On November 2nd, 2016, Cassie Coss, Sarah Dodge and myself, Julia Picchiottino,

went to Gemeinschaft home in Harrisonburg, VA to interview Charlie Ferguson on his

past musical experiences. Gemeinschaft means community in German and it is a
place for people on their parole to come and live as well as learn how to transition
back into society.
Charlie began by telling us how he had been a resident of Gemeinschaft for 4
months before becoming a volunteer for the home.
Charlies favorite genres of music include country, soft rock, and oldie but goldies.
He especially enjoys Gospel music and his guilty pleasure is ACDC.
He especially enjoys Gospel music because the music puts him at peace. If he were
to be stranded on a desert, Gospel would be his go-to music while he was stranded.
When Charlie listens to music, he enjoys it for the lyrics and the sound. He believes
music should put your mind at peace. He also attributes music with his memories.
For example, he connects songs from ACDC from when he was incarcerated.
On the topic of ACDC, his favorite concert was the ACDC concert in 1986. He
enjoyed it because of the crowds dynamic, the music itself, and the time in his life
when he went to go to the concert.
His earliest musical memory was when he would go to the skating rink and break it
down.

The most important take away from this interview was the fact that Charlies music
and memories are connected. He doesnt have an extensive background in the field
at all but that doesnt mean he cant appreciate music for what it is just as much if
not more than myself or others in my field.