Is your boy immune to the Pixies?


and Lou Reed. Hmmm... Junkies nailed the tune if you're partial...

Maybe gigantic for the Pixies?

The musical education of my children is something I put a great deal of thought into. I have been thinking about this thread...

I have undertaken a HUGE musical project: ripping our 1000+ disc collection to 320kbps MP3s. That means, as a general estimate, on a 700mb disc, I can put 60 5-minute songs.

I have been able to fill up whole discs with themes, such as romantic, or "love" songs...but the ultimate "60 most important songs my children need to know by heart" is a project that will be long in the making. I have been making a series of decidedly imperfect discs. It helps that our minivan not only reads MP3s, but has a 6-disc changer.

Many thoughts fill my head. Primarily that children need to deeply understand the musical heritage of at least the two preceding generations, in order to function as a musically intelligent citizen (or, maybe, musician). Also, there is the element of nostalgia--that is, I want them to know the songs that I have loved. On this point, I believe there is a genetic factor. That is to say, whereas my children have enjoyed the same music that I do, I believe that our brains may be "wired" to respond favorably to certain musical elements. In that regard, it is my goal to introduce them to some musical stepping stones that may pique their curiosity.

I read with great interest and appreciation the suggestions that have been made here, and plan to share my own--as soon as I begin to be able to produce an approx. 60-song mix that meets the "musical education" criteria.

Only two generations?

I'm thinking like a musician when I say that. What I mean is, don't just learn the stuff that was cool when you were a kid, or the stuff that was cool when the guys who were playing when you were a kid were kids, but (at least) learn the stuff that the guys who were playing when you were a kid were listening to when THEY were kids.

And you should be okay then. It's a cumulative absorption by each generation, so if you get a few layers in, you're getting deep enough in.

See, the guys who were playing when the guys who were playing when you were a kid were kids were listening the guys who were playing when the guys who were playing when THEY were a kid were kids. And on down the line.

If you understand your generations' and your father's generations' and your grandfather's generations' music, then you are pretty well covered (back to your grandfather's grandfathers' generations' music and THEIR grandfathers' grandfathers' generations' music, and so on and so forth), unless EVERYONE was dropping the ball.

OK, I'm thinking a generation in 20 years.

My mother has been a visual artist/craftsperson since well before my birth, but I was never all that visually oriented. I just wanted to make noise. If I had nothing else, I would beat on an upside-down box. That turned me into a drummer in 3rd grade, and getting official music instruction a year earlier than all the other kids.

So, what if your children turn out to be more visually oriented and not so musical? You give them a box to beat on, and they draw on it?

BTW I'm adding the opera Carmen to the list, and for a musical, The Music Man. These are personal preferences because they were what I listened to when I was toddling. One might certainly be more inclined to include Rogers and Hammerstein but I'll wager the schools are still teaching The Sound of Music.

I'd have to say Man of LaMancha.

Guys and Dolls

UT...That's a good point. In my case, I was a visual artist first, and I try to introduce them to the concepts of both disciplines. As well as the craft of using words, and just plain exercising your imagination--thinking and relating to the world in novel ways. These are all just parts of "being a person" to me. We try to expose them to everything so they have options as to what direction they will go...which is ultimately going to be based on their own inner guidance.




Bruce, as I think about it, my statement is confusing in the context of this thread. What I meant was: being aware that Steve Smith studied Tony Williams who studied Philly Jo Jones is how you become aware of your place in musical history and where we are today and how we got here.

Here is a "one song by each artist" CD I made last night. 78 tracks of 320kbps MP3s.
From Classical through Jazz, R & B, Country & Western, "Oldies" and up to "Classic" Rock.

Thats a great list...I want.

Yeah I figured that what you were after. It certainly makes sense to clue them in to music as a progression that builds on the past. I just stumbled over generation because I'm dumb. :blush:

Does this sort of musical education cover famous themes? I'm thinking of the themes from Jaws and Dragnet and such, and other really famous themes that are referenced in other situations (like how my Thai tour guide had his mobile ring tone as the Bridge on the River Kwai Theme :lol: ).

Good point. Yes, it should.

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