Music and Family

For this assignment, I interviewed my mom. She grew up in the 70's and 80's, so she has cool stories to tell.

The first question I asked was, "What sort of music culture did you grow up in?

She answered, " A lot of classical music was played by my dad in our house and his car but having older sisters, their music was around too (Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, etc.) so I grew up to appreciate all kinds. My parents also liked some pop music from the 70's and 80's, so we listened to that too."

Next question, "What kind of music did you grow up with? What did it mean to you and the people around you? Did music have any particular function? When and where did you listen to it?"

 "Same as above but also, we listened to classical music in the house, either on the radio or albums. Also always playing in my dad's car. Music was very important in our family and always playing at any given time of day. My dad's mother taught piano and sang and his sister is a Julliard trained classical violinist. My parents and I went to the opera every couple of months or so when I was growing up, as season subscribers, and we also attended rock concerts on occasion as well. I played the clarinet and oboe, my sisters the flute and I sang in the church choir and school choir. So music was very much a part of our daily lives.

"Was the kind of music you listened to growing up popular at the time, either in general or within your friend group?"

"Some of the music was, because we appreciated all genres, but mostly I preferred pop, as did my friends, while my dad preferred classical. My mom was more in to pop music as well but we all appreciated classical at times."

"Were you involved in any music groups at school or church or anywhere else?"

"Yes, started in school band in 5th grade, playing the clarinet and then the oboe in High School. Sang in the church choir and school choir for many years as well."

"How did you listen to music? What kind of technology did you have?"

"Either on the radio, albums, then 8 track tapes, cassette tapes in my jam box or walkman, then compact discs came out when I was in College."

"Did you go to concerts? What were they like? What was the first concert you went to?"

"Yes, I have always loved live music. My first concert was Charlie Pride when I was in Elementary School. I won tickets from a drawing at Burger King. My cousin and I both won and our moms took us. I don't remember anything about it. But my first REAL concert, I'd say, is Journey. That was in 8th grade, I think. I remember it being loud but so much fun!"

"Have you every met any famous musicians?"

"Well, as I mentioned, I went to a Charlie Pride concert. We got to meet him backstage. I've met a couple times, Edward McCain (friend of my husband/your dad from growing up). I met Christina Perri before her concert with my daughter (you) and I met James Hetfield in the San Fransisco Airport."

"Has any musician inspired you?"

"I'm always inspired by talented musicians of all genres. Can't really pinpoint one in particular though."

"Was music a priority in your family? How so?"

"We all appreciated music but I guess the only priority was that if we made a commitment to it then we had to stick with it and try our best (instruments, choir, etc.)"

"What is your first memory of music?"

"I had musical toys as a child, like a Jack in the Box and a Fisher Price record player that I loved! I also had various musical instruments around to play with, like drums, castanets, shakers, xylophones, etc. that were fun for me. Music at church is a deep memory for me too."

"If you had to describe your life in one song, what would it be?"

"That is hard, but maybe, "Let it be" by the Beatles. I love that song."

It was really cool to listen to my mom and hear her musical memories from her past. I learned things about her that I did not know before. She had a very musical childhood, and it clearly rubbed off on me.