Choose Two Music Experiences

Req 3b — Family Music Interview

3b.
Interview an adult member of your family about music. Find out what the most popular music was when he or she was your age. Find out what his or her favorite music is now, and listen to three of your relative’s favorite tunes with him or her. How do those favorites sound to you? Had you ever heard any of them? Play three of your favorite songs for your relative, and explain why you like these songs. Ask what he or she thinks of your favorite music.

A family conversation about music can reveal more than favorite songs. It can show how music is tied to age, culture, technology, memory, and important moments in a person’s life.

Ask Questions That Open the Door

Start with the basic requirement questions, then go a little deeper.

Helpful Interview Questions

Use these to move beyond one-word answers
  • What was popular when you were my age? Ask for artists, songs, and where people heard them.
  • How did you discover music? Radio, records, tapes, CDs, streaming, concerts, church, family gatherings, or school?
  • What music do you still love now? Ask what has stayed important and what has changed.
  • What memories are attached to those songs? A dance, road trip, celebration, team event, or hard season?
  • What do you notice in my favorite music? Melody, beat, lyrics, volume, emotion, or production style?

Listen for Context, Not Just Taste

One reason this requirement matters is that music does not exist by itself. It is shaped by the time and tools around it. A relative who grew up with radio countdowns or cassette mixtapes may have experienced music very differently from someone who grew up with streaming playlists and instant search.

That does not mean older music is automatically better or worse. It means the path to finding, sharing, and valuing music changes.

Compare Reactions Respectfully

When you listen to your relative’s three favorite tunes, notice your honest reaction, but stay curious. Maybe you love the storytelling in an older country song, the harmony in a gospel recording, or the orchestration in a film theme. Maybe one song feels unfamiliar at first but grows on you when you understand its context.

Then reverse the process when you share your own three songs. Explain why you chose them. Is it the beat, the lyrics, the singer’s tone, the emotional energy, or the memory attached to them?

A strong discussion includes both differences and overlap. You might discover that even if your styles are different, both of you care about strong rhythm, clear lyrics, emotional honesty, or catchy melody.

Take Good Notes

You do not need a full transcript, but you should keep enough notes to remember:

That note-taking habit will also help in Req 3a and Req 6b, where you reflect on how music fits into your life.

Library of Congress Use music collections and recordings to place favorite songs in a larger American history and culture context. Link: Library of Congress — https://www.loc.gov/

After comparing family favorites, you may decide you want to move from talking about music to actually performing it over time.