We are different and yet in some respects we are the same. Music for instance affects the brain. Music has an effect on animals as well.
As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to music and art.
There were no professional musicians in our immediate family but there were musicians in the family: Cousin Eldee Young payed with the Ramsey Lewis Trio; Singer, Domita Jo Deblanc was a distant cousin.
My second cousin, a trumpeter taught music at DuSable H.S. in Chicago.
There were other musically talented family members.
As a child growing up, I would sit for hours in front of my brother Charles' Grundig console, listening to '78's, 45's and the radio. At the elementary school I attended, we had a study period that was held in the school library. The librarian would play classical music during that study period.
I still remember how I felt during study period, listening to whatever she was playing. I also sang in a Boy's Choir and played drums in our drum & bugle corp band. The elementary school I attended in Chicago would have field trips to the Chicago Symphony and Ballet. I really, really enjoyed those field trips. In addition to singing in a choir and playing the drums, I taught myself how to play flute, classical guitar and french horn.
But I never learned to read music until I was well into my 30's.
Whatever instrument I happened to play as a child or young adult, I played by ear, even into adulthood when I initially began taking cello and piano lessons. I remember once during a piano lesson I was supposed to have practiced a composition by Mozart for my upcoming lesson.
After I stopped playing the piece, my piano teacher remarked:
"That was very beautiful but you played it in the wrong key."
My musical tastes gravitate around Jazz, R&B, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century classical composers and compositions.
Yeah, I like Rock too! I'm a child of the Sixties.
I guess you could say, when I listen to music, I listen as a musician, even though I'm not a professional musician. I listen to phrasing, articulation, rhythm and tempo. I listen for musicianship. I listen with my heart.
I know what the cello and piano should sound like but I know what other instruments should sound like as well.
All I know is that when I listen to music, or when I was playing an instrument, music has a profound affect on me.
As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to music and art.
There were no professional musicians in our immediate family but there were musicians in the family: Cousin Eldee Young payed with the Ramsey Lewis Trio; Singer, Domita Jo Deblanc was a distant cousin.
My second cousin, a trumpeter taught music at DuSable H.S. in Chicago.
There were other musically talented family members.
As a child growing up, I would sit for hours in front of my brother Charles' Grundig console, listening to '78's, 45's and the radio. At the elementary school I attended, we had a study period that was held in the school library. The librarian would play classical music during that study period.
I still remember how I felt during study period, listening to whatever she was playing. I also sang in a Boy's Choir and played drums in our drum & bugle corp band. The elementary school I attended in Chicago would have field trips to the Chicago Symphony and Ballet. I really, really enjoyed those field trips. In addition to singing in a choir and playing the drums, I taught myself how to play flute, classical guitar and french horn.
But I never learned to read music until I was well into my 30's.
Whatever instrument I happened to play as a child or young adult, I played by ear, even into adulthood when I initially began taking cello and piano lessons. I remember once during a piano lesson I was supposed to have practiced a composition by Mozart for my upcoming lesson.
After I stopped playing the piece, my piano teacher remarked:
"That was very beautiful but you played it in the wrong key."
My musical tastes gravitate around Jazz, R&B, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century classical composers and compositions.
Yeah, I like Rock too! I'm a child of the Sixties.
I guess you could say, when I listen to music, I listen as a musician, even though I'm not a professional musician. I listen to phrasing, articulation, rhythm and tempo. I listen for musicianship. I listen with my heart.
I know what the cello and piano should sound like but I know what other instruments should sound like as well.
All I know is that when I listen to music, or when I was playing an instrument, music has a profound affect on me.