Little Neo--

There's been some good philosophy shared above. Here are some practical things that help me get a lot more depth out of a given song. (I don't know what instrument or style you're working with, but whatever ....) [1] Try it in different keys, whether you can sing comfortably in them or not. Listen to the different voicings created by the different relationships between melody and chords in each. [2] Not that you might want to perform it this way, but if it's a slow song, speed it up; if it's a fast song, slow it down. Discover otherwise unnoticed dynamics and try to transfer them back into the way you "normally" play that song. [3] Work with a second instrument. I find myself finally becoming a better guitar player after messing around on a banjo. My right hand does biofeedback from one instrument to the other. But bottom line, don't get discouraged; whoever talked about plateaus [-teaux?] was right on. You have to get each stage "under your fingers" as some keyboarders say, before you try new material. All this and a dollar will get you coffee at Starbuck's.