"Almost daily we listen to music of some kind....We work better, it influences the rhythm of our lives."

Okay, maybe ears don't frown or smile. But if they could, they wouldn't without something to smile about. A joke might do, but one person's laugh is another person's confusion. Music, though, now there is something that doesn't need a translation. It's as universal as nodding for yes and shaking the head from left to right for no. The ears hear, they pass it along to the brain, and soon the whole body is singing or dancing or just sitting back and reveling in the sounds, tones, and modulations of an orchestra, a band, a duo, trio, quartet, quintet, or even Uncle Jim on the bongos reciting Carl Sandburg poetry.

Uncle Jim's bongo sonatas notwithstanding, everyone, I think, has had a musical experience, some song or tune that when played brings back memories either good or bad, happy or sad. And that brings me to the second part of the headline above, our monthly poll. In our most recent front-page poll, we have been inquiring into your favorite musical experience. Those of you who receive our subscription letter have already read what poll coordinator and Austrian editor Florian Keller has written, and he said it best; so I take the liberty to repeat his words here:

"I would like to keep the current reader's poll for the time being. As a musician I am thinking about this a great deal: do you realize that nobody could live happily ever after without music in their lives? Almost daily we listen to music of some kind. Voluntarily or involuntarily. On the car radio, in the mall, on the Internet, at home. We work better, it influences the rhythm of our lives. In addition, many of us had some personal musical adventures and send our kids to music lessons. A wedding or any party without music? No way. And finally, many of us like go to a live concert or the theatre. Every movie we watch has a sound track! I could go on and on. But the bottom line is that I am immensely interested to poll you people out there about your favorite listening experience. Because everyone has one. Believe me. Even if you mostly enjoy listening to yourself singing or yodeling in the shower. It all counts!"

So, there you have it, straight from a true musician's mouth, er, keyboard. Your vote matters. It only takes a few seconds, so why not take a moment and join in our poll. If you have an "other" selection to make, don't hesitate, please, to make it.