Hawaiian Music

 

Music and Family

I am so happy we have the opportunity to ask a family member certain questions relating to music. Whether or not a relative plays an instrument or not, music is part of everyone’s life even though they may not realize that fact. I decided to interview my Mother because she is the closest family member to me (besides my twin), and I know she absolutely loves music, and it is definitely part of her life. In fact, she was my piano and ukulele teacher growing up, and she would help me prepare for gigs and drive me to performing events when I was little. She is truly someone I look up to, and I want to make her proud since she put so much time into me.

I interviewed my mother for thirty minutes at our kitchen table, and she enjoyed talking about music from her past and present. I will share the interview starting off with the questions I asked followed by her answers.

Question 1. What is your earliest musical memory?

Answer: My mother said her earliest musical memory was Christmas in 1968 when she got a toy piano from Santa! I told her I thought that was so cute she got a piano for Christmas. When she mentioned the toy piano, it reminded me of a picture I saw of me as a child playing a toy piano on Christmas day! 😊

Question 2. What is the earliest artist or style of music listen to?

Answer: Her earliest heard style of music was Hawaiian steel guitar and southern gospel quartet music. Her mother (my grandmother) was Hawaiian from Hawaii and listened to Hawaiian steel guitar, and her father (my grandfather) was from North Carolina and listened to Gospel music. Therefore, she was used to hearing this music growing up.

Question 3: What songs or music resonated with as a child?

Answer: As a Child- Hawaiian, bluegrass

As a Teen- classical, impressionistic music (Debussy) harp, violin organ (She told me she would go to the library to get recordings of harp, violin, and organ music!)

Young Adult: church music 60s, 70s, early 80s music, beach music or shag,  historical music like Jazz, swing, 1940s big band music

Question 4: How did your parents like your music.

Answer: “Most of it they liked because I liked their style too. I did not listen to hard or crazy music- do not like heavy metal, etc.”

Question 5: What type of technology did you use when you were younger?

Answer: “I used record players, cassette tapes, and eight tracks.”

Question 6: What type of technology do you use to listen to music now?

Answer: She said she enjoys using her Alexa because you can tell Alexa to  change radio stations like Hawaiian or Jazz music back and forth without changing the CDs. She also uses YouTube and thinks it saves space and spending money unlike CDs.

Question 7: Where do you listen to your music?

Answer: The house and the car. We also have speakers, Alexa, and Bluetooth throughout the house.

Question 8: What kind of concerts did you go to when you were in high school or older?

Answer: Classical music. Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Joshua Bell, James Galway, Diana Krall, Chieftains, Celtic Woman Celtic Thunder, Jake Shimabukuro. I remember many of these concerts my mother and I went to together such as James Galway and Joshua Bell. In fact, we got to meet James Galway and talk to him, and at one of Joshua Bell’s concerts (we went to two of his concerts), my sister got to talk to him and get a picture with Joshua Bell.  

 

                             Here's a recording of Diana Kraull

Question 9:  Did you ever learn an instrument? (I knew the answer was “yes.”)

Answer: She learned violin and piano from college level teachers. She also taught herself how to play the ukulele, some guitar, some accordion, and banjo. She also learned the organ.

Question 10: Why did you choose the violin:

Answer:  A music group came to her church where she heard a violinist.

Question 11: How has your musical education affected what you listen to today?

Answer: After learning violin, she still loves the instrument and listens to violin music (especially since my twin, Susan plays violin.)

Question 12: What music do you listen to now?

Answer: Allison Krauss, bluegrass, Hawaiian, jazz, Celtic Jazz, Chinese, Bid band, Japanese, John Rutter, Jewish Klezmer, orchestra music. 

Insert music 

Question 13: What is your favorite album:

Answer: She says she does not have a favorite since she loves a large variety of music.

Question 14: What is your favorite music from a movie?

Answer: Her favorite theme song is “The I Love” from Friendly Persuasion by John Williams. She generally likes film scores by John Williams. She also loves “The High and The Mighty” theme song because she thinks it’s beautiful and reminds her of her father who also liked this song.

Question 15: Did you have a special song that helped you get though a rough time?

Answer” A Christian song- “We’ll Talk it Over in the By and By.” After talking about this special song, my sister and I decided to learn the song and play it at our church.

Question 16: Is there a song that brings back a special memory for you?

Answer: My grandfather was in the Airforce so their family would travel to around the world. She remembered as song called “Summer Breeze.”  My mother said she heard the song coming back from Iceland and landing in New Jersey. They were on their way back home to North Carolina.

Question 17: Did you and your spouse have a special song?

Answer: My mother told me my dad sang “Let it Be Me” at their wedding, so that song has special meaning.  

Question 18: What do you think about the music kids listen to today?

Answer: Modern pop music young people listen to today can be vulgar and trashy. However, there are many songs and types of music the younger generation listen to can be appropriate.  

Question 19: What do you think of my music?

Answer: We generally listen to the same music, but she does not like Indian music or the sitar. However, I found a movie called Bride and Prejudice ( Indian comedy of Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice), and she thought the movie was funny and enjoyed the music and dance!

Question 20: What music do you suggest I listen to now?

Answer: She says to Have principles for the music I listen to every day. Some music could be vulgar or have bad lyrics, or the musical style could be vulgar. She also states that if the music is too loud, it could be dangerous for hearing.

Question 21: If you could make the whole world listen to one song, what would it be.

Answer: “ Amazing Grace” My mother would want people to listen and think about the important message of the song and to reflect on God. She mentioned that many years ago she met a guy busking and got him to sing the song “Amazing Grace” to so he and people around listening would think about the song’s message.

Thank you for taking your time to read my blog! :)