Hello John,

Good morning from the UK.

Yes John, as you say, God is good, life is good. You pose the question, "Is growing older affecting your joy of music." My answer is an emphatic "Yes!". As I grow older, and I'll soon be 75, my love and appreciation of music grows. Music is more important to me now than it ever was. As Frank Bez said in his post regarding favorites, great melodies are the key and the greatest melodies (in my opinion) were written by composers in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s.

I was blessed with a God-given talent for music. As a youngster growing up in Southern California, I played the trombone and a barely acceptable country guitar. Though I played in brass trios, quartets, concert bands, marching bands, and a junior symphony orchestra, I never fully appreciated music until I grew much older - probably in my 50s. It was then, while playing rhythm guitar in a three-piece combo while working in Saudi Arabia, that I began to "listen and hear" the music. I mean - really LISTEN and really HEAR. Listen and hear the melody and how the harmony is interwoven with the melody by the composer. A melody on its own is pretty, but without the harmony, it is very lonesome. The fullness and beauty of a song is in the marriage of a melody and its companion harmony. It is for that reason that I love the music of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Henry Mancini, John Williams, Rogers and Hart, the Gershwins, Juan Carlos Jobim, and so many other wonderful composers. No one in today's pop music world writes great music.

So yes, John, growing older has affected my "joy of music". It has had a positive effect by giving me a deeper love and appreciation for the music of yesteryear. And I will always be grateful to the Technics people for giving me an instrument (KN7000) that is capable of producing those great melodies and harmonies.

My Very Best Wishes to You and All of Our Forum Friends,

Chuck