Roger Hecht wrote:

>I really believe most kids pick up the music they do where they can find
>it.  If it's not from parents and the home, from teachers, from musicians,
>it's going to be from somewhere, and that somewhere is too often the TV,
>the street, the mall, and the record companies.  Unfortunately, too many
>parents don't have music.  And too many schools don't either.  It's a
>vicious circle.  How do you start something when there's no place to start?
>Unless you start something."

My 16 year old daughter has been involved in Marching Band and Jazz Band
at her high school this, her sophomore year.  She started last year.  Plays
(I am sorry to admit - sorry to be prejudiced) saxophone.  Very recently
I've noticed when she uses the computer my CD of Debussy's LaMer is being
played.  During the past year the Marching Band used the Mussoursky
'Pictures at an Exhibition'.  Needless to say I went out and bought a copy
for her.  Nearly played that CD to death.  I loved it.

But, then I started to remember. When my family bought it's first 'stereo'
we didn't have any records.  My contribution was found in the local record
store.  It was Richard Rogers soundtrack from 'Victory at Sea'.  Got volume
II the next week.  Since there was no Volume III, I had to find something
else the next month. Found something orchestral with a nice album cover by
a guy named Franz Lizst done by a local orchestra and conductor, Arthur
Fiedler and the Boston Pops.  Next month in this record store I ended up
with Franz Schubert's C Major Symphony.

That did it for that record store, but I found a better selection and better
prices in Cambridge, MA  I got $1 a week for tacking a neighbors trash out.
The Harvard Coop charged $3.90 a record, so I had enough for trolley fair
and a record about every month or so.)  Haven't stopped yet.

So, I think it is a combination of individual inclination and environment.
I'll do all I can to expose Katie to the environment I've come to love.
She has a great Music Director at school, but like most in Pennsylvania,
Band is real important.  (It goes with the football program.  Since the
high school team has won the state championship 3 of the past 10 years
including the past 2, the music program is starting to recover quite well
from 10 years ago. Still haven't done much with strings though, but they
don't sound that well in at a football game.)

"Tom Connor" <[log in to unmask]>