* Extended techniques: Cage expanded the range of sounds that are considered musical by using extended techniques, such as playing instruments in unconventional ways or using found objects as instruments. For example, he might use a prepared piano, in which objects are placed inside the piano to alter the sound of the strings, or he might use a tape recorder to play back recorded sounds.
* Silence: Cage also explored the use of silence in music, both as a structural element and as a way of focusing the listener's attention on the sounds that are present. His piece 4'33" (1952) consists of four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence, during which the audience is invited to listen to the sounds of their own environment.
* Collaboration: Cage often worked with other artists, including dancers, visual artists, and poets, to create interdisciplinary works of art. His collaborations often involved a high degree of improvisation, with the artists responding to each other's work in real time.