Wrapped Beautifully

What You Can Use To Reflect How You Feel Or Want To Feel Inside

I'm not exactly sure why, but  I have always bought scarves  that seem to reflect how I feel or want to feel inside: happy, beautiful, vibrant, and special.    Certain ones seem to be so perfect year after year for those formal important things like job interviews or weddings.    But, I also like to wear particular scarves for fun, casual things, like apple picking in October or going to a surprise birthday party.  Wearing a scarf is uplifting for you and sometimes even for the people you are with!

It's not that different for me when it comes to music.  I listen to music that reflects how I feel or want to feel inside.  So what I like in music is pretty distinct and diverse.   I am crazy about:

• "Early" music from these periods:
• • Baroque (1600 - 1750), which  includes the work of these composers: Bach, Handel, and  Vivaldi
  • Classical (1750 - 1825) which includes the work of these composers:  Beethoven, Hayden and Mozart
  • Romantic (1825 - 1900) which includes the work of theses composers: Brahms, Chopin, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky
• Beautifully structured rock. There are too many groups to name.  But it starts with early 1960s material (like the Beatles) and even continues through today (Lady Gaga!) 

Music in particular is so powerful when it comes to being able to affect how you feel.  I can have the most draining day at work.  But on the way home, if I listen to a piece of music that is hopeful, energetic, and/or positive, I'm just about guaranteed to be heading in that direction by the time the song finishes.

My dad studied music at Boston University, both voice and instrument (clarinet). He taught music  in public schools to children for many years in Massachusetts and Maine.  Although I learned to play flute and piccolo in the 1970s (and here I am in this concert photo- the flautist in the striped shirt),  I have minimal skill.

My sister Sharon sings and directs choral music and teaches music to elementary school children at a private school in New Jersey.  She went to Westminster Choir College, has sung at Carnegie Hall a couple times and sounds like Jessye Norman. It's such a gift!  The next generation of children in my family could yield a couple musicians. 

And if not, we'll make sure they will know how to enjoy and use music as much as their parents do.

Most Never Hear Wonderful New Music Because of Record Company Greed

I vividly remember hearing a great new rock and roll  song on the radio just about every week.   Anyone growing up during the 60s thru 80s knows exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm not saying there is never any good music getting promoted anymore.  But, it is rare.  You are lucky to hear  something that is even melodic. And when it is, the song can be mind numbingly simple.  And, then there is rap. Yes,  I know it's is a form of communication and sometimes very important things are  getting said.   But, I don't look at it as music, for the most part.

 

When you look up the definition of music, you'll see there are a few definitions.   The first is  (1)  vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony.  And the second definition is (2) an agreeable sound 

So, it is technically accurate to say rap is music.  But because it is not an agreeable sound to me, it is not music to me.

My dad taught music to teenagers and is a musician.  I heard only  "early" music (baroque, classical and romantic) through the age of 4. I  loved Mozart right away. I think it was because of the light and beautiful melodies that are so prevalent in his work. I can appreciate several other forms of music.

When I was 5 - 6,  my babysitter would play The Beatles. I liked their songs a lot.  Simply put, the melodies are sweet. With time, I learned to like many different types of rock and roll. Hard, soft, acid, even heavy metal.  Blues, and certain types of Jazz and Country have great qualities too.

I feel two groups of people suffer a lot from record company greed and the fact that they only promote singers, songwriters and bands that fit in a formula that maximizes near term money making.

(1) People who grew up from the 90s onward.   Every year, it seems, less and less really good music is getting published by the big record companies.  So, little if any is available in the main stream.  This results in many young people never getting exposure to and  developing an appreciation for truly wonderful new music.

Periodically, some folks in this age group can stumble on this reality.  Perhaps they hear  a great young band live one night.   In studying them you learn about what influenced their style and you realize there is this other world of music and groups that are light years better than most of what is promoted today.  

(2) The singers, songwriters and the other folks in truly gifted groups or bands that never get that "big break" because the major record companies only care about making as much money as possible right now instead of promoting amazing music.

Off the top of my head, I can think of three absolutely incredible rock and roll groups that can run circles around  most of what is out there today.  Yet, they are largely unknown. 

They are:

Judy Tzuke

Screamin Cheetah Wheelies

The Feeling

Listen to their music.  Read their lyrics.  See for yourself just how wonderful it is!  Tell your friends!  With some luck, someday the major record companies will begin to address the huge disservice.   Great music really enriches each and every one of us every minute we get to listen to it.