Improvisation-based exercises may be the key to unlocking students' innate musical creativities. This article focuses on two exercises--drone improvisation and circle stringing--that can be easily integrated into the orchestra curriculum and adapted to the learning needs of the individual student, small-ensemble, and large-ensemble settings. Of critical importance is fostering an environment of musical discovery and exploration that reaches beyond the purview of traditional ensemble-based classroom experiences. Such an approach promotes a comprehensive pedagogy that honors tradition, values experimentation, and embraces the contemporary.