improvisation was a regular part of a pianists life up until the early 1800's?

THAT'S RIGHT!! Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and hundreds of other musicians were all masters of improvisation! This seems a little foreign to us these days, since it's not regularly integrated into traditional piano training, but it's true!

Back in the day, pianists would frequently participate in improvisation contests.  This was not only a form of entertainment for audiences, but was also a way that the musicians would be able to refine and demonstrate their unique creative genius. Sadly, as Beethoven's hearing declined and ultimately vanished, so did the tradition of improv in a classical musicians life. Even cadenzas that were once fully improvised by the performer were written down so as to preserve "what the composer heard." And thus began classical musicians' journey into the land of "what-did-the-master-really-want!?" The truth is that music and musicians are continually changing, and the notes Beethoven may have improvised in 1798 would have greatly varied from what he would have played in the later years had he not lost his hearing. Just as Beethoven's compositions evolved throughout his life, so would have his approach to his personal improvisational palette.