Songs of the Season

When it comes to Christmas songs, there’s enough variety to make anyone happy - we’re even talking about you, Mr. Grinch.  Go online and you’ll easily find lists of brand-new songs from today’s favorite artists, lists of songs to help children sleep on Christmas Eve (good luck), and lists of old-fashioned Christmas classics.  You can find songs that make you want to jump up and dance, or sing out loud with your friends, or curl up with someone special. What about songs that make your jaw drop, or bring an irrepressible grin to your face?  The internet’s got those too. We recommend starting with this list of 12 Acapella Christmas Songs. 

Grease is Back

Do you know all the words to “Summer Nights” or “Greased Lightnin’”? If you do, here’s some exciting news for you - Grease is coming back.  The Broadway smash hit and iconic motion picture is soon to debut as a tv show.  HBO Max handed out a straight-to-series order for a musical, Grease: Rydell High.  The TV series will be produced by Paramount Television (the studio behind 2016’s Grease: Live), and will reimagine the original movie.  If that isn’t exciting enough, Paramount Players also put a Grease prequel in development for the big screen.  

If you aren’t familiar with Grease, now is the time to check out the movie and get ready.

Gentle Giants

Do you have a pet?  Have you ever wondered about a world where you were average-sized but your pet became two stories tall?  That’s the world imagined by Japanese artist Monokubo. Monokubo creates charming illustrations of people traveling, snuggling, and simply living life with these gentle giants.  Take a look to see giant foxes sneaking into classrooms, enormous butterflies perched on sunken ships, and mythological animals joining humans for tea and adventures.

Homemade Popsicles

Is there anything better than a cool, sweet treat on a hot summer’s day?  We don’t think so, unless it’s eating the sweet treat with your favorite people at your favorite location!  Whether you’re sitting by the pool, lounging on a beach, or marveling at some mountains, these popsicles are the perfect dessert du jour.  Each one only needs a few ingredients, and they’re probably items you already have on hand, making it easy to taste-test your creations over and over again.  Start by enjoying these three recipes, and then get inspired to make your own! Maybe a Blueberry Bliss, or a Peach Delight...the options are endless.

Music for Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who cares for a child - all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and mentors who delight in a child’s strengths and passions, and care for a child’s hurts and woes.  It’s typical to celebrate this holiday with sweet cards, gorgeous bouquets, handmade gifts, phone calls and brunch. This is a time to tell your mother, or mother-figure, that she’s special. What about doing that with music?  We don’t mean composing a song (although if that’s something you’re capable of, go for it!) but rather mean picking out a music-related gift. It could be something that plays music, or something that looks musical. Rolling Stone has a list of ideas that covers everything from personalized artwork to portable speakers.

Healing with Music

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) brought together musicians, music therapists, and neuroscientists to tap into the brain and figure out how music could heal the sick.  Yes, you read that right – heal, not soothe.  We know music soothes us, whether we’re in a hospital or feeling grumpy at home, but what if it could do more?  What if combining music and science revealed ways that health actually improved by listening or creating music? There are all sorts of ways this could play out.  For example, a neuroscientist and dance professor are trying to find out if the music and movement in an improvisational dance class might enhance the brain’s neural networks in Alzheimer’s patients.  Or did you know that sometimes stroke survivors who can’t speak can sing, and music therapy can help them retrain brain pathways to communicate?  How fantastic!

Time Travel with the Beatles

Sir Peter Jackson, perhaps best known for his work with the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, is taking on a new project: creating the latest Beatles documentary. Jackson will use 55 hours of never-before-seen footage, and 140 hours of audio to give viewers a “fly on the wall” type experience. We don’t know what fascinating moments will unfurl throughout the feature-length film, but Jackson has said the narrative negates the claims that the Beatles were full of discord and strife during their last months of being a band.