When you return home after a hard day's work and get off the subway train, you sometimes have to walk for a long time to the exit or change trains. Suddenly, there is some music in the noise. These are street musicians. You take a coin out of your pocket and drop it into your hat or tool case. These musicians bring color and life to the city streets. Street musicians are people between the ages of 17 and 30. Some of them are men, some are women. They play classical music, pop or folk music, old and new songs. Many musicians are former University students or professional musicians. Andrew Hayne, for example, once studied music, but dropped out and became an artist. Now he's playing underground because he doesn't want to forget how to play. His girlfriend is also an artist. She helps him raise money. Another street musician, David Mcnell, tells new players “ " Learn new songs all the time, otherwise you will have fewer and fewer listeners. Wear bright clothing to attract attention. Make sure that the places where you decide to play are warm. The best places are bridges and, of course, the metro.” Hyde Park is the best place on Sundays, as speakers address the public. Street musicians do business with the many tourists who visit the Park. Weather is one of the most serious problems. It's not easy to play the violin or guitar on a rainy November day in London and try to smile. The police are a much worse problem. They come in from time to time and the musicians are moved to another place. However, they are not often fined. One musician told me: "The policeman asked me what I was doing. I said I was just practicing. Some money just fell out of my pocket into a guitar case and I was told to leave my seat. I don't think it's fair
