Tag Archives: music

Free Music Tutoring – Musical Mentors

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Interested in music and want free tutoring? My high school has a weekly after school program on Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm that offers music tutoring for elementary, middle, and high school students in the Capistrano Unified School District at no cost.

The goal of this student-led program is to inspire more students to keep practicing their instruments. Students are not required to have prior musical expertise, but they must bring their own instruments. Additionally, the students perform on a wide variety of band and orchestra instruments. Similarly, the mentors represent all instruments and grade levels. The students receive free lessons, grow closer to their mentor, and become more enthusiastic about music. As a result, the mentors build their confidence in their own teaching and playing skills while also gaining experience in mentoring. The mentors receive community service hours as an added incentive to participate in the program.

My brother volunteered as a musical mentor tutor for around four years and he passed the baton to me. Through this, I’ve learned how to teach and break down concepts for my students. Depending on the level of my students, I customize the lesson plans to meet their needs. This can include working on scales (fixing pitch and tone quality of the notes) and practicing how to count notes. Subsequently, I spend about an hour working with my students on songs that they need assistance with. Afterward, with thirty minutes remaining in the session, all students gather to practice rhythmic skills and prepare for our annual concert. At the end of the year, we host an annual concert that helps students become accustomed to playing in front of an audience while also providing parents with a chance to see what their children have learned.

Overall, the program helps our mentees develop a greater understanding and appreciation of music, increase their motivation to play their instruments, and work toward improving their musical skills. Musical Mentors is a beneficial and satisfying experience for parents, children, and mentors. I love teaching students, as I find it incredibly rewarding to connect one-on-one and expand their knowledge of music. I plan to continue mentoring for the rest of my high school career.

-Sophia B.

Album Review – Currents by Tame Impala

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Tame Impala is a psychedelic pop project by Australian singer Kevin Parker. He released their third album, Currents, in 2015. This is the first album that Parker mixed and recorded all music and instruments alone, therefore the album featured no other collaborators. Personally, this is my favorite album by Tame Impala and I became a fan of them after discovering the hit song, The Less I Know The Better.

Similar artists – MGMT, Mac deMarco, Foster the People

Themes and Lyrics

  • The album revolves around ideas of self-discovery, complex relationships, and conflicts in past and present. Almost every song describes relation-related transformations as well as their struggles. One of the more prominent examples of these journeys of self reflection can be seen in this quote from the song Yes I’m Changing

“Life is moving, can’t you see? There’s no future left for you and me”

I think the song describes getting over a relationship that most likely isn’t going to work out. This quote illustrates that it’s not always right to be stuck in the past, which many people can sympathize with. Another song that strongly embeds this theme is Past Life, in which a guy talks about an encounter with his old lover, which gives him a strange feeling.

Impressions and Opinions

  • Overall the songs in this album are very ethereal and nostalgia-inducing. My favorite songs in the album are Love/Paranoia and Eventually. If you are a first time listener to this album, I would definitely suggest listening to The Less I Know The Better and Let it Happen. My least favorite songs are either very repetitive (Nangs) or don’t have any lyrics (Gossip). No offense to the instrumentals, they’re great, but it’s just not for me.

Final Comments

  • I would recommend this album to people who enjoy upbeat, immersive music and would like to explore themes of personal transformation. If you’re getting over a relationship you might find a connection with this album.

Music: Song Recommendations

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Rap, jazz, reggae, classical, pop, K-pop, country, electronic, rock . . . there are so many different genres of music out there that it would be impossible to list them all. Everyone has their own music taste specific to them. My song taste will probably be vastly different from yours. For one thing, I love country music and I do not know many people who like country. But if you are looking for some recommendations, here are some for you.

#1: What Ya Got On Tonight – Kip Moore

This is by no means a popular song. The singer is not super popular either. But the song grabs your attention right away with a quick, snappy beat. It is a love song, like most country songs out there, but the tune is like no other. If you are looking for a country song you just might love, I would encourage you to try this one.

#2: Super Bass – Nicki Minaj

This song falls under the rap genre. To be completely honest, I was not a fan of the singer before listening to this song. But the mixture of fast rap beats and mellow notes got me intrigued. The lyrics are a little confusing, just like pretty much any other rap song, but the rhymes are impeccable.

#3: Want To Want Me – Jason Derulo

Girl, you’re the one I want to want me . . . Those are some lyrics from Jason Derulo’s Want To Want Me. It is an amazing pop song with a very sweet message. It is indeed a love song, like most songs around nowadays, but the message is unique. The singer is telling a girl he loves that she is the only one he wants to love. If you are looking for a song to listen to on pretty much any occasion, Want To Want Me is for you.

#4: It’s a Good Time – the DeeKompressors

Do you like Disney? If you do, then you should listen to this one. This song is a good one, even if you are not a Disney fan. It is such an upbeat song with a lively beat and cheery lyrics. Unlike the three other songs, this one is not really a romance song, instead it seems to be a song about loving life. It will get you singing along within a couple of lines.

#5: Fireaway – New Rules

Has anyone heard of New Rules? I do not think so. They are a small pop group based in Europe with only a couple of albums. But their songs are amazing. Great beats, timely rhymes, and beautiful messages all contribute to making their songs sound uniquely New Rules. However, my favorite song from their group is Fireaway. It is upbeat, although has a slight melancholy sound, especially during the chorus. It is a lovely song that I could listen to every day. Maybe you could, too.

These are just five of the many great musical pieces out there. Tell me in the comments what your favorite songs are!

Album Review: Heartbreak Weather by Niall Horan

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Heartbreak Weather is the second album from X-factor contestant and One Direction member turned solo artist Niall Horan. Originally from Ireland, he auditioned for the X-factor at the age of 16. Instead of getting cut as a solo artist, Niall was combined with four other contestants including a teenage Harry Styles. These five boys would go on to be one of the highest-selling boybands of all time, One Direction. After One Direction broke up, the artists started releasing their solo albums. Niall Horan’s first album Flicker was a massive success, creating hit songs like “Slow Hands” and “This Town.” I personally enjoyed the songs and they reminded me of many of the songs from One Direction. However, with his second album, Niall was able to create his own sound. 

Heartbreak Weather is a pop album that incorporates some elements of pop rock and indie. It consists of 14 tracks including 5 singles and the title track. Here are the highlights on the album in my opinion…

Heartbreak Weather:

The title track and single did not disappoint. With an indie pop style production and a unique concept created a phenomenal song. Niall describes his love life as being disastrous like a season of bad weather, or “Heartbreak Weather.” The chorus is catchy and he compares the romance in his life to bad weather that will not get better. The bridge is amazing as he claims his new lover has saved him from “Heartbreak Weather.” The line goes “Now all the clouds have been lifted. Lately, my heart’s been so empty. But it feels different when you’re with me.” Overall the song was one of the best on the album.

Black and White: 

Another single of this tracklist is titled “Black and White.” Niall is convinced his current girlfriend is the one he will end up with. He says in the chorus “Yeah, I see us in black and white. Crystal clear on a starlit night. In all your gorgeous colors. I promise that I’ll love you for the rest of my life.” The production has more of a rock influence with subtle guitar. Later in the song he describes his life with this woman after they got married and got old together. Overall this is a very sweet romantic song about marriage.

Everywhere:

This is my personal favorite song on the album. It is about how he has broken up with his lover and now he sees her everywhere even if she is not. I love the production throughout the entire album as I feel it incorporated the best parts of pop, indie, and rock. But “Everywhere” is my favorite because I find it the catchiest and most typical pop song.

Honorable Mentions

-Still

-New Angel

-No Judgement

While this album charted well in the U.K. it is disappointing to see that it did not really become popular in America. I can confidently say Niall Horan is the most underrated pop artist I listen to and, sadly, he does not get the recognition he deserves. Personally, Heartbreak Weather was one of the best albums in 2020. He is currently on tour for his new album which includes some songs from Heartbreak Weather. I hope this tour can draw attention to his music and I hope you love this album as much as I did.

-Janna G.

How Listening to Music Can Affect Your Day

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Music is a huge part of my life. Whether it is playing the piano and viola or listening to my favorite songs, music makes me happier. Music is extremely powerful. No matter the genre, it affects our mood (either good or bad). Let’s dive into the different aspects of music.

1. The Benefits

According to “Northshore,” music can lower blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol (stress hormone) levels, and blood levels of serotonin and endorphins. It improves mood. Dopamine production in the brain can be increased by listening to music.

In addition, music is known to keep the brain young. Why you might ask? Listening to music is a brain workout and maintains mental activity during the aging process. This brain workout includes physical and chemical reactions.

2. The Negatives

Music has multiple genres and can range from classical to the complete opposite, metal music. While all the facts listed above are true, it depends on the genre of music you’re listening to. As stated by “Frontiers,” according to certain research, listening to depressing and powerful music might cause or worsen unpleasant feelings.

To expand on the depression-causing side effect of listening to sad music, the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans stated that listening to certain music can cause rumination (when recurrent thoughts or lingering on unpleasant emotions occurs). Rumination can especially happen to teens when they listen to melancholy music, causing them to dwindle on unfavorable thoughts or emotions.

Another negative of listening to music is the distraction factor. Personally, whenever I do my homework, I can never play music due to my tendency to lose focus. On many other accounts, choosing the wrong type of music to listen to while studying can create distractions. Rather than music helping, it is hurting.

I trust these facts will impact your perspective on music, either for the better or the worse!

– Sophia B.

“Headphones Music” by JESHOOTS.com/ CC0 1.0

Album Review: Dusk to Dawn by Lamp

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When looking through an active artist’s discography, you may find that their current sound has strayed from their original music. Other times, you may feel disappointed that your favorite song from an artist is nothing like their other work. For better or worse, this phenomenon is all too common for most artists. However, the Japanese indie rock band Lamp often releases projects that reflect their distinct musical approaches. This remains true for their latest album, Dusk to Dawn.

Album Cover for Dusk to Dawn by Lamp

The Shibuya-Kei trio known as Lamp first formed in the year 2000 during the members’ college years in Japan. Since then, a sum of eight albums have been released to date. Through twenty years of activity, Lamp has gained a massive fanbase in domestic and international regions, thanks to their extensive discography. The release of their latest album, Dusk to Dawn, was long-awaited, to say the least, but was met with a wonderful response. A large part of this positive reaction is because this album perfectly blends Lamp’s diverse musical styles. 

Those who listen to Lamp are primarily aware of the band’s bouncy, playful sounds of bossa nova. After all, this genre of music is prominent in their 2003 debut album, Soyokaze Apartment Room 201. The first half of Dusk to Dawn allows Lamp to revisit their love for bossa nova and soft jazz through tracks such as “August Calendar” and “Weekend.” Lamp also creates a more urban atmosphere through lighter songs like “As Time Goes By” and “Her Watch.” For avid listeners of city pop, this project has exactly what you are looking for.

My favorite aspect of Lamp’s discography is their soft and soothing acoustic instrumentals, which were primarily seen in their 2008 project Lamp Genso. To my surprise, Lamp delved back into this mellow, hypnotic sound in the second half of Dusk to Dawn. Throughout the latter section of this album, Lamp beautifully delivered their unique guitar melodies without overshadowing other elements of each song. Moreover, the band’s ethereal, gentle vocals radiate alongside their impressive instrumentals. Together, these elements intertwine to create blissful and serene soundscapes, as seen in tracks like “Autumn Letter” and “Summer Triangle,” which are by far my favorite songs of this album. 

Dusk to Dawn is an album of nostalgia that encapsulates the band’s feelings that resurface as time passes. Through this musical project, the band reflects on their lingering memories associated with each yearly season or time of day. If you are looking for an abundance of new music, there are twenty exceptional tracks on Dusk to Dawn that are waiting for you! 

Why is Taylor Swift rerecording her albums?

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Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

As famed singer-songwriter Taylor Swift continues to expand her discography as a prominent influence on the 21st-century music industry, you may be wondering why she is releasing a “Taylor’s Version” of her past albums. The short answer is, she is rerecording and rereleasing her first six albums, of which she does not own the original recordings.

In 2005, Swift signed with Big Machine Records, which owns the masters (original recordings) of her first six albums. Under Big Machine, Swift did not own her music and was thus unable to control the way her songs were used. Big Machine sold to music manager Scooter Braun, who then sold Swift’s masters to Shamrock Holdings. As a result, each time Swift’s original recordings from her first six albums are streamed or bought, profits are gained by Braun. In 2018, when the Big Machine contract expired, Swift made the switch to Republic Records, where she made sure to acquire possession of her future masters. She now owns the four albums she has released since then—Lover, folklore, evermore, and Midnights.

Red (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor Swift is now in the process of rereleasing her first six albums—Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and reputation. She released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) as her first rerecording in April of 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) in November of 2021, and most recently Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). The rereleases of these albums showcase her stronger and more mature vocals on all the songs she has written throughout her career.

As part of the rereleased albums, Swift has released new tracks “from the vault,” called “vault tracks,” which are songs she wrote for the original album that were never released. She has released six vault tracks for Fearless (Taylor’s Version), nine for Red (Taylor’s Version), and six for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Swift is three album rereleases away from owning all her masters. She writes, “Artists should own their own work for so many reasons. But the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.” So if you want to support Taylor Swift in her journey as an artist to own her art, make sure you stream Taylor’s Version!

-Lam T.

Album Review: Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams

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Good Riddance is singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ debut album, released on February 24, 2023; and written and produced by Abrams and Aaron Dessner. The album is 12 songs, and on June 16 Abrams released a deluxe edition of the album, which features 4 bonus tracks. Good Riddance is an album unlike most I have personally listened to; and Abrams’ raw, brutally honest songwriting shines through on this album as she reflects on past relationships with others and herself.

Further, many of my favorite songs and albums are written from the perspective of a person who has been the victim of a situation or relationship, the “good guy.” On the other hand, the songs on Good Riddance are written from the other perspective—from the person who has made the mistakes. I really love this fresh perspective, as it was really interesting to hear the raw and honest thoughts of someone who has done someone else wrong through the art of music. Following are a summary of some tracks on Good Riddance:

Track 1: “Best” – a song in which the narrator admits that they were not the best partner in their past relationship. Through her stinging lyrics, Abrams takes accountability for the mistakes she made and the faults she had throughout the relationship.

Track 2: “I know it won’t work” – a song about going through a tough time with someone and wanting to be with them again despite knowing that it won’t work. Though the narrator and the aforementioned person have cut ties, they still linger in each other’s minds, “never really leaving.”

Track 5: “I should hate you” – a song about being unable to hate someone despite how deeply they have hurt you. Throughout the song, the beautiful lyrics echo the way the narrator loves someone so much that they cannot hate them and would even go back to them after all the hurt.

Track 11: “The blue” – the only love song on Good Riddance, where Abrams sings about the inescapable connection between her and someone she has fallen in love with. In the song, she sings that they “came out of the blue” unexpectedly, and she couldn’t help but fall for them.

All in all, Good Riddance was an honest, emotionally intense, and beautifully written album. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it if you already love Gracie Abram’s music or are looking to try something new.

Happy listening!

-Lam T.

Album Review: Your City Gave Me Asthma by Wilbur Soot

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You may know Wilbur from his presence on various social media platforms, such as Twitch and YouTube. But did you know that besides gaming, he also makes music?

I found this album when it was released back in 2020. From the first listen, I was hooked. The opening track, Jubilee Line, is such a creative song. I think it is such a great opening track to this amazing album.

The second track, Saline Solution, is so catchy in my opinion. I feel like the vocals are very raw and intimate. I love the guitar solo in the beginning, I feel as though it really grasped my interest.

My favorite song on the album, Your Sister Was Right, is so emotional; not only to me, but to the artist as well. The lyrics are so truthful and I really like that in a song. I definitely listen to the song at least twice a day because I love it so much.

As someone who constantly has their AirPods in, this album is always in my daily rotation of music. No matter the day, the mood, or the weather, I will always enjoy this album. I would rate it a 10/10. If you are into the indie or shoegaze genres, I would definitely recommend!

Album Review: SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

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I’m sure you have all heard the very popular song, driver’s license, by Olivia Rodrigo. But have you listened to the entirety of her album? I think it is one that definitely deserves a review post.

The opening track, brutal, isn’t necessarily one of my favorite songs to listen to. I do love the fact that it starts off strong and I think it makes a great introduction to the album. It is definitely relatable to me, and I’m sure it is to other teenagers as well.

The second track on the album, traitor, is definitely a very well-thought out, emotional song. But, I personally think it has been overplayed. When it first became popular, I heard it all the time on the radio and on various social media platforms. I do love the song, I think it is amazing, but it is way too overplayed.

The tenth track, favorite crime, is one of my all-time favorite songs by Olivia. It is so incredibly emotional and you could tell that the story behind the lyrics is very personal. The bridge of the song has to be my favorite part of the song, it really sums up the purpose of the song.

Overall, I rate this album an 8/10. It isn’t something I would listen to on a daily basis, but I do listen to it once in a while. I do enjoy most of the tracks on it, if not all, but some are definitely over played. If you like heartbreak-pop, I would definitely recommend this to you.