Our SPEDS play dominoes.

Interesting question. You could approach it from several ways.

I know from being around one of my friends little girls she started responding to catchy music. Before she really knew what she was listening to she would bop up and down to "99 Luft Balloons". There is something very primal about a good hook and the joy it can bring.

Then again a person that has never heard music could also be awed by something like Miles Davs's "Sketches of Spain". It's lack of words and ability to convey meaning with only music could be amazing in this respect.

Then again, why sugar coat it..........go straight to the source....."You shook me all night long".

Basically, I would go with popular music. You have to remember that most people here have been into music hardcore forever and would think about what to play them through that lens. These people would not have had the chance to really discern what they like and don't like. I would play them timeless classics.

I think I would skip the popular music and start with the classics... as in Palestrina et. al., and onward. Starting with something like 16th century choral music would introduce a person to the more complex textures of polyphony without being overwhelming. There are no words (well English words) to focus on, and it is completely consonant, so there would be no harsh sounds to turn them away from music. Dissonace was a huge no-no in 16th century counterpoint (with a few exception, which don't sound dissonant at all). And, it's just beautiful music.

Eno!

How about starting with solo instruments to introduce them to the range and beauty of individual sounds?

Or just fuck with them by telling them you're playing Mozart but it's really the William Hung album.

I remember when I was a kid, we watched an educational film about people with disabilities, and one part of the video showed a deaf woman hooked up to some machine with this big headset, and she was hearing sounds for the first time. The first thing they played was Mrs. Robinson. She was extremely excited, and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

I watched Ray last night, and I was struck by the fact that all of his flashbacks were to when he could see (pre-7 years old) How fucking weird would that be? I would start with something crazy awful, noise, garbage and then say, nahh, just kiddin and put on something worse. Then I'd play something nice and beautiful.

tubular bells maybe?

louis armstrong what a wonderful world
audrey hepburn moon river, and then i'd play kid koala's version.

some def people like going hearing techno because they can feel the bump bump bump bump

i think eno would be a great place to start......

also clasical music.....

the beatles.....


i hate to say this out loud but: josh groban ..... love or hate him he has a beautiful voice ....

[asshole, you know I am]4'33''[/asshole, you know I am]

(Oh. And joke's obvious, too.)