Another thing you may wish to try is moving: move your body as you play the music. Engaging with a piece in a physical sense will bring out the musicality of the lines. It's weird, but it works. My orchestra conductor is constantly telling our wind players to do this (they have a lot of soli so it's particularly important for them). Or watch a violinist play a concerto and look at what they do.
For expressive physicality, I particularly like Frank Huang, the NYPhil's concertmaster:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Band Guitar
Avoid tempo changes unless they are within a measure or two and come back to where they should be.
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Disciplined tempo is essential, but subtle retards at the end of phrases for a measure or two will allow you to add your own interpretation to a piece and enhance the feeling behind it. If you always play at tempo, you will sound like a robot. The key is to have such a command of tempo that you can stretch out or speed up moments at will. Intentional, controlled will.