How to approach your repertoire in a fresh way! (like it was composed yesterday)

I have found that listening to different recordings of different pianists, both long ago and current, help shape the musical decisions I like. Of course it's always a work in progress. My difficulty as a teacher, getting my students to listen. I spend a good portion of lesson time having students LISTEN to recordings, and I encourage parents to have them listen at home, once they are working on repertoire. Those who do... seem to progress much more quickly. I also encourage them to take risks and MAKE musical choices, bringing fresh "ear candy" to old pieces, so the audience hears something unexpected. 

I would love to know how to become a better listener, and to help my students become better listeners... so that they can utilize their aural skills to master repertoire and make it their own.

I also ask them WHY they played a passage the way they did, to encourage metacognition throughout their playing... and let them know, they have CHOICES.

I hope this rambling makes sense!  

I hope to be online tomorrow barring any on campus delays, but I am teaching summer school.

THANKS!