We aim to determine the magnetic excitation spectrum in single-crystals of the parent LaFeAsO compound and thereby address some basic issues concerning the nature of the magnetism in the iron pnictide compounds. Our single-crystal measurements will probe the energy scale and anisotropy of the spin wave excitations. For example, it is expected that LaFeAsO is more 2D than AFe2As2 compounds due to the large LaO block separating FeAs layers. In addition, evidence of short spin wave lifetimes arising from Landau damping due to particle-hole excitations would provide further evidence for itinerancy of the magnetism. Finally, measurements of the excitation spectrum between TS and TN can be used to test predictions of the effect of nematic ordering on the spin fluctuations.