You always got the sense that no matter what came out, we were always making a contribution that was welcomed by the group.

My name is Chen Xi and I'm a second year master's student here at the Eastman School of Music in the music teaching and learning department.

We have a sort of a collective fear of improvisation, but I think creating and improvising is such an important and freeing skill to have.

And I would want all of my students to experience that and to not be afraid of doing that.