I have come from a relatively musical family. The Lawrence (paternal) and Porter (maternal) family history is set predominately in farming regions of the Appalachian Mountains. With the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, my grandfather on my mother’s side cultivated a love for music. Unfortunately this passion was met with some opposition from his farming family which was in such a state of penury that the Great Depression hardly fazed them. For reasons of money, my grandfather’s father strictly stressed farming over music. When my grandfather was granted the opportunity to go to college after serving in the Navy, his father happily saw to it that his only son would obtain a degree in agricultural sciences. However my bold grandfather had other plans. He secretly majored in music and became a band director for the small West Virginian town of Ravenswood. He saw to it that all of his four children would participate in music through school. From this my mother was exposed mostly to the music played by my grandfather’s high school bands. This music included the patriotic marches of John Philip Sousa, popular music of the day, and some classical and jazz band pieces. To my mother’s family music had powerful and entertaining purposes. At my grandfather’s high school, the band was a major player in football games. The band, consisting of over 100 members, would actually intimidate the opposing teams. My grandfather and the football coach would actually work together at making sure of this! Other opposing teams would suspect this and get angry. However, when they attempted to complain, they would be laughed at and told: “Who has ever heard of the band director and the football coach being friends?!” Although my mother has chosen careers outside of the music world she still has a love for music that she has passed on to me and my brothers.
My dad’s side of the family is more bluegrass oriented. This side of my family is from the Blue Ridge Mountains which are also a part of the Appalachian Mountains. My grandmother has learned piano by ear. She has little to no music education but can transpose instantly to ANY key!!! She has mostly used this talent by playing gospel hymns for church. Believing deeply that music ability was an important skill to obtain; all of her four children received some form of music lessons. My uncle went the farthest with this ability. He has learned, by ear, the fiddle, banjo, and guitar.
In my immediate family, I am the only on to show an interest in majoring in music. Most members of my family have majored in other areas but use music as a recreation and hobby. Since entering into voice lessons my junior year in high school, I have brought classical music into our family more. It is not taken as well as I’d like of course as the dominate musical genre of our family is country, blue grass, oldies, and gospel. As for me, I’m sorry to say I’m still attempting to decide on what place music should take in my life. Either as a career or a hobby.