Beethoven provides an example of what you can do when your inputs are limited. As he was going deaf (his deafness was complete for the last decade of his life), his access to inputs were lessened and music increasingly existed in his head. Without “society’s soundtrack” in his ears, Beethoven was free to make music that was most him. And his best music.

Beethoven provides an example of what you can do when your inputs are limited. As he was going deaf (his deafness was complete for the last decade of his life), his access to inputs were lessened and music increasingly existed in his head. Without “society’s soundtrack” in his ears, Beethoven was free to make music that was most him. And his best music.