composers simply don't. Some of the most important collaborative moments happen after the work has been performed a few times. David (Russell) and I are just beginning our journey. He so far has had no alterations and is really enthusiastic about what he's learned. It's all very exciting!