That is an interesting concept. I believe that todays soloists are incredible technicians but not able to create. Perhaps if they did write their own cadenzas we wouldn't want to hear them. A lot of musicians are great at what they do but do not have much imagination. They can imitate, follow instructions, and phrase music beautifully but not necessarily come up with music themselves.

I have been working with full time professional musicians most of my life and don't know many that would be able to come over and jam with me. They love to play chamber music but everything has to be written on paper. It is a little sad that the creative part of music making is left out of our music programs almost entirely. Unless you take up jazz improvisation you don't get much in terms ad lib in our classical music performance education.

Robyn.fnq said:

Surely there are lessons in changing one's mind set.

Great idea. Someone get started on that. LOL

Great points Robyn. I've met a few violinists that are both in my life.  I remember after Nigel Kennedy played with us about 20 years ago in Gavle, Sweden, he wanted to jam afterwards but I wasn't much into it back then so I got left out. He liked to just lay back and have fun but didn't much care to take the role of a superstar while doing it. Wish I could get another chance to jam with him after a concert somewhere. I wouldn't say no thank you this time.