JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- For the better part of two months the Jacksonville Symphony has been silenced since contract talks broke down over pay and benefits and the musicians were locked out.

Channel 4's Bruce Hamilton reported Monday that a new round of talks is expected to begin soon.

Although its music is melodic, over the past eight weeks talks between the Jacksonville Symphony Association and the Jacksonville Symphony Players Association have hit only sour notes.

The two sides continue to battle over proposed cuts to the musicians' pensions and benefits, worth about $190,000 in the first year.

The musicians' previous contract ended in August and they were locked out when several weeks of discussions fell through.

On Tuesday, the door to new talks is expected to open.

"We hope to settle this dispute and get back to work. We want to play music," said principal clarinetist Peter Wright.

During a recent practice for a concert to benefit their health and welfare fund, the musicians were guardedly optimistic about the coming new round of negotiations.

"We need for the city to understand that we deserve a decent salary and benefits and retirement, and we've spent our lives playing music and studying. That's what we're asking for -- to be treated decently," Wright said.

Representatives for the city told Channel 4 they came close to an agreement right before the holidays and hope to build on that progress to perhaps have the symphony back in concert as early as next weekend.