Every musical act has influences. The Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest influenced each other. Punk bands from the U.K. influenced garage bands in Southern California and vice versa. Reggae and dub influenced each other.
What are your influences? That’s what we talked about in Helping and Listening Skills this week. We came up with a great list and I liked it so much I took a picture of it.
I asked the students to tell me about the things that influence them. What do they value? Why do they do what they do; love what they love? This is the list they came up with:
Parents
Environment
-Friends
-Neighborhood
-Peers
-Religion
Culture
Schools
Food/Nutrition
Media
Mental Illness
Life Experience
-Observation
Socio-Economic Status ($$$)
Books
Music
Relationships
Friendships
Family
-Uncles
-Aunts
-Brothers
-Sisters
-etc.
Role Model
-Coach
-Minister
-Teacher
Law
Government
Health
Medication/Drugs
Language
Sleep
Fashion
Freedom
Travel
Pets
Sex
Arts
-Pictures
-Painting
-Dance
Entertainment
Perception
The point I want to make in this class is that you cannot know any of these things about yourself or anyone else unless you first learn how to listen.
A great Master Mind group is one that’s committed to honoring and respecting each other and that includes listening unconditionally and without judgment. It is honoring a person to trust that they know what’s best for their own life.
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When you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin’ things happen in your life.
Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life?
If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I’m offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about.
Here it is folks, every song the Beatles ever made on video. Just click on the title of the song you want to hear and see the video-clip. When you click on the link, you will have access to the lyrics and other insider information.
P.S. Let me know if there’s a link above that isn’t working or that you want me to fix.
When you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin’ things happen in your life.
Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life?
If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I’m offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about.
Erin came to Los Angeles for a photo shoot and after a day in the studio, we headed to Funk Fest to get galvanized and feel the rhythms and beats. I tried to capture some of the highlights of the day so you could get a feel for the vibe of Funk Fest. This was only the second time this event has graced the streets of Long Beach but the attendance multiplied exponentially in just one year. I think it’s because being there simply makes you feel good.
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Want to know how to use courage, tenacity and a sense of humor to get what you want? Then Start a Master Mind group. Find out how at Start a Master Mind Group.com and get a free MP3 and 3 PDF’s that will get you off to a good start.
“Get Rel!g!on” is the current rally cry surrounding the latest hip hop producer, who’s already began dazzling artists and record labels with his skilled creations and innovative beats. Utilizing a fascinating mix of live playing and assorted sampling, the young producer from Vancouver, British Columbia is generating buzz in Canada as well as the U.S. Rel!g!on is already releasing his own material, as well as working with other artists to build his reputation as a bona fide hit machine in the hip hop game.
Released in January 2010, his first official release, Revelationz I garnered positive attention from reviewers and fans across the web. Featuring heavy hitters such as Chuck D of Public Enemy as well as Planet Asia and Moka Only, Rel!g!on’s first record was nothing short of an instant hip hop success. His inspired, imaginative tracks laid the foundation for ultra skilled MCs to spit their finest rhymes and create memorable, catchy songs.
“Rel!g!on has a nice sound to his production, and it shouldn’t be too much longer before his congregation of followers grows,” said Emmanuel Wallace of RapReviews.com on Revelationz I.
Born in Ottawa, Rel!g!on grew up listening to his father’s musical influence, which included a variety of instruments, singing, and an extensive record collection. Fascinated by keyboards and organs, the fledgling hip hop perfectionist began experimenting with records and a Casio SK 1, beginning the journey of honing his incredible skills. While he started with an old keyboard and entertaining diss tracks about his high school classmates, Rel!g!on rapidly progressed into a respected producer working with artists from Vancouver to New York.
The future is bright for Rel!g!on, as he shows absolutely no signs of slowing down, with a number of impressive projects currently in the works for hip hop fans across North America. He produced two tracks on Planet Asia’s upcoming record Black Belt Theatre, which also features Raekwon of Wu-Tang, DJ Babu and Evidence of Dilated Peoples, Ras Kass and many more. Rel!g!on will also be at the helm for Planet Asia’s entire next full length, slated for 2011. This summer will also see the anticipated release of a collaboration record between Rel!g!on and one of Pittsburgh’s finest MCs, Jasiri X and New Orleans rapper/producer Dain. Check out his MySpace page for music videos and streaming audio, and Facebook for the latest information and updates.
Tomorrow morning, I am the Table Topics Master of the day. The theme (which Ty the Toastmaster is responsible for, not me) is “Puff…Puff…Pass! Livin’ Hiiiiiigh on Life! What’s Your Internal Peace Pipe That Keeps You High?”
When Ty told me the theme, I immediately heard Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder playing in my mind. So, I decided to look up the lyrics. They are awesome (read below). I am going to use snippets of the lyrics as a springboard for table topics. Should be inspiring.
By the way, in case you’re wondering how I ever got into Stevie Wonder, he was very popular in the ’70s when I was a kid and I admired his spirit back then. I currently have an episode of Soul Train saved in my Tivo featuring young Stevie Wonder as the guest. He writes a song on the spot just for the Soul Train audience and is amazingly shy. Don Cornelius asks him, “When did you figure out you had so much talent” and Stevie bashfully replies, “I haven’t.”
I love this music and the spirit behind it.
Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder Lyrics
People keep on learnin’
Soldiers keep on warrin’
World keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long
Powers keep on lyin’
While your people keep on dyin’
World keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long
I’m so darn glad he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I’m so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin’
Till I reach the highest ground
Teachers keep on teachin’
Preachers keep on preachin’
World keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long
Oh no
Lovers keep on lovin’
Believers keep on believin’
Sleepers just stop sleepin’
Cause it won’t be too long
Oh no
I’m so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I’m so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin’
Till I reach my highest ground…Whew!
Till I reach my highest ground
No one’s gonna bring me down
Oh no
Till I reach my highest ground
Don’t you let nobody bring you down (they’ll sho ’nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground He’s the only friend you have around
Here’s a video of The White Stripes performing Catch Hell Blues for a huge audience at Germany’s Rock am Ring. Check it out. The feeling I get when I watch this is similar to the feeling I get when watching The Song Remains the Same movie about Led Zeppelin. This crowd is something else. Very hypnotic.
The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.
Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.
Check out this cool old-school, musical-style video. It’s like Grease meets Frank Sinatra. Guys and Dolls. Fun stuff. They classify themselves as Surf, Pop, Gospel on their MySpace page.
Lyrics for When I’m With You by Best Coast
The world is lazy
but you and me
we’re just crazy
So when I’m with you, I have fun
Yeah when I’m with you, I have fun
The world is lazy
but you and me
We’re just crazy
So when I’m with you, I have fun
Yeah when I’m with you, I have fun
Ever since I was a little girl
My mama always told me
there’d be boys like you
So when I’m with you, I have fun
Yeah when I’m with you, I have fun
The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.
Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.
When you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin’ things happen in your life.
