Thank you Bobpickle and Derulux for your comments. ... I have read famous artists say they will not listen to any recording of a piece they are learning so that they will not be coloured in their mental conception of the music and thus be able to offer an unique and fresh perspective. I suppose if you are already a mature and accomplished artist, that may work but its probably too much to ask of a child.
No problem, I was happy to respond.
I would say, in pretty colorful language, that these famous artists are full of it.
They have already listened to thousands of recordings of most pieces. The first thing I tell beginning writers when they are learning the craft of writing is to read as much as possible. The best way to improve your writing is to read. Similarly, the first thing I tell amateur fighters to do is to watch videos of other fighters (particularly their opponents, but not always). Learn new techniques. Learn defenses. Learn how to fight and think like your opponent so you can beat them. The first thing I tell clients when consulting on business strategy is to study the strategy of other businesses, particularly competitors. In every field, in every walk of life, the more information, the more stimulation, the more input your brain receives, the greater creativity and output it will have. The mantra, "Put nothing in, get nothing out," is no more vivid and precise than in this context.