The turning point of my life was my decision to give up a promising business career and study music. My parents， although sympathetic， and sharing my love of music， disapproved of it as a profession. This was understandable in view of the family background. My grandfather had taught music for nearly forty years at Springhill College in Mobile and， though much beloved and respected in the community， earned barely enough to provide for his large family. My father often said it was only the hardheaded thriftiness of my grandmother that kept the wolf at bay. As a consequence of this example in the family， the very mention of music as a profession carried with it a picture of a precarious existence with uncertain financial rewards. My parents insisted upon college instead of a conservatory of music， and to college I went quite happily， as I remember， for although I loved my violin and spent most of my spare time practicing， I had many other interests.