Conference napalm::guitar

    I was 8 in 1960 and my 2 older brothers, then 15 and 19, were bringing
    home Weavers albums, and Kingston Trio, and eventually Dylan.  I used
    to listen to Oscar Brand's folkie show on Saturday night radio in NY.
    Eventually I started listening to WBAI-FM, the NY version of KPFA (?)
    Pacifica 'indie' radio.  I didn't get into electric music until I was
    in high school - it was EC himself who caught my attention, my having
    listened to acoustic blues on the folkie radio.
    
    My brothers played guitars and my Dad was an importer, so he brought me
    home a 3/4 size classical guitar from Spain that I played until the
    humidity in the basement took the bridge off one summer night (with
    witnesses!).  I always owned a guitar but didn't always play...
    
    Our boy is now 12 and our daughter is 7.  For the last 4 years, since
    this notes file and other events rekindled my interest, they have grown
    up in a guitar player's house, where they can't help but hear anything
    from John Gorka to Buddy Guy at any given moment.  I am very proud of
    their diverse tastes and knowledge of things musical, although none of
    us really has any deep musical talent, per se.  My son takes viola
    lessons and plays in the school orchestra.  They are now at the point
    where they are getting used to excursions through music shops on Dad's
    GTS attack tours.
    
    When they were really little, we always took them to the coffe houses
    in Chelmsford MA and then here in Grand Rapids, so they get to hear
    live performances that way (also bluegrass concerts and an occasional
    classical or rock outing).
    \Gary

    Since my teenage (15 and 16) don't live with me, I spend alot of time
    with them in my car doing various visiting/driving marathons. 
    Consequently we listen to alot of music while driving.  They usually
    opt to choose the cassettes of their choice.  They are in a pretty
    "normal" crowd, but I don't know if their friends like the same stuff
    as they.  My girls like:
    
    Zeppelin, Doobies, Eagles, Bad Company, Steve Miller, Tull, SRV,
    Clapton (the older stuff), etc.  They put the tapes in and ROCK!.....and
    it's fine with me!  8^)
    
    I can't seem to drum up any interest in Steve Morse, EJ, or
    Satch.....that's MY music.
    
    Dad

    
    Good idea for a note string....
    
    My kids are a little young to be doing much more than just 
    listening to music (4� + 3), but they definately have an
    interest (how deep that will become is up to them).  My
    son likes BOC's "Fire of Unknown Origin", EJ's "Ah Via 
    Musicom", and most recently Todd Rundren's Utopia (the 
    1974 thing), which he asks for by saying "can we listen
    to the 'silly music', Dad?"  He likes it when the keys are
    making some weird, spacey sounds, or the bass is making a
    farting sound. ;-)  Oh yeah, he also liked the song "Black
    Moon" from the new ELP album.  He would *bash* his fist down
    on the armrest/handle of my car door in time with the drums.
    His tempo got pretty good there for a while.
    
    All of this really makes me wonder what will happen to his
    musical tastes.  For me, I was exposed to LOTS of country music,
    but after being blasted with it one too many Saturday mornings
    while I was trying to sleep...well, I think I've developed 
    antibodies against it.....  
    
    I think it would be a shame for him to rebel against all the music
    that I like.  He'd really have to rebel against music altogether 
    in order to do that though, since (excepting country) I do listen
    to quite a range of stuff.  
    
    So far it looks like either of my kids would be most interested
    in being drummers, or possibly guitar de-tuners....;-)
    
    
    guy

    I don't have any brats, er, kids yet ... but I had this Cat, you see,
    and I just couldn't get him interested in the works of Bach or
    Paganini.  He was into Mozart and Liszt, however.

    I had a cat that when I put on the Clash,I used to make him pogo.He 
    absolutely hated it but it was fun to watch!!
    
    
                                                 Staynz

    My son, just turned 2, overheard me singing to myself in the car one
    day and started repeating "move over Rover, let Jimi take over".  When
    we got home, I figured I'd let him hear the real thing, and his face
    lit up like a candle when he heard it coming over the speakers.
    
    Now every morning at 6:30 I get "Dad, play Jimi".  What have I
    done!!!???

    One Sunday night, the kids and I were driving the loop north on 495 and
    I tuned in the low-power public station out of Worcester.  They were
    playing a cut from Vangelis' Antarctica CD (synth new-age).  There's a
    part where the synth kind of sawtooth-waves up and down in pitch.
    
    My daughter, who was about 3, starting laughing uncontrollably at the
    "silly music".  I called the station the next day and ended up buying
    the CD.  It's one of my son's favorites.
    
    It's also a good film to rent on a hot July evening because it's all
    scenes of Antarctica and sled dogs, backed by the soundtrack (and about
    2 minutes of dialog in Japanese).
    \Gary

    
    
    We have a piano in our living room and my wife would like our 8-yeard-old
    daughter to take piano lessons.
    
    I've told my wife that until we hear the 8-year-old plinking away at
    the piano on a regular basis, starting lessons will be a waste.  
    I'd be happy to let her plink away until she comes to us and asks for
    lessons!  If that's never, that's OK with me.
     
    
    The desire to play the instrument has to come from her, not from the
    parents.
    
    
    Kevin
    
    

    It's true, forcing a kid may make a great musician, but more likely it
    won't, and it certainly won't make a happy kid (or adult).
    \Gary

    
    I wouldn't force my kids, but in a way, I think it takes a little
    initiative on our part as parents too...within limits of course.
    
    For example, this weekend I decided to get my son to begin learning
    to read written numbers a bit.  I got him started playing a "game"
    of sorting out some playing cards into piles.  Hopefully, he'll take
    the idea and run with it.
    
    You could do the same thing with the piano.  Teach them a very simple,
    short melody line and see if they show more interest.  They may 
    simply never have understood how it was all done, and so may feel
    that they CAN'T do it...
    
    Just a thought,
    
    
    guy

	My son is 20 now, and grew up listening to lots of music, even
	though I didn't play an instrument at the time.  Some of his
	favs were the Archies (Chick-a-boom),  Wings (Silly Love Songs),
	and Hollies (Long Cool Woman . . .), all the way to Kiss and
	Motley Crue.  Today he's gone out on a crusade of his own to 
	replace all my old albums with CDs.  He loves music from the 
	60s, primarily, but has never really had the desire to learn to
	play an instrument.  For all the exposure he's had, his sense 
	of timing and rhythm are pretty bad :^}

    
    	Years ago, when my Ex's daughter was 3, she heard Psycho
    	Killer by the Talking Heads.  
    
    	She just loved that "Fuh, fuh, fuh, fuh..." part.
    
    	Speaking of Cats and Jimi - when mine was a kitten, he heard
    	that speaker to speaker feedback Jimi does on Electric 
    	Ladyland.  He screeched across the living room and leaped onto
    	one speaker and attached himself to it!!  It was hysterical!
    
    	Tom
    

Since conception, my little one (4 months) has been a metal head.

Cindi always came to our gigs and rehearsals... from day1-(9months).
Little cherubs favorites lately seem to be:

Dream Theatre
MgaDeth
Queensryche etc...

I bought her her first guitar already.  It's one  of those Fisher Price
thingies...But if she'll listen to dad, she'll be a keyboard player.
Keyboarders get the gigs !!
jc

    My little 11 month old daughter seems to love music, pretty much any
    kind.  Whenever she hears music, she starts bouncing and nodding her
    head, and sometimes she'll clap along too.  Doesn't matter if it's
    rock, classical, childrens music, or what, the effect seems to be the
    same.  It could be something really heavy, or a bouncy little thing
    from a commercial, she'll still dance to it and seems to enjoy it.
    
    Busts me up watching her too!
    
    As far as playing, if she shows an interest, I'll encourage her, but I
    don't want to be one of those parents that forces their interests onto
    their children.  I'll try and support and encourage her in *whatever*
    interests she may have.
    
    re: Guy

>    For example, this weekend I decided to get my son to begin learning
>    to read written numbers a bit.  I got him started playing a "game"
>    of sorting out some playing cards into piles.  Hopefully, he'll take
>    the idea and run with it.
    
    I hear he's bookin a flight to Vegas now...
    
    Greg
                           

    My almost 12 year old son is more into progressive jazz and R&B. He
    listens (all the time) to The Yellowjackets, David Sandborn, Spyro
    Gyra, Rippingtons then he'll get into the other phase of Clapton,
    SRV, Gary Moore. Naw, he's not *my* son is he?  ;^)
    
    My 9 year old daughter likes C&C Music Factory, Paula Abdul, Janet
    Jackson. 	Well...  one out of two isn't bad.   ;^)
    
    Could be worse! 
    
    
    Rock on,
    		Fred

My daughter hates Clapton and RAP.

:-)

 My son will be 3 in a few months.
 I decided to offer him all the oportunities to enjoy and practice
 music when he will be old enough (5, 8, 15, 55.... ?!?)
 So, for his first anniversary, I gave him a 1980 Standard Gold Top
 Lespaul, for his second, I gave him an american standard Strat and for
 his third i'll buy a Super 210 Fender amp.

 Of course, as long as my son is too young to play, I use HIS LP+Strat 
 intensively ! 

 This is the BEST way I found to justify my purchases....... (My girl
 friend would buy a stupid brand new couch)

 You can believe me, try it !

    I remember when my son was only a few months old,I was listening to
    Zappa's "Hot Rats" on the headphones,so I stuck them over his ears to
    see what his reaction was......the little squirt fell straight asleep!!
    	I used it again a few times when he wouldn't sleep,and it worked
    every time.Never thought Beefheart singing "I'm a little pimp with my
    hair...etc" could be classed as a lullaby !!
    	
    	Re- a few back,I'm also waiting for my kids to *ask* to learn an
    instrument,as I've seen far too many people who got pi**ed off with
    piano/cello/brass lessons cause they *had* to do it every night.I also
    get pi**ed off with all the folks who say,"Oh,I'd love to be able to
    play guitar!!".If they love it that much,why not *do* it!! (as long as
    they have use of their arms/fingers,that is.)

Kids - the next generation


.... Is that like Star Trek the horror sequel ? ;-)

Actually, if I had kids, I'm sure they'd hate Niel Young too ;-)


			Nik.

I registered my new Martin (with a lifetime guarantee) in the name of my 3
year old daughter.  This wons many points with my wife.  Too bad this trick 
can't be used with electric guitars.

Jim

    I got a Boston Pops CD with the 1812 Overture and a bunch of other
    classical 'greatest hits' on it. The kids love it. My son (5.5)
    loves Ragged Glory. The first time I played Purple Haze for him
    (about a year ago) he listened to the whole song then said "boy,
    it sounds like he was getting SWEATY playing that song". The only
    music they don't like is the sappy nursery rhyme stuff they're 
    exposed to at school. 
    
    - Dave

    
    
    speaking of kids - you can make real unique Xmas gifts for the little
    ones with those Playschool karaoke boxes by recording some
    "personalized" songs for them.  If I get the time, I'll be doing a
    version of "Road House Blues" for my little 4 year old niece - with
    entirely new lyrics, of course....
    
    

    
    re: Greg
    
    Yeah, he's got the fever alright, but unfortunately it's not
    gambling fever!  (he's at home on the couch right now...)
    
    
    guy

    I listed a note several back ...another note...about giving my old
    Shure Vocal master to the kid.  Well, he still does not practice
    much....some now...but that monsterous thing looks great in his room
    and all his buddies drool over it. Amazing how easy it is to impress an
    11 lear old. He's on his way...and I stay out of his way.
    Pc
    

    Any kind of big gear impresses kids...I remember going to an eighth
    grade dance and one band was in matched suits playing Paul Revere and
    the Raiders stuff, but the *other* band interested me...they were
    really surly, and had these big Heathkit amp stacks, played Stones and
    Cream covers REALLY LOUD...I was suitably impressed, although I bet
    both bands were terrible, what did I know at 12 years old.
    
    						Brian

    
    My 9 year old son is taking saxophone lessons at school for the
    first time. He also has started playing with all the instruments that
    we have at the house, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums. I think
    is great that he has the interest.
    
    Last week he asked me to show him how to play Wild Thing on the bass.
    We spent some quality time play Wild thing (2 hours of it makes you hate
    it). He played the bass, guitar and keyboards.
    
    Last night he tells me that he needs a ride Friday night to his
    friend's house because he is having band rehearsals. I asked him
    what is he playing? He says keyboards.
    
    This rehearsal should be intersting.
    

	Well my 13 year old has heard everything from A to Z. He has 
played guitar for the last year,since last christmas he got a Strat.
	Suprisingly enough early on he wanted to learn Led Zep type
tunes and now he's into learning "Red House" etc. He rarely complains
about the music I play at home.(at least not like my wife) And is always
curious how people do things. He's had a few lessons..... I started a
while ago talking to him about tone,solo's and effect's.I haven't started 
with music theory but some ear training instead. It's not a life long 
career,but a hobby for fun. Besides I would have never heard Nirvana if it
    wasn't for him. :^)  ????????
	My youngest (7) typically will sing melodies or sing solo's along 
with whatever music is playing at the time,but is more interested in baseball.

	For those of you who has someone who is interested in horses or
has a horse lover in the house there are cures for these nasty expensive
habits.... Prior to committing to the purchase and upkeep of large animals,
barn duty can really impact major decisions..... There is hope! It worked for 
me. :^)


							Rick

    I've got 3 kid's, son is 17.5, likes Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jayne's
    Addiction, etc.  He plays drums (best), Saxophone (good), and Piano
    (so so).  The other kids his age are either into thrash, or (bizarre)
    classic rock of the 60's and 70's.  Go figure.  Personnally, I got
    tired of classic rock in the 60's and 70's...
    
    My oldest daughter, 12.5, likes most any thing on top 40.  She plays B
    flat and E flat clarinets, and taught herself to play piano.  (I left
    the John W. Schaum Piano books A thru H on top of the piano.)  (Dad!
    did you color in the pictures in this book when you were a kid??!!!)
    
    My younger daughter, 11, just started alto sax in school.  She plays a
    little piano.  When the sax teacher teaches her how to read music,
    she'll probably pick up more piano.  She has (to me) the worst musical
    taste of the bunch - Paula Abdul, Madonna, you know, all those girl
    singers that sound like Munchkins on drugs.  
    
    I refuse to teach them music unless they absolutely beg me to.  They
    have to want it.
    
    None of them like Neil Young, so there is hope...
    
    Skip Towne