Being an advocate of rockabilly, that primal rock'n'roll style of Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins, I'm in a musical minority. My Wonderful Wife (WW) tolerates my tastes, but her true preferences run towards classical and show tunes. Dreading being outnumbered even at home, I felt drastic steps to recruit another rockabilly fan were warranted.

First trimester.
I try to convince WW to name our impending offspring "Gene Vincent," "Eddie Cochran," or even "Brenda Lee" Burke. WW proposes I name the boy; she names the girl.

Results: Our daughter is not named "Wanda Jackson."


During pregnancy.
I alternate playing soft, happy piano tunes at WW's stomach with ferocious Jerry Lee Lewis boogie-woogie. WW counters by listening to National Public Radio while driving to work.

Early results: Our Remarkable Daughter (RD) has exhibited an unusually strong vocabulary at every juncture of her development. Fortunately, she does not speak in that dry, coma-inducing NPR-style.


During labor.
Classical music plays while WW bravely endures fifteen hours of labor. My suggestion that "music with a snappier beat might make this go faster" is met with horrified stares.


Age 0 - 2.
During the day RD hears me rip the keyboards JLL-style and is serenaded into naptime by the Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream." In the evening, WW counters with Fantasia unfairly supplemented with breast-feeding.

Results: During a car trip with a fussy RD, WW and I jokingly hum a soft, slow rendition of "Stars & Stripes Forever." Within seconds RD falls asleep. This proves to be the magic tune for years to come. Go figure.


Age 4 - 8.
WW enacts videotape onslaught of such Hollywood musicals as My Fair Lady, The King & I, and (shudder) Oklahoma. I counter with the collected cinematic art of Elvis Presley.

Results: WW wins though RD's judgement becomes somewhat warped--She actually prefers Clambake to Jailhouse Rock.


Age 10.
RD spends her school year absorbing the culture of preteens.

Results: What does our carefully mentored RD choose for her first CD? Britney Spears.


Conclusion.
Early exposure to music may enhance your child's intellect, but peer pressure rules.