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13 Sep 99 - 06:51 PM (#113977) Subject: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: teller This has the potential to become a long and rambling thread because it's about my eldest daughter...but I'll try & keep it short. We sang to her in the womb, we always have music around the house, she loves her nursery rhyme tape, she has been surrounded by music from her conception ( and the same goes for her little sister ). Earlier today, as we were eating, she started humming a song - I recognised it as being 'Pink' ( Aerosmith ). It transpires that her older (half) sister had taught it to her and '....I like the tune!' The thought behind this one is simple......I really don't care WHAT sort of music Arwen is singing, she just loves the loves the stuff - and she can hold a recognisable tune at barely five!!! Even if it is Aerosmith!!!! This is our legacy, this is our love and it does me ol' heart good to know ( is this vain? I think not...)that MUSIC seems to mean something to our daughters, regardless of its origin or the 'box' in which it is put. I sang along with her and we laughed....which is probably the greatest music in the world! ( And because it's NEARLY the 14th in the UK, I thought it was appropriate!) Teller. |
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13 Sep 99 - 09:23 PM (#114015) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: Neil Lowe Music is music, whether it's folk, rock, classical, rap, whatever. I don't mind terribly much what my kids listen to (my eldest daughter listens to mainstream pop, a la Ricky Martin, Back Street Boys, etc. which I find to be vapid - nevertheless there is artistic value in any form of music, even the sound the washing machine makes as it goes through its cycles) as long as they're listening to something. My kids get the benefit of my broad music base, so they'll hear the old man listening to Bluegrass one day, Kronos Quartet another, Jimi Hendrix on another day, Native American religious chants, Ambient or New Age another day. Through my example I hope they gain a wide and healthy respect for all forms of music, but if they only listen to Country & Western or pop all their lives, I will be content knowing the aural aspect of their time on this earth will have been immeasurably enriched than had they not been exposed to any musical vibrations at all. |
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13 Sep 99 - 09:58 PM (#114019) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: Mike, NZ Well said, The main thing I have tried to teach my kids, all in their 20's now is to appreciate a broad range of tastes be it in music or religion,politics or whatever. It appears to have worked. |
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13 Sep 99 - 11:35 PM (#114044) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: katlaughing What's really neat is when they are living on their own and one day they call home to say could you please send me a copy of that LP or tape you used to play all of the time when I was growing up? Both my son and oldest daughter have done that. They are 29 & 25. My youngest, a young women at 22, made sure she copied everything before she moved out! katlaughing |
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14 Sep 99 - 10:11 AM (#114100) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: Peter T. I think listening and singing along are fine, but learning to play or make music is better as soon as possible. Otherwise you can end up thinking that only "they" can make music, and your only role is listening, applauding, singing along. yours, Peter T. |
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14 Sep 99 - 10:31 AM (#114103) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: katlaughing I agree, Peter. I've never asked my kids, because they were in chorus and orchestra, briefly, but I now wonder if they were just a bit intimidated about making music because my brother lived with us during those crucial years and he and I were so busy promoting his music and concertising. He is a brilliant pianist and has a very consuming personality. My children and I did sing together and they all love music, so I guess it didn't put them off totally. My sister's kids all played instruments and sang, but none of them do much of making music now except to sing with the radio, etc. She and I have talked about this and decided the reason we all became so musical, is because both our parents made performing and listening to music so much a part of their and our lives. We really were that family who gathered round the piano on Satuday nights to make music...no tv until I was about 9 years old. Actually, I would wish that on any newborn, no tv until at least 9 years old. I gave away a brand new tv when my youngest was born; didn't have one, again, until she was 3, and that was only because Roger had to be able to look at the signal of the station he was engineer for. I'd put that "Kill Your Television" bumper sticker on my car, except that tv is what pays our rent, still, so....it's a dilemma. kat
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14 Sep 99 - 02:26 PM (#114154) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: Neil Lowe ....kat, the strangest looks I have ever received in my life have come from people who've just been told that I don't own a TV. They assume you are so poor you can't afford one, so they're going to be charitable. "Well, hell," they say, "I've got an old one up in the attic I'll give you." (Is this a great country or what? Land of free TV sets). Then tell them "thanks, but no thanks" on the offer of a free TV set and they will look at you like you're from another planet and tell their kids to stay away from you as they flee in terror. Seriously. I lived without one for years when I first got married. The old one blew up and I decided not to replace it. Missed it for about three weeks, then found other more productive things to do. Also liked the way the house looked without one. They are an ugly piece of furniture and a TV by nature occupies the most central point in a room as the other pieces of furniture are arranged to optimize viewing area. It ruins decor and symmetry, my opinion. Sorry about the thread creep. I could go on and on about what I think of TV; maybe I'll start my own thread on this. Regards, Neil (who sees an electronic eye under every bed; and the promise of a TV in every pot)
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14 Sep 99 - 04:27 PM (#114170) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: Peter T. I live without a TV, but not out of virtue -- I am an addict, andif I had one, I would do nothing else. Turn one on around me and I will watch anything. Still, I think the funniest thing I hear is people talking about all the good things that are on, none of which they watch -- they will say if pressed that they go home and just sit and watch anything, they are so beat. And how this, that, or the other thing was on the news, and how can I find out what is going on without one. I can truthfully say that by the time something appears on television it is very superficial old news (unless it is an assassination, and one can usually live long enough to read all about it in the morning paper). What you miss out on are all the inreferences, but it is a small price to pay -- people think you are crazy anyway. yours, Peter T. |
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14 Sep 99 - 10:01 PM (#114260) Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Sept 14th) From: katlaughing Well, I have to confess, or maybe I did already, we do live with a tv, downstairs, out of the living room, in Roger's domain:-) I meant no tv for kids. There are good things on, which we do watch, Peter, I guess we must be the exception or we aren't that beat? Most of what is on, we believe to be crap, but with BBC America, PBS, the History channel etc, we do enjoy a few good programs. Although I hardly ever watch the History channel because it seems the kind of history they focus on is all wars! Hmmmmm, just thinking if they had 12 Step for tv addicts the whole nation might have to be a part of it!**BG** kat |