A Lark Ascending Posted August 21, 2004 Report Posted August 21, 2004 Excuse the current blarney but I'm still overwhelmed by my trip across the water... Anyway, last Saturday I was in Athlone, bang in the centre of Ireland where my Mum comes from. Sent her off with an old school friend to chew the fat and wandered around. Eventually found a bookshop. Inside I found a nice book - 'Athlone in Old Photographs' - with lots of photos from the first half of the last century when my Mum was growing up. So I bought it for her. Whilst waiting in the car I was flicking through it and was taken by a picture of 'THE ATHLONE JAZZ MANIACS' from sometime in the 30s. And there in the picture was my grandfather, Stephen Croghan, holding a euphonium. I'd known he'd been a amateur musician but thought it was brass bands. My Mum later told me his first instrument was saxophone! So there you are! I'm now convinced I've inherited what I always thought was a piece of fine selection by my own ears! Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted August 21, 2004 Author Report Posted August 21, 2004 Is there a vaccine? (my bank manager told me to ask that!) Quote
Christiern Posted August 21, 2004 Report Posted August 21, 2004 Well, Bev, I've heard talk of infectious jazz, but I don't know of anyone who has died from it. Getting back to your question, I think we may inherit an adventurous spirit, which easily can translate into a love for jazz. Quote
GregK Posted August 22, 2004 Report Posted August 22, 2004 Well, Bev, I've heard talk of infectious jazz, but I don't know of anyone who has died from it. Getting back to your question, I think we may inherit an adventurous spirit, which easily can translate into a love for jazz. My 19 month old daughter will drop whatever she's doing and come running out to the living room to dance whenever she hears music of any kind, jazz or not (she even did this when I put on the latest Charles Lloyd/Billy Higgins disc, which my wife told me was definitely NOT something to dance to!). So, some proof perhaps of a genetic love of music in general? Quote
BruceH Posted August 22, 2004 Report Posted August 22, 2004 (edited) Judging by my kids, and for that matter all my relatives, I'd have to say the answer to your question is a great big "No." (And I've got news for you: Love of movies isn't inherited either.) Edited August 22, 2004 by BruceH Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Posted August 22, 2004 I think it might be time to create a 'tongue-in-cheek' smiley! Quote
jazzbo Posted August 22, 2004 Report Posted August 22, 2004 I definitely think "nurture" can predispose you to like jazz. Inherit the love? Maybe. . . I don't have any experiences to back it up. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Posted August 22, 2004 My Dad has always had an instinctive love of popular music - light opera, well known classics, the popular stuff of the 30s, 40s, 50s - but absolutely no curiosity outside of that. To my Mum music is a pleasant background. She hates traditional Irish music (or revival stuff) dismissing it as 'Them old come-all-yees'. I think it reminds her of what she was escaping from back in 1944 when she first came to England. So if it is hereditary it would appear to skip generations. Quote
BeBop Posted August 23, 2004 Report Posted August 23, 2004 In answer to the broader question - is musical taste inherited? - I answer: thank goodness, no. I don't look good in a straw hat. Quote
chris olivarez Posted September 9, 2004 Report Posted September 9, 2004 Is the love of jazz inherited? In a word-no. Quote
Big Al Posted September 9, 2004 Report Posted September 9, 2004 I dunno.... my dad never listened to much jazz when I was growing up, but he sure was all excited when I dug out his Blakey album that has since sent me into my love affair with the music! Quote
RDK Posted September 9, 2004 Report Posted September 9, 2004 If genetic, it proves that I'm adopted... B-) Quote
jazzmessenger Posted September 9, 2004 Report Posted September 9, 2004 From a human geneticist's view, I would say the answer is probably no. Although more studies are need for the definite answer, your love for jazz is likely due to an environment surrounding you. Quote
frank m Posted September 9, 2004 Report Posted September 9, 2004 (edited) If my kids are any indication the answer is NO. Square as 2 boards. Edited September 9, 2004 by frank m Quote
PHILLYQ Posted September 9, 2004 Report Posted September 9, 2004 If my kids are any indication the answer is NO. Square as 2 boards. My 12 year old son, also. "Daddy, your music is weird." "Daddy, your music is crap." I've heard both in the last week. It can't be genetic- my father hated jazz/rock/blues. Quote
Noj Posted September 10, 2004 Report Posted September 10, 2004 "You're listening to your Grandfather's music." That's what my Mom says if I play the oldest ends of my collection while she's around. My late Grandpa played clarinet and liked jazz though he didn't collect. I never got to speak with him about jazz. My Mom listens to the worst music imaginable--I think she likes to relate to my nieces who are 11 and 9. Dreck beyond your worst nightmares, Hootie & The Blowfish and Hillary Duff type stuff. My Dad prefers silence. Maybe it skips a generation. Doesn't it seem like most people are really in a hurry to decide what is good and bad music, even before actually listening? They want to narrow it down to one genre as quickly as possible. Quote
chris olivarez Posted September 10, 2004 Report Posted September 10, 2004 Doesn't it seem like most people are really in a hurry to decide what is good and bad music, even before actually listening? They want to narrow it down to one genre as quickly as possible. You've got a point there. Quote
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