Karen Merguerian wrote: >Another example: I used to become terribly bored at school concerts >listening to the madrigal choir. But then I was asked to join, and when >I started singing madrigals, they became very compelling, so much so >that I was then able to listen to performances of them with patience and >appreciation. When I was a graduate student in composition, my teacher was the head of the electronic/computer music studio. I wasn't interested in electronic music, but he insisted that I take at least one semester. I ended up teaching electronic/computer music for several years and produced several dozen works in that medium...I even listen to some electronic works...favorite composers include Parmegani and Berio. There was, at one time, a teaching initiative which had young students composer music using basic household items. I am also reminded of a series of discs that I love, Young People's Records...perhaps some of you remember them. My favorite was one done by Groucho Marx...yes, old Groucho...singing a song which was quite dissonant...can't recall the title...and then another one which featured children playing along with household items...as I recall, one in the series written by one of my favorite, somewhat forgotten composers, Richard Mohaupt. I put a bunch of these on CD. When I did I wondered if Groucho's song made me more open to dissonant music! Karl