Back when our NPR affiliate, KWMU, played Classical music during the day, the station mailed out a monthly program schedule. During the mid to late '80s, I would scan the program guide, looking for pieces I'd played at school or in after-school ensembles. I'd underline pieces scheduled for times when I thought I'd be home and tune in during those scheduled times.
In an age when it's so easy to call up pieces through iTunes, YouTube, and many other outlets instantly, it's odd to think that I once awaited a mailed program guide so I could look through it and say, "Oh, good! They'll be playing that Haydn trumpet concerto I like 29 days from now!"
Undeniably, today's listening options are more convenient. Still, because of the time I had to wait to hear some of my favorite pieces decades ago, I suspect I paid more attention to them when they aired then and probably appreciated them all the more.
