Improvisation is a daunting prospect for many aspiring music therapists, many of whom encounter improvisation in music therapy training for the first time. To allay this anxiety, we are often advised: “There are no wrong notes in improvisation!” or “don’t worry, that’s just jazz!”

But is this true? Does this render the music random? As well intentioned as they may be, are these attitudes reductive? Perhaps dismissive of the intricacies embodied by improvisational music cultures from around the globe? Situated within a tradition that privileges the predetermined score, does this naivety contain traces of Euro-centric colonialism?

Is there a way to support music therapy students adapt their score-based musicianship to develop intentional improvisatory approaches?

This reflective paper explores Dweck’s 'power of yet’ and Bourdieu’s notion of ‘habitus’ as alternative frameworks to support music therapists and students work towards improvisational approaches that are inclusive, intentional, and honour the wisdom of diverse music traditions.