Editing John Zorn (section)

===Early studies===
John Zorn was raised in [[Utopia, Queens]] and studied piano, guitar and flute at the [[United Nations International School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milkenarchive.org/people/view/all/863/John+Zorn|title=Milken Archive of Jewish Music – People – John Zorn|work=milkenarchive.org}}</ref><ref name=NPR>[https://www.npr.org/2013/09/03/217195249/at-60-challenges-are-opportunities-for-john-zorn At 60, 'Challenges Are Opportunities' For John Zorn], NPR.org, September 3, 2013.</ref><ref>Helland, D [https://web.archive.org/web/20051017142037/http://www.downbeat.com/artists/window.asp?action=new&aid=335&aname=John+Zorn Downbeat.com John Zorn Biography]</ref> Zorn's mother, Vera (née Studenski; 1918–1999), listened to [[classical music|classical]] and [[world music]]; his father, Henry Zorn (1913–1992), was interested in [[jazz]], French [[chansons]], and [[country music]]; and his older brother collected [[doo-wop]] and 1950s [[rock and roll]] records.<ref name="enotes">Bourgin, S. M. (ed.),(1996) ''Contemporary Musicians, Vol. 15: [http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/zorn-john-biography Zorn, John] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821023101/http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/zorn-john-biography |date=2008-08-21 }}'' accessed May 26, 2008</ref> Zorn spent his teenage years "listening to [[The Doors]] and playing bass in a [[surf music|surf band]]" while also exploring the [[Experimental music|experimental]] and [[avant-garde music]] of [[György Ligeti]], [[Mauricio Kagel]] and [[Karlheinz Stockhausen]] and listening to cartoon soundtracks and film scores.<ref name=RollStone/><ref name="Gordon" /><ref name="enotes"/><ref>''Put More Blood Into the Music'' (1989)</ref> 

Zorn taught himself [[orchestration]] and [[counterpoint]] by transcribing scores and studied composition under [[Leonardo Balada]] before enrolling at [[Webster University|Webster College]] where he attended lectures by [[Oliver Lake]].<ref name="Milkowski98">Milkowski, B. (1998) John Zorn interview in ''Rockers, Jazzbos & Visionaries'' New York: Watson-Guptill Publications</ref><ref>Wendell, E. [http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/zorn-john Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians: John Zorn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108211830/http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/zorn-john |date=2013-11-08 }}; accessed October 9, 2013</ref> While at Webster he incorporated elements of [[free jazz]], [[avant-garde]] and [[experimental music]], [[film scores]], [[performance art]] and the [[animation music|cartoon scores]] of [[Carl Stalling]] into his [[First Recordings 1973|first recordings]] and discovered [[Anthony Braxton]]'s groundbreaking solo album ''[[For Alto]]'' which inspired him to take up the instrument.<ref name="RCJE"/><ref name=RollStone/><ref>Bartlett A [http://www.seattleweekly.com/1999-06-23/music/zorn-of-plenty.php Zorn of Plenty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103081140/http://www.seattleweekly.com/1999-06-23/music/zorn-of-plenty.php |date=2007-11-03 }} ''Seattle Weekly'', June 23, 1999.</ref><ref>Zorn, J (1995) liner notes to ''John Zorn: [[First Recordings 1973]]'' New York: Tzadik.<!-- ISSN/ISBN, page(s) needed --></ref> "I'm not going to sit in some ivory tower and pass my scores down to the players." said Zorn, "I have to be there with them, and that's why I started playing saxophone, so that I could meet musicians. I still feel that I have to earn a player's trust before they can play my music."<ref name="Service2003"/>

Leaving Webster after three semesters, Zorn lived on the West Coast before returning to [[Manhattan]] where he gave concerts in his apartment and other small NY venues, playing saxophone and a variety of reeds, [[duck call]]s, tapes, and other instruments.<ref name=RollStone/><ref name="sounds of staley and zorn">Pareles, J., [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/04/arts/concert-sounds-of-staley-and-zorn.html Concert: Sounds of Staley And Zorn], ''NY Times'', December 4, 1983</ref> Zorn immersed himself in the underground art scene, assisting [[Jack Smith (film director)|filmmaker Jack Smith]] with his performances and attending plays by [[Richard Foreman]].<ref>Blumenfield, L. [https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2014/03/08/iconic-new-york-composer-john-zorn-celebrates-his-60th-australia/1394197200 Iconic New York composer John Zorn celebrates his 60th in Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421201652/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2014/03/08/iconic-new-york-composer-john-zorn-celebrates-his-60th-australia/1394197200 |date=2016-04-21 }}, ''[[The Saturday Paper]]'', March 8, 2014.</ref>