I was listening to classical music at elementary school age largely due to the fact that my dad played it constantly at home. He was a violinist, and I played piano and clarinet (his idea). But, I did regularly go to the Boston Public Library to check out recordings and listen at home. My favorites at that time were Vaughan Williams, Shostakovich, and Diamond. When I became a rebellious teenager, I gave up all instruments and classical music totally, and concentrated on females, hard rock, various drugs, and fighting anyone who got in my way. My dad, having no idea what to do with me, sent me off to college and I didn't even last one semester. I joined the Army where the only thing I did well was engage in boxing matches. I then went back to college and started flunking most courses. But, I met my wife in a music appreciation class and began the process of climbing out of my cage. I didn't get back to classical music until my late 30's. That was probably due to really listening to the words in hard rock (hard to take) and the death of my dad. I started out with my three childhood favorites, but they didn't sound so great anymore. I then got immersed in baroque music (modern instruments) but that didn't sound very good either. But, I then got hold of Goebel's Brandenburg Concertos, and the world of classical music really opened up for me. I kept turning to Bach and then branched out to Mozart, Beethoven, Zemlinsky, etc. The significance of growing up in a home where classical music is prevalent probably can't be overestimated. It was my musical foundation, and I don't think there's any likelihood I would be a serious collector/listener without that foundation. Don Satz [log in to unmask]