Hello Again! We are releasing at a new time today, 10:21 AM - One of these days, we will tell you why if someone doesn’t guess first. Today we are full of inspiration, stories about; helping kids learn by immersive music instruction, how to affirm people in conversation, French Smurf mascots, Kate Bush, and a few updates on 90s alternative bands. A longer read today, ten minutes of fun!

Music Connection, one of our favorite sites for dreaming about getting new music gear, had a story and link to a new D’Addario project that aims to help kids who have experienced learning loss through music-based mentoring. This is not a quick fix or hype-up assembly for a bunch of kids; this is getting kids early and immersing them in learning music. 

Kids, especially kids coming out of a pandemic, are behind in essential reading and math skills. Anyone who remembers falling behind in math class knows how hard it is to catch up. Now think about a teacher trying to teach a lesson, and fifty percent or more of the course is behind. These are the storm surges that are going to hit us post-pandemic for years to come.

Today is the second day we’ve drawn the same conclusion. This time D ’Addario Foundation has put together an effective program called the Immersive Music Challenge. We have included a link to the program and have requested additional information to see how it can be implemented in schools near With A Shout.

If a kid finds something they feel is there’s and something worth pursuing, they tend to give it all they’ve got. Maybe it’s a sport or a school club. It is one part inspiration, one part implementation, and one part practice. Adults often tell kids, “if you do the work, you can be anything you want.”  One of the challenges of being a kid is that you don’t know what you want to be, making the work much harder. If we can find a way to inspire these wanna-be TikToc’ers to want to be (punk) rockers, the world will be a better place.

Does anyone remember playing the recorder in grade school? Or a stringed instrument like the violin for a year or two. For many of us, it became a drag after the “cool new thing” phase wore off in a month. Then it was just another chore. Immersion is different; it is learning to play, but with the help of a mentor, instructors, and other learning assets. A mentor in this context is like a coach; the coach’s goal is to help you get where you want to go. Let’s go!

Nik Goke wrote an article about how special it is when someone thanks you for giving your art to the world and how it helped them. 

Pic – heart hands

We liked Nik’s post because he says you don’t need to send gifts or biblically long emails to people who inspire you. A simple thank you works, and for artists, those who put their work out into the world, sometimes it’s all they need.

At a writer’s retreat a few of us attended a while back, we performed an exercise about affirming those around a circle. We broke into small groups of eight to ten people and went around the ring talking about the type of writing we did. After each person gave a three to a five-minute blurb on what they did, the rest of the circle went around and told that writer what they “affirmed” about the story. The exercise aimed to remove the question or the solution from everyone’s responses. Instead of giving advice, everyone just said, here is what I like about what you said. 

Next time you are conversing with someone or a group, try to only give people affirmations based on what’s said. You will be the most popular person at the gathering. As Nik says, someone there will need that today.

Paris released the mascot for the 2024 Olympics and named it “Phryges” it’s supposed to represent a Phrygia Cap, which we had to Google to figure out what that meant. The cap is a headdress with a pointed crown that curls forward. 

That research led us to The Smurfs, who appear to be wearing Phrygia caps. That made the story in The Guardian even worse. The Guardian reported that the strange-looking mascots are more phallic than Phrygian! Clitorises with Trainers, we will let you be the judge.

[Music Notes]

The Whigs keep coming from a 90s alternative band to a stylish mainstay. Music Notes, best of music news and notes for the day. The voice of singer/songwriter Greg Dulli remains on the latest album. He reminds us of Tom DeLonge as another artist full of ideas he has to get out. Spin gives a good update on the band, which released How Do You Burn? in 2022.

Collective Soul was planning a big 25th anniversary of their first album, Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid, but like a few other bands we’ve reported on, most notably Foo Fighters, The pandemic washed it all away. Our favorite update on Collective Soul was the quote from founder Ed Roland who told Spin.

Ed Roland started Collective Soul in the early 90s, and similar to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, he recorded all the instruments for the first album on his own.

We could have put this under Stranger Things, but that would assume we are newcomers to the Kate Bush party. We are not and remember the 80s when Kate first released this song. A beautiful piece, following the rich tradition that became the 80s Brit Psychedelic Alternative. Haunting lyrics, electronic drums, and lots of echoes. 

Most of what we are reading these days that go along with the popularity of the Netflix series Stranger Things goes with the consistent theme of Kate Bush. She is a consummate pro with equal parts humility with songwriting genius. The song has stood the test of time because of where it takes the listener. Bush is a storyteller, and the music is an accent that sits below her beautiful voice and dreamy lyrics.

The BBC published a good article on Kate Bush, hitting all the same points. By the way, we love Running Up That Hill, but it’s number three all-time with the staff. Here are our top three:

3. Running Up That Hill (Hounds of Love)

2. Don’t Give Up (Peter Gabriel – So)

1. You will have to listen to the Jukebox for our favorite.

Clue: Kate wrote it for John Hughes and a movie.

[More New Stuff]

Words | Music | Art | Unknown

Kate Bush meets a John Hughes 80s movie.

Click on the Apple Music image to listen to the song on Apple Music or on the Spotify Image to listen to Spotify.

Thank you for spending a few minutes with us!

With A Shout Team