Lots of people like to collect things, though tastes vary from person to person. Some collect cards. Some collect stamps. I on the otherhand have quirkier interests deep seeded in nostalgia.

My interest in collecting sheet music stems from my passion for music composition and performance, With the increasing prevalence of contemporary music lacking functional harmony of the past, I find myself drawn to styles that are now considered antiquated, particularly barbershop which was popular in the early 20th century. Unfortunately with well over a thousand pieces in my ever-expanding sheet music collection, it doesn't seem worthwhile listing them all here.

Regarding today's mainstream programming, I happen to hold the belief that the quality of today's television shows pales in comparison to the 90's, many of which have ended their runs. And as studios replace these syndicated shows, it becomes that much harder to track down these "childhood memories." Because of this, I have made a heavy effort to obtain the shows I enjoyed growing up.

I also enjoy anything that serves as a real "tribute" to video games, one of my favorite pasttimes. Blend that with my enthusiasm for music and you get music related in some way to music (generally performance oriented).

One subset of my sheet music collection includes those from video games. Just as they do for movies, music truly sets a mood for a games (particularly role-playing) and we often remember the pervading themes. The music from games from the late 80's and 90's often proves simple enough to score for piano, making it that much easier to relive scenes with the aid of a keyboard.

A bit more uncommon are the various features that game producers and composers have created to expand on the multimedia provided by the game. The results range from spectacular performances of rearranged music of the game to in-depth documentaries that showcases some of the games' finer elements.

My collections, though far from complete, serve two purposes: a sort of "trophy" to me and a lesson for others, particularly those interested in learning how such media helped shape my mind into what it is today.

My childhood television shows

My showtunes

My game sheet music

My game multimedia

My Nintendo Wii collection

So what's the point of telling you all of this? Well, if you're a friend and you're around, let me know and we can have a marathon - be it running through music or vegging with videos. If I have the time, I'm always up for sharing the nostalgia.