What shall we play? I don't know lets improvise. Ok. What? well, lets pick a style. A classical style? Yes, ok. Thats too broad. Is it? Ok. Pick a composer. like who? Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann, Liszt, Meyerbeer, Schubert. You mean just pick one? Yes. Just pick one. Which One? Which one do you like? I like them all. That's too broad. Yes, it is. How about Ives? Ok, then Ives. Ok. Well, what is Ives's style? I don't know. How about Beethoven then. OK. What is Beethoven's style? Well, I know it. Yes we all do, don't we. But what is his style - and I don't want an answer from a textbook or a class, what is Beethoven's style to you? I know it when I hear it. That's not good enough. He uses lots of scales. Good, thats a start. What scales does he use. Mostly major and minor. Ok, lets say thats true. What else? He has great melodies, he mostly uses quite simple rhythms at least to start off with. Well, I don't know if I agree completely, but its a good place to start. Good as any. Can you play something that sound like Beethoven? Why would I do that, I can play actual Beethoven. Yes, but you can't play YOU now can you? But, I'm not a composer. No, But you did ask about being an improviser. Yes, I did. I see, so I need to try to play something that sounds like Beethoven. Or Brahms, Ives, Mozart, or even Richard Danielpour. What will this do? It will help you to improvise like YOU. Copying these composers will help? Yes. Why? You're sort of digging around their music for help. Like a miner. I see. How do I start? With One note. Don't be funny. I'm not. Play one note and then string it together with another one. Make sure you have a dynamic (or not), a crescendo or Fp or not, choose a vibrato or not. etcetra. So you mean be deliberate? Yes. What if I want to be vague? Then be deliberately vague. I see. Good, so go get started. Yes, ok. Where do I start? Try an open string. You're making fun again! (Laugh) well, yes and no. Its going to take some time. But what if.... yes? What if I find out I can't do it. Well, it takes a long time. keep at it. No, I mean what if I have nothing to say - what if I can't do it, what if it isn't any good? You can always go back to reading notes and pretending that you are conveying some deep meaning in them.