I remember taking a music appreciation course in high school which got me into Debussy and Varese as well as introducing me to the fundamentals of blues such what I-IV-V and 12-bar means. I first heard of Gunther Schuller and heard his "Night Music." I also learned a bit about sound waves such as the fundamental and the partials. First time I heard Big Broonzy. Actually, it wasn't but it was the first time I realized the song I had heard a few years before was by Big Bill.

I'm having a difficult time believing kids today are getting anything like this in their curricula. Even when I took it, it was an optional course and the class was small and 3/4 of the kids in it had no interest, they were just filling in graduation requirements.