Derek Bailey - Free improvisation, in addition to being a highly skilled musical craft, is

Free improvisation, in addition to being a highly skilled musical craft, is open to use by almost anyone-beginners, children, and non-musicians. The skill and intellect required is whatever is available. Its accessibility to the performer is, in fact, something which appears to offend both its supporters and detractors....And as regards method, the improvisor employs the oldest in music-making...Mankind's first musical performance couldn't have been anything other than a free improvisation.

- Derek Bailey

source: Derek Bailey (1992). “Improvisation: its nature and practice in music”

topic: Music, Children, Skills, Musical Performance, Music Making