Today’s episode features Connie Cai, who is a violinist and educator who specializes in improvisation theory. We jump into how she got into the violin, and the cultural differences in pedagogy between China and the United States according to her lived experiences. We then delve into the concept of improvisation, and how using improv principles can lead to more effective and deliberate practice. We continue to discuss how improvisation is a muscle that needs to be fine-tuned, and break down how to approach improvisation as instrumentalists. Connie concludes by sharing what is at the core of her love of teaching, expressing her optimistic take on the future of classical music, and establishing that encouragement and support are the keys to making improvisation more approachable and thus equitable.