Interview

First, I interviewed my mom (who is musically inclined).  Then, I thought it would be fun to go ahead and interview my dad as well (who is not musically inclined). 

Mom Interview:

Me:  What kind of music did you listen to as a child?
Mom:  Rock, Swing/big band, and classical.  Bands like Jimi Hendrix, Benny Goodman, Queen, James Taylor, and Rise Stevens.
Me:  Was there any dancing involved?
Mom:  No, not really.  I didn't go to many dances; I didn't dance much or well. 
Me:   What sort of environment did you listen to music in?
Mom:  At home and in the car.  At home a lot because my parents also listened to big band and classical.
Me:  How did you parents or teachers feel about the music you listened to?
Mom:  My parents didn't have a problem with it.  They weren't interested in rock, but they weren't opposed to it either.  My choir teacher loved James Taylor.  I don't really know how the other teachers felt about that kind of music, but they were all pretty cool, so they probably didn't have a problem with it.
Me:  How do feel about what Annie (my sister) and I listen to now that you are the parent?  And when you were a teacher, how did you feel about popular music?
Mom:  I have no problem with what you and Annie listen to, but I do oppose music that promotes violence or that is vulgar to no purpose.  Music ought to make a contribution or be innocuous some how.  It ought to be there, but shouldn't make things worse. 
Me:  Did you play an instrument or sing?  And what kind of music did you play or sing?
Mom:   Yes.  I played violin and upright bass and sang.  I played only classical music, but sang typical concert choir music.  I was also in the Richmond Symphony Choir when I was about twenty, so what you would expect to hear from that group. 
Me:  Were you exposed to music outside of your own culture?
Mom:  Yes, especially choir. 
Me:  How?  What kind?
Mom:  Music from around the world.  Russian, German, tonal from the South Pacific, and Hebrew.  My dad had an album called Tijuana brass, a lot like the music from Mexican restaurants.  He also had a record of whale sounds which was kind of neat. 
Me:  What kind of music did your friends listen to?
Mom:  Disco!  That was painful!  A lot of my childhood memories revolved around music and were impacted by music.  My first album was "Big Moment"  by Paul Simon.  One of my guy friends from high school gave me an album by Earth, Wind, and Fire.  Music was so important in my life.  Life growing up was like a soundtrack because music was so important.
Me:  So why did you listen to music?
Mom:  Because it was a big part of my life.  It made me feel happy and comforted when I was sad, just like a friend would. 

Dad interview:

Me:  What kind of music did you listen to growing up?
Dad: Pop and country. 
Me:  What kind of bands?
Dad:  I dunno
Me:  Dad!  Like Queen? Or did you listen to any rock or rap or something?
Dad:  I hate rap.  I dunno, a little bit of Queen.  More like the Seals and Profts, Chicago, and Bread.
Me:  Was there any dancing involved in the kind of music that you listened to?
Dad:  No.
Me:  Why not?
Dad:  I don't have rhythm, therefore, I don't dance.
Me:  What environment did you listen to music in?
Dad:  The car.
Me:  What did your parents and teachers think about the kind of music you listened to?
Dad:  Well, I don't think they cared.  They never said anything about it.
Me:  What do you think about the kind of music that Annie and I listen to and that is popular today?
Dad:  Ya'll listen to good stuff.  I don't agree with rap.  I don't get it.
Me:  Why did you listen to music?
Dad:  I dunno, I turned it on because it was there, and to drown out the silence. 
Me:  Dad!  You just listened to it to drown out the silence?
Dad:  I'm just givin' you a hard time.  I like music, I like the melodies.
Me:  Did you play any instruments or sing?
Dad:  You already know the answer to that.  No.  I wasn't musically inclined.  I played sports and stuff which took up most of my free time.
Me:  What did your friends listen to?
Dad:  Pretty much the same thing.
Me:  Did your parents influence your choice of music?
Dad:  No, not really.
Me:  Alright, anything else you would like to add?
Dad:  Well, your mother had a little bit of an advantage over me when it came to music, because she is younger and there was better music then.  I was impaired because disco was popular when I was young and when music would have influenced my life most.  (Mom starts singing "Shake, shake, shake! Shake, shake, shake!  Shake your booty! Ya!  Shake your booty!)
All:  hahahahahahha


And this concludes the interviews that I did on my parents.