Soundtrack of my life
Garner 1
Experiencing Music
MUNM 1743
26 November 2012
Soundtrack of My Life: Outline
Infant/Toddler Pat-a-Cake
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
ABC song
Where is Thumbkin?
Starlight, Starbright
Most of these songs were taught to me by my mom or my older sisters, but I also learned
some at preschool. Two of these songs helped me learn the ABC’s and the differences
between my fingers and thumb. Pat-a-Cake helped me to develop my coordination when I
was a baby. I still remember my mom singing, “Twinkle, Twinkle” and “Starlight, Starbright”
as lullabies.
Elementary School James Taylor
John Denver
Billy Joel
The River of Dreams (from River of Dreams, 1993)
The Monkees
Phil Collins
Shania Twain
Backstreet Boys
Larger Than Life (from Millennium, 1999)
These artists/bands are the ones that I remember most from my elementary days. My mom
is a music teacher, so music has always been a very important part of my life, and I’ve
always been exposed to an extremely wide variety of music. During this time, I feel that a
lot of the music I listened to involved music functioning as movement. I still vividly
remember dancing around the house with my mom to Billy Joel or The Monkees.
Middle School Michael Jackson
The Eagles
Judy Garland
The Man That Got Away (from A Star Is Born, 1954)
Elton John
Jonas Brothers
Aerosmith
Rag Doll (from Permanent Vacation, 1987)
Led Zeppelin
During middle school is when I feel I started to branch out and find some of my own music.
Obviously I still listened to a lot of the music my parent’s did (especially Michael Jackson,
Elton John, and The Eagles), but this was the time that I discovered my own love for classic
rock. Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith became two of the biggest musical obsessions that I’ve
had, and I still listen to the frequently. Judy Garland is one of my all-time favorite
performers, and it was in middle school that I discovered the movie A Star Is Born and
totally fell in love. Some of this music functioned as ritual for my family, I don’t remember a
road trip where we didn’t absolutely have to listen to every Michael Jackson or Elton John
CD.
High School Led Zeppelin
Thank You (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969)
The Real Group
Jamie Cullum
Rajaton
Butterfly (from Boundless, 2001)
Jason Mraz
Sara Bareilles
Ben Rector
In high school I continued listening to most of the classic rock bands I had discovered,
especially Led Zeppelin. I had been involved in choirs my entire life, but high school is
when it became a huge part of my life. I was in Chorale and Jazz Choir, and Jazz really got
me into acapella groups like The Real Group and Rajaton. The song Butterfly, by Rajaton, is
one of my favorite pieces that I’ve ever sung and I feel very emotionally connected to it.
These were also the years that I discovered Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles, and Ben Rector, who
are still some of my very favorite artists. The music in this part of my life really functioned
as a means of community. I made a lot of friends who had similar music preferences, and
was also introduced to a lot of new music by my friends.
College Jason Mraz
Common Pleasure (from Live at Java Joe’s, 2001)
Sara Bareilles
Vegas (from Little Voice, 2007)
Maroon 5
Mumford & Sons
Ingrid Michaelson
Greg Laswell
Ron Pope
I feel like the music I listen to currently is still very similar to the music that I was listening
to towards the end of my high school career, though I think I’ve become more inclined to
listen to quieter, mellow sorts of music. I think this may be because I listen to music when I
study, and I prefer music that helps me concentrate. Most of the music I listen to now
functions as an outlet for emotional expression. I like music that fits the mood I’m in, or
tells a story that I feel I can identify with.
Bold lettering represents the song I plan on playing an excerpt of during my
presentation.