Today in seminar we were asked the question, “What was your first musical memory?” An intriguing thought, although I can’t honestly say that I have an answer. James said that his first musical memory would most likely be something from Fantasia or some other Disney film, interestingly enough I just recently observed while watching for the first time Disney’s newest princess movie ‘The Princess and the Frog’, just how much music is a part of these classic childhood films, but I digress.  Based off of stories I have heard about me as a child I would imagine that my first musical experience would be along the same lines.  According to my family members I would sit in front of the TV watching Fantasia and rocking back and forth before I could walk.  Additionally there are videos of me at two years old playing with a basket of my mother’s tea candles listening to Mozart in the background. I would consider this one of my earliest musical experiences, but I do not recall that day other than what I have observed on film.   So the question remains…what is my first musical memory.  I don’t think I have one. Music has surrounded me my entire life, that to pinpoint a singular experience and song would be difficult.

I would however venture to say that one of my earliest musical memories is driving in the car with my parents listening to Stevie Wonder’s “I just called to say I love you”. It was part of a collection of songs which were labeled, “The Greatest Hits” As I’ve gotten older I’ve maintained an affinity towards all of the songs in this collection, yet Stevie’s song is my personal favorite.  I remember asking my mother to repeat the song over and over for the entire ride, so much so that “Again! Again!” has become a joke within my family about my childhood obsession with this song.

Aldous Huxley said that “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is Music.” I agree.

~Naomi