ABSTRACT
The LINK project introduced teachers to the use of musical improvisation in the classroom, providing them with practical strategies to develop young people's capacity to improvise together. Given the diversity of musical genres, sensitivity to the preferences and the musical taste of others as well as one's own is essential. The capacity to explore an instrument freely and to find all the sounds that are possible can be a liberating experience providing access to the freedom of musical improvisation. Improvising in the social way creates opportunities to experience and understand the emotional impact of sound on oneself and young people. High levels of technical skill are not necessary for musical expression. However, developing basic technical skills in playing a musical instrument can enhance confidence when music making with a class of young people. Musical improvisation can also highlight individual vulnerabilities.
