No, it's called noodling, and it's highly recommended. Going back to the Bach invention. If a student has never played it synchopated, changed it to major, and done lots of other experiemental stuff, they will never be much of a creative artist. I'd say, "Go for it!"

I shall "noodle", then. I am also hearing within what you are saying, and the use of words such as "creative artist", that creativity is not dead in classical music, nor is it a straightjacket. I do believe, however, that we need be given the technical tools, but it seems from what you are saying, those technical tools are in part noodled in. I was once told that there was no such thing as technique, but it is everything.

You got it. Genius is 5% inspiration and 95% persperation.

Thank you so much for all the insights.