| Do you know great music when you hear it? | | | | or blue grass music concerts as at classical |
| Music to the ears of an enthusiastic fan can be | | | | concerts or operas. Due to their musical |
| agonizing to a person with different tastes. Such | | | | backgrounds and training, classical connoisseurs |
| varying opinions can make the determination of | | | | may actually be more musically well rounded than |
| what makes good music a most difficult task. Is it | | | | other music lovers. |
| possible to increase one's appreciation for other | | | | Here is one example. Throughout his life, Jeff |
| types of music? You bet. | | | | Manookian has had the opportunity to concertize |
| This will come as no great revelation to most | | | | as both a pianist and a conductor. He started |
| people, but most teens enjoy music such as rock | | | | piano lessons at age four, and performed at a |
| and roll, rap, hip hop, and other modern genres. | | | | very young age with Liberace and other |
| Although some rock and roll performers receive | | | | well-known celebrities. He was offered a |
| musical training in percussion instruments, guitars, | | | | conductorship with a ballet company when he was |
| or other instruments, others are self-taught. This | | | | still a teenager. He is currently the conductor of |
| is also true for many jazz musicians. Many have | | | | the Orquestra Estable de la Provincia de |
| never learned to read printed music, and play only | | | | Tucumán, which is dubbed "The Garden of |
| by ear. That is simply not true for classical | | | | the Republic" in the nation of Argentina. The |
| musicians. No orchestra members are untrained | | | | performances take place in the beautiful San |
| musicians. | | | | Martín Theater, where he also conducts |
| Even many patrons of the musical arts of operas, | | | | opera and ballet collaborations. |
| symphony orchestras, concert piano recitals and | | | | In addition to Jeff Manookian's duties in |
| other classical music performances often received | | | | Tucumán, he is the principal guest |
| musical training at some point in their lives. Many | | | | conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica de |
| of these patrons never play instruments | | | | San Juan. He is also a concert pianist, performing |
| professionally, yet they enjoy listening to others | | | | before appreciative audiences around the world. |
| perform. These concertgoers have gained an | | | | Besides these achievements, he is an award |
| appreciation for music that many others have not. | | | | winning musical composer. You would think that |
| Those with no or little musical training often miss | | | | someone with his background and training would |
| the musical nuances and intricacies of classical | | | | be somewhat limited in his musical preference and |
| music. Learning and studying music seems almost | | | | scope, but you would be wrong. Jeff once stated, |
| a necessity before the appreciation of classical | | | | "I love music. I appreciate all of it. I would hate to |
| music becomes possible. | | | | have any style of music banned from any venue." |
| That is not to say that all classical music lovers | | | | When a person of the stature and persuasion of |
| are trained in music. Because of that musical | | | | Jeff Manookian can appreciate all music types, |
| training, you might think that classical music | | | | maybe it can help the rest of us to learn to love |
| cognoscenti are limited in their appreciation of | | | | and appreciate more than one or two music |
| other musical genres-like musical snobs. In fact, | | | | genres too. It wouldn't hurt to take a music class |
| just the opposite may be true. Many classical | | | | or two if you get the chance. |
| music aficionados are found just as often at jazz | | | | |