Well; the CSNY song OHIO came on. They asked me about it.
Now I don't ever preach and I don't believe in indoctrinating children; that includes politically/religously/morally or anyother Y. I find that if you shut up and let them speak they will make very good arguments and choices. As soon as you preach their ears close.

So they asked and I said well; it's a song about a protest march held in Kent State where the Governor ordered the National Gaurd out to disperse the marchers and while doing that the Guard fired on the protesters and some were killed.

Dead silence. Then the questions came. Were they really killed? Were the protestors fighting with the soldiers? Why did they fire real bullets? I was surprised at the level of attention that song recieved.

I tried to be impartial but that was hard. Why are the kids shielded from these truths? They were genuinely shocked and their interest showed.
Sad that they have no background in the civil rights and peace movements in this country. All they hear is war and how important that is.

My kids are pretty focussed on alternative string tunin or what notes make up a diminished scale! a few years ago there was a big focus on pokymon cards and skate boards.

I dont think you have to try and explain things unbiased though. I tell them how I feel and what I think happened but also offer up other opinions of what other people think about the same situation. They make up their own minds and will change their opinion a few times too

So; the boys have inherited some of their old mans musical affinity. Nice. by strings do you mean guitar?
My boy plays sax and clarinet but the band director has been after him to try the Bassoon. Last Tuesday he comes in the door with this case in hand. I ask him what gives and lo and behold; it's a bassoon. The friggin' thing is over 6 feet tall. And it sounds like a 200 lb duck.

Better warn them, music majors work their butts off. Far harder than the business degree I've got.