By contrast with the Sonatas and Interludes of John Cage, and as part of my occasional series on music acquisition, and also on language learning, here’s Milton Jones:

I used to wonder if, in China, young piano players used to have to learn “Knife and Fork”.

Doubtless a formative early piece for Lang Lang.

For broader perspectives on the learning process in world music, albeit with fewer jokes, see the fine documentary series Growing into music.

With such cultural refinement at the Helm, who needs the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, eh???

See also under Black books.