--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Improvisation is an important part of…" description: "\"Improvisation is an important part of bluegrass, and I would hasten to add that classical music wasn't always such an improvisational void. Back in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b33/chris-thile-4170_always_improvisation-is-an-important-part-of-bl_407876.png" --- # Improvisation is an important part of bluegrass, and I… ![“Improvisation is an important part of bluegrass, and I would hasten to add that classical music wasn't always such an improvisational void. Back in the day, everyone's cadenzas were improvised, and improvisation was taught in conservatories.” quote by Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b33/chris-thile-4170_always_improvisation-is-an-important-part-of-bl_407876.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b33/chris-thile-4170_always_improvisation-is-an-important-part-of-bl_407876.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b33/chris-thile-4170_always_improvisation-is-an-important-part-of-bl_407876.png) > “Improvisation is an important part of bluegrass, and I would hasten to add that classical music wasn't always such an improvisational void. Back in the day, everyone's cadenzas were improvised, and improvisation was taught in conservatories.” [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improvisation has long been a core element of bluegrass and historically also existed in classical music, especially in cadenzas and conservatory training. **In simple terms:** Bluegrass and classical both value improvisation, though often overlooked in classical. Key Takeaway Recognize improvisation’s role across genres. Themes music history improvisation genre crossover Mood reflective inspired Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - Jazz ensembles - classical recitals - music education - composer workshops Key Concepts Musicology creative practice performance tradition Questions to Reflect On - How can modern conservatories revive improvisation? - What benefits does improvisation bring to classical performance? A Different Perspective Classical improvisation is less visible today, making it seem absent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bluegrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bluegrass/) [Classical music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-music/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) ## Related quotes > [I think, until I was 16, classical music had just seemed like a little bit of a rhythmic wasteland for me. Coming from bluegrass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-think-until-i-was-16-classical-music-had-just-seemed-like-a-little/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [What all my years in improvisation taught is that - if you're going to grow as a performer - you have to try some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcbrayer/what-all-my-years-in-improvisation-taught-is-that-if-you-re-going-to/) [Jack McBrayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcbrayer/) > [What makes one type of music classical and one bluegrass and one folk - these things aren't what's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/what-makes-one-type-of-music-classical-and-one-bluegrass-and-one-folk/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I think what people call genre is just a question of orchestration. So, for instance, with Punch Brothers, you look at that band and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-think-what-people-call-genre-is-just-a-question-of-orchestration-so/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Growing up in a bluegrass or acoustic-oriented world, the musicians become so focused on performance, as far as playing. We tend to overanalyze the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/growing-up-in-a-bluegrass-or-acoustic-oriented-world-the-musicians/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I certainly love the bluegrass ensemble, I think it's a powerful tool, but I don't think it's more than a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-certainly-love-the-bluegrass-ensemble-i-think-it-s-a-powerful-tool/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I was introduced to classical music by my grandparents - my parents were mostly into folk and jazz. Even as a young man, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-was-introduced-to-classical-music-by-my-grandparents-my-parents/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It was kind of sort of the heavens opened up and I realized that Bach, at least, you know - out of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-was-kind-of-sort-of-the-heavens-opened-up-and-i-realized-that-bach/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I like big shows, a lot of volume and a lot of energy. I love electric instruments. But I do love mixing those with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dierks-bentley/i-like-big-shows-a-lot-of-volume-and-a-lot-of-energy-i-love-electric/) [Dierks Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dierks-bentley/) > [That's what I love about Nashville and the music community - seeing kids around acoustic music and bluegrass picking parties is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dierks-bentley/that-s-what-i-love-about-nashville-and-the-music-community-seeing/) [Dierks Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dierks-bentley/) > [Ireland and America, music-wise, are very closely related. The Irish came over with their fiddles in hand, and you can hear it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/ireland-and-america-music-wise-are-very-closely-related-the-irish/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I'm influenced by Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelly, Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, B.B. King, and then by bluegrass. But when I was 16, bluegrass wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dickey-betts/i-m-influenced-by-django-reinhardt-stephane-grappelly-roland-kirk/) [Dickey Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dickey-betts/) > [I knew I loved playing bluegrass, so I'd end up down there on Sunday nights at the bluegrass jam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-knew-i-loved-playing-bluegrass-so-i-d-end-up-down-there-on-sunday/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [Shortly after I started in bluegrass, Ricky Skaggs and I got together and the bluegrass career just snowballed. Being 15 or 16 and making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-whitley/shortly-after-i-started-in-bluegrass-ricky-skaggs-and-i-got-together/) [Keith Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-whitley/) > [I hope you came out to hear some bluegrass music. If you didn't, we're both in the wrong place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-skaggs/i-hope-you-came-out-to-hear-some-bluegrass-music-if-you-didn-t-we-re/) [Ricky Skaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-skaggs/) ## More by Chris Thile > [A cocktail and an oyster is an awfully good thing after a park, especially one close to water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/a-cocktail-and-an-oyster-is-an-awfully-good-thing-after-a-park/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I think people react so strongly to hearing the human voice, you can't give them too much of it or else they want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-think-people-react-so-strongly-to-hearing-the-human-voice-you-can-t/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I'm always going to need to play in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-m-always-going-to-need-to-play-in-front-of-people/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I love music so much. It's like the one thing I'm good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-love-music-so-much-it-s-like-the-one-thing-i-m-good-at/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Like a sporting event, live events are the one thing you can't have anytime you want them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/like-a-sporting-event-live-events-are-the-one-thing-you-can-t-have/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Musicians and non-musicians alike are priding themselves on the width and breadth of their musical interests, which I think is to be encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/musicians-and-non-musicians-alike-are-priding-themselves-on-the-width/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [There's a lot of steps between there not being music and there being music. Composition is one part of that, but if no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/there-s-a-lot-of-steps-between-there-not-being-music-and-there-being/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [The fact that I'm a fifth of Punch Brothers... that's lucky for me because I feel like I get to operate in the context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/the-fact-that-i-m-a-fifth-of-punch-brothers-that-s-lucky-for-me/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It seems like if they'd given Bob Dylan a pen and paper in the cradle that he would've come up with a great song.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-seems-like-if-they-d-given-bob-dylan-a-pen-and-paper-in-the-cradle/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Improvising is writing, too - there was no music and now there's music. So that's composition. And any time you take any sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/improvising-is-writing-too-there-was-no-music-and-now-there-s-music/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It's very hard to make grand, romantic gestures on a mandolin, and there are times, particularly when playing Bach, that you long for just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-s-very-hard-to-make-grand-romantic-gestures-on-a-mandolin-and/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Everything in our lives is encouraging us to turn inward with all the technology that we have available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/everything-in-our-lives-is-encouraging-us-to-turn-inward-with-all-the/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It was kind of sort of the heavens opened up and I realized that Bach, at least, you know - out of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-was-kind-of-sort-of-the-heavens-opened-up-and-i-realized-that-bach/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I think that we'll see the concept of 'genre' continue to die a slow and painful death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-think-that-we-ll-see-the-concept-of-genre-continue-to-die-a-slow/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [You need to put yourself in the way of the music that stood the test of time. You're doing yourself an incredible disservice not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/you-need-to-put-yourself-in-the-way-of-the-music-that-stood-the-test/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) [Explore all 115 Chris Thile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Improvisation is an important part of bluegrass, and I would hasten to add that classical music wasn't always such an improvisational void. 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