The Old Town School of Folk Music has been a Chicago institution since it opened in 1957. Since then, the school has grown beyond acoustic guitars and banjos to teach everything from African dance to music for toddlers.
Recently, the school went from teaching zero classes online to teaching all of its classes online — in a matter of days.
WTTW TV stopped by to see how they’ve tuned in to the new normal.
Via WTTW
GRAMMY-winning producer Shooter Jennings hit the ground running, born into a family of musical royalty with parents Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings. And Shooter has taken what he learned from those early experiences and turned them into a spectacular career as a producer. In the latest episode of Behind The Board, we learn more about his journey and how he’s never done learning from the artists he works with in the studio.
Via Grammys
The Fratellis have been keeping busy during the Covid-19 pandemic by collaborating remotely with legendary US soul singer P.P. Arnold on a very special new version of a track from their forthcoming album ‘Half Drunk Under a Full Moon’, due for release October 30th on Cooking Vinyl.
“Strangers in the Street (featuring P.P. Arnold)” is the result of an idea that began to take root in the winter of 2019. When both artists’ touring plans for 2020 were postponed due to the Covid-19 lockdown they used this unexpected spare time to complete the track, The Fratellis working from their homes in Scotland and P.P. Arnold working from her home in Spain. Like so many artists who are now finding new ways of working during this crisis, The Fratellis and P.P. Arnold, who have yet to meet in person, adapted quickly to the new restrictions and have created a beautiful, emotive, piano and strings arrangement of a song that lyrically appears to have been written for the moment, but was in fact written last year.
Comments Jon Fratelli: “I think this collaboration is a perfect example of how music communicates in a way that sets it apart from other mediums. Even now as this song is being released the band and P.P. Arnold have never been in the same room together or had a discussion about how the track would play out, our work took place whilst miles apart yet we understood one another perfectly, in its own small way it’s an example of our endless ability to connect with one another even when it seems like there are obstacles in the way. PP Arnold has one of those rare voices that can’t be imitated, replicated or taught so it has been a joy and an honour for us to have her sing with us on this song.”
Comments P.P. Arnold: “When I first received “Strangers In The Street’ to listen to and was invited to sing the vocal I instantly loved the song and felt a connection with it. When I asked Jon to explain his meaning of the song to me, it all made sense and the song has made something very beautiful happen in my life. I’m very happy that the song is being released at this time to support all the brave souls on the frontline supporting all of us.”
The Fratellis are donating 100% of their income from this track to the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief Project and other charities supporting those on the frontline as well as those impacted by the economic consequences of the global shutdown.
Recorded in LA with producer and long-time collaborator Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, Supergrass), ‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’ is Glaswegian trio The Fratellis sixth album and the follow-up to 2018’s ‘In Your Own Sweet Time’, a UK Top 5 chart entry which contained the Radio 2 playlisted single “Starcrossed Losers” and saw the band perform on BBC1’s The One Show.
Make Music Day, the worldwide music celebration held each June 21, the summer solstice, is going virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers officially announced today. Typically featuring over 5,000 free outdoor concerts, performances, music lessons, jam sessions and other musical events on streets, sidewalks, parks and other public spaces across the U.S., this year’s celebration will take a virtual approach to encourage all people, of all musical abilities, to celebrate the joy of making music. More than 85 U.S. cities and the entire states of Connecticut, Hawaii, Vermont and Wisconsin will take part in Make Music Day 2020, further demonstrating the power of music to unite and uplift people, spread joy and build community amid this challenging and unprecedented time.
Unlike traditional music festivals, Make Music Day celebrates and promotes the natural music maker in all of us, regardless of age, background or skill level. Make Music Day is an open invitation for everyone to make, enjoy, perform, teach and learn music on the longest day of the year and the launch of summer. Across the U.S., in cities large and small, musicians and organizers heeded the call and have created fun, engaging, new ways for anyone to join in the celebration on Sunday, June 21 while also practicing social distancing.
Launched in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day has become a global phenomenon observed today by hundreds of millions of people in over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. Make Music Day is presented in the U.S. by The NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the non-profit Make Music Alliance.
“In this time of social distancing, music’s powerful role to bring us together as a community is more important than ever,” said Make Music Alliance President Aaron Friedman. “While physical public gatherings may not be currently accessible, we can still stay connected and celebrate music with people around the world on June 21.”
Highlights of Make Music Day 2020 in the U.S. will include:
All Make Music Day events are free and open to the public. Participants who wish to perform, or to host musical events, may register at MakeMusicDay.org. A full schedule of in-person and virtual events will be posted on the website in early June.
Official hashtag: #MakeMusicDay
SiriusXM and Calm, the leading meditation and mindfulness app, announced today the launch of The Calm Channel, a new channel featuring soothing music, tranquil soundscapes and mindfulness meditations. The Calm Channel is available on channel 68, as well as any time on demand on the SiriusXM app.
SiriusXM’s The Calm Channel is an exclusive pop-up music channel featuring soothing sounds of ambient music, nature melodies, quiet lullabies and simple meditations providing the perfect backdrop to take a deep breath and let go of life’s daily stresses. Listeners are instantly transported into a relaxing environment with music and meditations to guide you throughout the day–from awakening soundscapes to a mid-day meditation and more calming lullabies at night. Mini meditations, called “Mindful Moments,” will run four times a day at 8 am, Noon, 4 pm and 8 pm ET.
The Calm Channel is now available exclusively on SiriusXM radios (channel 68) and on the SiriusXM app throughout May and June. SiriusXM’s Spa channel (formerly on channel 68) will move over to SiriusXM’s streaming and digital platforms through June.
Calm is the #1 app for mental fitness, designed to help you manage stress, sleep better and live a happier, healthier life. With hundreds of hours of original audio content available in six languages, Calm supports users in more than 190 countries. Apple’s 2017 iPhone App of the Year and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020, Calm boasts over 80 million downloads to date, averaging 100,000 new users daily. For more information, please visit www.calm.com.
A cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of minute liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space.
On social media, though, a cloud means fun!
Microsoft SharePoint has practically shaped the way organizations collaborate within their establishments. With SharePoint Online in Office 365, communication and collaboration have attained unprecedented levels and scales. The service has transformed from a simple on-premises application into a comprehensive solution for collaboration, management of records and documents, and a system for managing portals and web content. It has helped countless businesses increase their productivity. The newer versions such as SharePoint Online cannot even be compared with the legacy versions that are incompatible with modern business requirements. Needless to say, SharePoint on premise to SharePoint Online migration has become a necessity for modern features.
Why Do Businesses Migrate to SharePoint Online?
Unlike the on-premises version, SharePoint Online is a Microsoft managed cloud solution that can still be used for creating intranet and websites for public use. Here are some other reasons for migrating to SharePoint Online.
Enterprise Security Solutions
Because SharePoint Online is managed by Microsoft, all users, regardless of their size, get enterprise-level security features to protect their confidential and sensitive data critical to their business. Your SharePoint data is stored in Microsoft’s data centers distributed around the globe and is protected by several layers of security. Additionally, it is backed up regularly so that the data is always available.
Zero/ Minimum Infrastructure Maintenance
Organizations spend massive sums of money on maintaining their infrastructure. SharePoint Migration to the cloud frees up resources and time for running core business operations. Microsoft teams manage the infrastructure for SharePoint so that your IT team can focus on other tasks such as user provisioning and profile management.
Always Updated
The latest features, patches, and security updates are available to all SharePoint Online users as soon as Microsoft makes them available. In most cases, the latest features which are available on SharePoint Online are made accessible on SharePoint on-premises servers only in the next major release.
External User Access Management
Managing security issues while allowing users to access on-premises SharePoint is one of the major challenges of the legacy system. SharePoint Online has not only simplified this process but also made file sharing using SharePoint using the Services Management Portal for collaboration much simpler.
Benefit from Hybrid SharePoint Solution
Businesses can continue to use their On-premises server while transitioning to the cloud to take advantage of SharePoint Online. This solution is perfect for businesses that are worried about compliance challenges such as data breaches if they move to the cloud model. While the most confidential business data can still be kept within the organization, others can be moved to the cloud for greater scalability.
Improved Mobility
You do not have to be connected to the servers in your office with the LAN cables to access your SharePoint data anymore. You can work from anywhere, with any device to access SharePoint Online content. Employees can improve their productivity drastically when their organizations adopt SharePoint Online.
SharePoint Migration Assistance
As a Tier 1 Microsoft CSP, Apps4Rent helps businesses with a smooth transition to SharePoint Online along with related solutions such as desktop as a service. Our consultants are available 24/7 via phone, chat, and email for assistance.
Wearing a watch is a style statement for both men and women. However, while choosing a watch, the most important aspect to consider is to pick the right material for the band of the watch. A number of materials have been used to manufacture the watch bands[citizen watch bands]. Nonetheless, all have got their fair share of pros and cons.
The most commonly used bands are made up of silicone, metal, stainless steel, nylon, leather, and many others. People have their own preferences for picking up a watch band. Some like to keep it simple. While the others need to flaunt their watches through an extravagant watch band.
Also, one of the significant elements that you can never overlook while choosing a watch band is its quality and durability. You would definitely want to get a watch band that lasts for a long period of time without compromising the looks of the watch.
So, today we have decided to help you out in answering the questions related to the best watch band so that you can make an informed decision. Hence, without any further ado, let’s begin!
For all the fitness enthusiasts who cannot stop and sweat it out all the time, the Silicone bands are perfect for such beings. Talking about the Silicone bands, these are made up of top-notch material which ensures its long life and sturdiness during excess heat and in other extreme conditions.
Plus, the material offers quick dryness when it gets wet. For example, if you love to go swimming, you need to attach a Silicone band to your watch so that it dries quickly and does not make you feel irritated. Silicone watch bands are known to get attached to smartwatches such as Apple Watch or Samsung Active and others.
The Silicone material is non-toxic and eco-friendly. Plus, it is skin-friendly as well. So, even after long hours of wearing it, your skin will not feel burdened. Due to the roughness and rigidness of the band, it became really popular among the general public.
Who should opt for it?
Well, as mentioned above, the Silicone band is a perfect pick for athletes and enthusiasts. Nonetheless, the band is really versatile. It offers advantages to both men and women and they look really good on almost all sorts of occasions. While, you are out for shopping or you are busy on a business trip, sporting a Silicone band could be the best option. For extreme casual events, Silicone bands are simply PERFECT!
Nylon watch bands are really amazing as they propose a number of pros. Both the genders prefer Nylon watch bands because of their extreme comfort element. Another vital thing to comprehend regarding such bands is that they are mostly water-resistant. So, as you dive into the water, you will have no worries about deteriorating your precious watch.
Also, there are a number of options in the Nylon category. You can buy a range of Nylon straps and keep on changing them as you like because these bands are not too expensive. They are affordable and they make your watch look superb despite the low price factor. Often, people attach Nylon watch bands to their smartwatches. In this manner, they do not have to change the bands if they have to go to a hotel right after a swimming session.
Again, if you are a fitness junky and you need to visit your gym each day then sweat would be part and parcel of your life. So, Nylon watch bands play a very good role in resisting sweat and stress, giving you immense freedom to enjoy your hardcore session.
Who should opt for it?
Being the most robust and handy in terms of build quality, the Nylon watch bands look exquisite for all sorts of events. Be it daily life casual activities, sports, or meeting with friends, you can vouch for the Nylon watch band in any case whatsoever. A simple yet fulfilling option is always available for you in the shape of a Nylon watchband.
The leather watchband looks absolutely chic and classy as you attach it with your watch. Your watch simply looks remarkable just by adding a Leather band to it. If the leather quality is premium, the band will last for a very long period of time. Leather bands are in vogue due to their versatility. They look beautiful and quite visible on every men’s and women’s wrists.
Apart from that, the Leather bands could be found in an assortment of textures and patterns. So, you can change the bands very easily and conveniently in order to suit your style. Also, a great many skins of animals have been employed to get the best Leather band made. Therefore, you have got a lot of variety to choose from.
An important thing to look forward to is to always match your leather watch band with your shoes and jackets. It completely changes your look and appeal and others are simply left mesmerized by your glance.
Buyers have always shown interest in getting a Leather band for their smartwatches. In this way, the smartwatch fulfills the criteria of any other watch while maintaining the overall aesthetics.
Who should opt for it?
Well, a Leather band is mainly considered perfect for parties and absolutely lit events. So, if you are a person who regularly finds themselves attending elite and aristocratic parties, then you must go and purchase Leather bands[samsung gear sport bands] for your watches. They are a bit expensive. But, once you wear it, you will definitely not regret buying it.
EndNote
The above-mentioned are a few materials that fit best for your casual and formal needs. First, you need to ponder regarding your requirements and then choose the right band for your watch. However, once you start getting bored with your band, you can simply buy another and change it according to your wish. There is absolutely no problem with it!
Kurt Loder is 75 years old now, which means he was 47 in this video?!!!
Have you been contemplating dusting off that old guitar that has remained in the garage for years? Perhaps you wish to make use of a piano located in the corner of your living room. The ability to play an instrument is a talent not to be taken lightly, as relatively few individuals possess the patience or the fortitude to follow through from a long-term perspective. Besides having the ability to impress your friends, what other benefits can this type of talent offer you as an individual? Let us look at the mental benefits associated with learning to play a new instrument. The chances are high that you will be surprised with what is in store.
In the past, scientists believed that the brain was static in nature. This naturally lead to the presumption that certain thoughts and behaviours were impossible to change over time. Such an observation is no longer valid thanks to the presence of modern technology. The mind-muscle connection is indeed very real. By changing the ways in which you use a certain portion of your body (such as manipulating your fingers when playing the piano), the brain is literally forced to make new neural connections (known as pathways). As these pathways become more reinforced, the actions become easier and more fluid. This is why learning a new song can be initially challenging before the movements themselves become second nature over time. To put it simply, playing an instrument provides a bit of much-needed exercise for your mind.
Many of us are trapped within a life that offers little chance for real mental stimulation. There are several ways to remedy this scenario. Some will play a sport. Others might choose online forms of entertainment such as enjoying the games offered at Cherry casino. A handful will instead immerse themselves in the process of playing a new instrument. The latter is particularly useful, as such a practice is akin to a light form of meditation in many ways. As we already know about the health benefits revolving around meditation, it is perfectly logical to assume that these very same effects will impact those who are musically inclined. Such levels of mental clarity can then carry over into other areas of your life; an attractive scenario if you feel that you have been lacking a sense of focus in recent times.
The good news is that the learning curve never truly ends. Even the most talented individuals are humble enough to admit that they still have much to absorb. Also, you do not have to rise to the professional level in order to leverage the advantages mentioned above. From learning the latest Coldplay riff to taking the time to delve into the intricacies of a Rachmaninoff concerto, a brave new world awaits. It is possible to learn an instrument at nearly any age and these habits will undoubtedly have an impact upon various other aspects of your life.
Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper
Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com
© Copyright - That Eric Alper
