All my early-earlies are classical, with my Dad or my Swedish composer great-grand-dad. I'm listening and, sometimes, being instructed on HOW to listen, what to listen for, how to pick apart the sounds and follow instruments or rising and falling dynamics, melody lines, harmonies, or.... Not a talky music appreciation thing but a guided observing. I was well guided thru a sequence of learning, as well as getting lots of UNinterrupted time to just revel in it all. Closely snuggled. And I remember proudly telling my folks I wanted to play that Pro-ko-feef album again-- they laughed and laughed, which I knew then was VERY WRONG of them because really, I was way too young to be reading AT ALL and had made a good effort at what I recalled having seen on the cover (Prokoffi-ev).

And then before too long, hearing some dreamy jazz singing (my dad was in a quartet), and more guided listening on song-phrasing (esp. Sinatra).

I loved all of it, and it stuck, too-- that ability to listen well. It also fed the part of my brain that observes well in ALL senses. I've been paid the big bucks because of that skill/gift. I remember being able to coach a gymnast when was just 8 or 9 and not a gymnast myself, because I could SEE every detail and how her movement was constructed, mechanically. I mean I could see not only the moves but the forces OF the moves, the physics of the movement and how to adjust where and when to reach the desired arc or bounce.

~S~