After reading CND’s post the other day regarding music education, I began to reminisce about my days as a music student.  I took private piano lessons for years at the insistence of my mother (in addition to music classes in school).  Though I was less than thrilled to spend my childhood afternoons practicing chords with my tenacious music teacher, in hindsight I am grateful for the experience.  I now have a love for music and a cherished talent I have been able to cultivate, an opportunity and experience many do not have.

In addition, my experiences have bestowed upon me a great appreciation for music teachers everywhere and all that they do.  From putting up with snot-nosed bratty kids to their patience with those of us who struggle, they are truly some of the most dedicated in the world.  Hats off to music teachers everywhere.

Have you ever thought about what types of things you want your children to learn about? I am not a naturally musically-inclined person, but I do see the importance of music education. And I don’t necessarily mean about teaching kids to play instruments. I think this is great for those who actually like to do it. I, for one, never could seem to excel at the clarinet in fifth grade. But then again, I didn’t put much effort into it. I only lasted a year.

But I still think music education is crucially important. It is just as important as learning History in school. There are so many great past composers and others who have contributed to make music what it is today.  Just like with any other subject, one can not know where music is going if one doesn’t first know where music has been.  I think all students should study Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, and many others. Children these days already know a great deal about modern artists (Pop, rap, and country singers), but what about the classics? Shouldn’t they be able to recognize and appreciate classical music? Shouldn’t they know some of the recorded beginnings of music? The importance of music to different cultures? This is all important and very interesting stuff, but the problem is that most people aren’t aware of any of it. Usually only those who study music extensively know the great details of it all. I think it is about time that we, as well as our youth, get educated about music. It is never too late to start learning, and why not start now with music?

Even though I find myself to be somewhat of a feminist, I am drawn to June Cleaver’s homemaking abilities. Well, I guess I would classify myself to be a feminist who believes in chivalry. Anyway, that is beside the point. Not only do I absolutely adore the way June Cleaver dressed, but I love that she would be there for her children with snacks when they came home from school. I think I love this concept because sometimes when my mom would go on a baking spree, I would be met with fresh cookies and milk. I always loved eating those cookies and spending quality time with my mom. I don’t believe women should completely act like June Cleaver (remember, she was a fictional character), but there are some aspects to her role, personality, and attitude that I do admire. She was diligent to her family and found joy in serving them. That’s always good. But I would have like to see her be a little more strong-willed. I mean, stand her ground; share her opinions freely. That sort of thing. Overall, she was an exceptional fictional woman…that’s probably why she was fictional.

Is it just me, or do movies seem to be getting more risque? After seeing The Heartbreak Kid, Good Luck Chuck, and the Hostel Part 2 other movies seemed to pair in comparison. The nudity of both males and females, as well as the frequency, intensity, and length of sex scenes seem to be getting longer and more grotesque.

My mom, always worried about swear words and inappropriate movies, recommended that I visit Kids In Mind. It details and rates the level of every swear word, violence, nudity, drugs, sexual reference, and anything that someone may take offense to.

It was here where I learned which movies have more profanity than Scarface.

Check it out before you go see a movie to see how it rates. This site is helpful when searching for appropriate kid movies, and for those adults looking to find a somewhat clean flix these days.

Although I’m not a Halloween fanatic, it can be fun to get a good scare once in a while, whether it’s October or not. This Denver Halloween, the best way to get scared is to visit haunted houses or to watch a scary movie. There are plenty of scary movies that can get your heart beating rapidly any time of year.

Personally, I think Seven and Nightmare on Elm Street (Freddy Kreuger childhood nightmares) are the scariest movies. I have heard that Saw, 28 Days Later, and The Thing also top the charts as the scariest movies ever. Other scary movies include Amityville Horror, Blair Witch, Pet Sematary, Open Water, The Fly, Scream, War of the Worlds, Saw, and Hellraiser.

Entertainment Weekly voted these to be the top 20 Scariest Movies, listed here in no particular order. Interestingly, most of these movies were made in the 1970s and 1980s. Tell us what you think is the scariest movie you’ve ever seen.

1. The Shining (1980)

2. The Exorcist (1973)

3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

4. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

5. Jaws (1975)

6. Halloween (1978)

7. Psycho (1960)

8. Seven (1995)

9. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

10. Poltergeist (1982)

11. Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

12. The Thing (1982)

13. The Evil Dead (1982)

14. Carrie (1976)

15. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

16. The Omen (1976)

17. An American Werewolf in London (1981)

18. Henry: The Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)

19. The Hitcher (1986)

20. Lost Highway (1997)