Music and Family Field Study

 

Music and Family Field Study

    I interviewed my mom, Kimberly Smith, for my family field study project.

    

    Me: What is your earliest memory of music?

    My mom: Listening to mama play music on our radio.

    

    Me: What kind of music do you associate with your childhood?

    My mom: The 80's - Duran Duran, Van Halen, Beastie Boys.

    Me: Think about younger childhood, middle school years, high school, college–how did it change, evolve?

    My mom: Elementary I remember Michael Jackson, Rock Springfield, etc. that my parents liked. I also remember all the 80's hair bands, along with groups like Van Halen, Beastie Boys, New Edition, etc. The European invasion of bands like Duran Duran that my sister loved still sticks with me. I would love to see Duran Duran or New Edition in concert.

                            "Ordinary World," by Duran Duran.

Middle school- boy bands like New Kids on the Block were huge. I loved Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Bon Jovi, etc. 

                             "Interstate Love Song," by Stone Temple Pilots.

High school and college- whatever was popular on the radio. I would listen to Casey Kasem's weekly top forty countdown every week. I went from listening to what my older sister and her friends liked to what my friends and I liked. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, etc.  were all popular.

                            

                           "Hangin' Tough," by New Kids On The Block.

    Me: How about music from your young adulthood to now?

    My mom: All types- as you can see from the lists of artists I have given. I have a varied range of music that I like.

    Me: Do you have a favorite musical artist now?

    My mom: No. I like a large variety.

    Me: Who in your life influenced your choice of music, at different points in your life?

    My mom: My parents, then my sister, then my friends, then my husband, then my daughter.

   

    Me: What sort of technology did you use to listen to music at various points in time?

    

    My mom: Home sound system with record player, boom box, cassette tapes, portable cassette player, then CD players, then iPods, now phone.

    Me: How do you feel about your childhood music from today’s perspective?

    My mom:  I still love it.

    Me: How do you feel about how music has changed over the years?

    My mom: It doesn't seem to be as narrative based anymore.  It seems now to be more about the beat and not the plot.  

    Me: What were concerts like when you were a kid? 

    My mom: My first concert was George Strait and Reba McEntire.  They both just stood on stage and sang. It is much more theatrical now.

    Me: Have you ever played a musical instrument or been involved in singing?

    My mom: I played the recorded in elementary school and played Guitar Hero - if that counts. I was in chorus in middle school - again, if that counts.