Get jazzed up with UofL’s Music Studies Program

by mabrew05

The University of Louisville is known worldwide for its School of Music. From nationally ranked music groups to the Cardinal Singers, the #1 choir group in the world, UofL exceeds in the music department.

Programs of study in the School of Music include Conducting, Computer Music Studies, Classical Guitar, Instrumental/Vocal Performances, Jazz, Keyboard Studies, Music Composition, Music Education, Music History, Music & New Media, Music Theory, Music Therapy and Opera.

Also, UofL offers a masters program at the School of Music. This program includes Music Education, Music History & Literature, Instrumental/Vocal Performance, Music Composition and Music Theory.

Each one of these degrees is highly coveted and requires hard work and dedication to get you where you want to be in your musical journey. 

If you want to start your musical career at the UofL’s School of Music, you must apply like a normal undergraduate student and audition with your instrument or voice.

If you’re studying Composition or Theory, you must also submit a portfolio of your work. Music Therapy students must also audition via voice. Requirements for admission include applying to the University, providing transcripts from high school, an ACT score of 21 or higher or SAT of 1060 or higher, a minimum GPA of 2.65 and the audition for their desired field. As for graduate students, the same application process applies. 

Scholarships are available for exceptionally performing students. Also, if you realized that you’re interested in music and want to get some knowledge of the UofL Music School without actually joining first, there are opportunities to take music classes with students and/or professors that can teach you to play an instrument of your choice. 

Additionally, if studying music is not your thing, you can choose to perform with one of the various choirs, bands or music groups at UofL. Students don’t need to be in the School of Music to participate in performance ensembles.

Instrument ensembles include Concert Band, Cardinal Marching Band, Symphonic Band, University of Louisville Community Band, Wind Symphony and Concert Band.  Collegiate Chorale, The Cardinal Singers, Singing Cardsmen, University Chorus and Black Diamond Choir are available for vocal performers. 

When speaking with two of the School of Music students, Rachel Hrdina and Joe Gomez, that are heavily involved in the Jazz Ensemble, they exaggerated that their college experience, though not traditional, has changed drastically because of the faculty and staff at the School of Music.

“As with most things at UofL, it seems that the people that work here and the students involved are truly what make the experience so great for students here. These people build a community and a family, that is diverse. The faculty are extraordinary and it has been a really good experience so far,” Hrdina said.

“Coming in, I had a lot of confidence in myself as a player and coming here, it was a completely different experience for me,” Gomez said.

Gomez said he has had a great experience here, it’s just different coming from playing professionally and giving lessons, because he was just that good, to having a lot of competition with people that are younger than him. So, if you’re considering joining the School of Music, be prepared to have a great learning experience and make many great memories. 

Not only does the University of Louisville provide many on campus musical experiences and courses, there is a huge drive to get student musicians to travel the world and explore different cultures and their music history. Michael Tracy, Director of the Jazz Studies Program at UofL, is one of the University’s most prominent jazz educators.

Tracy has taught and performed for more than forty years and has traveled to many different countries during his music journey. He’s a great example of if you follow your dreams and see where they go, it just might turn out to be the best thing you ever did. By doing this, he has made many great memories and can help incoming and graduate students with their musical journey, as well as studying abroad.

 If you’re interested in starting your music journey at UofL School of Music, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to perfect your craft and create life-long memories.

There’s many different programs to choose from that will fit your needs and if you follow your passion, this might turn out to take you to new areas in life that you never would have imagined.

A very late “Moana” review

by mabrew05

After finally getting around to watching the raved about Moana, here’s a review.

It’s good. If you haven’t watched it yet, you should. It’s not “just cute, but still has lots of flaws” good, but actually good.

The movie follows Moana, a young girl, who was chosen by the sea to save her people.

After defying her father’s wishes for her to stay out of the water she sets sail to find Maui.

Maui is a character, not just the island. He brushes Moana off at first and doesn’t take her seriously. A lot of the movie is Maui challenging Moana to do the things he knows she can and Moana doing the same for Maui.

Over the course of the movie we watch a young girl grow and become a problem solver. We also watch a egotistic Maui become a dependable and trustworthy person.

The movie has funny scenes and touching ones, just as any Disney movie does. It also isn’t completely filled with music, which is great for everyone that gets tired of listening to Disney songs.

Unlike most Disney movies, though, there is no love story.

The movie is simply about a young girl that grows and saves everyone that lives on her island.

It’s a good movie and one that every young girl should watch.

Every 90’s kid’s heart is full of joy

by mabrew05

Disney+ launched on Tuesday and it shot every Disney lover or 90’s kid’s heart into pure happiness.

For $6.99, you can get Disney+ by itself, but for $12.99, you can get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. It’s really not a deal you can beat.

Disney+ has loads of stuff to watch. It has it’s own original series’, and unlike Netflix, there’s no binge watching, you have to wait for the episodes.

It has almost every Disney movie or show you could possibly think of, except a few that it doesn’t have the rights to yet.

It doesn’t just have Disney, though. Disney+ houses Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

It looks like everyone can spend their winter break watching movies they haven’t seen but really need to or watching that favorite old Pixar movie you forgot about but love.

From The Sandlot to a Star Wars Disney+ original show to Captain Marvel to Toy Story 3 to That’s So Raven Disney+ has it all… As long as you’re not trying to watch any of the Spider-Man movies, because those aren’t on there yet, unfortunately.

It is worth the money? Not to sound like a Disney+ advertisement, but my bank account is $12.99 emptier.

Noah Cyrus’ latest releases are emotional in the best ways

by mabrew05

Noah Cyrus has released three singles in 2019, “July,” “Lonely,” and “fuckyounoah.” They’re all songs that are full of emotion about a toxic relationship, being lonely, and not understanding oneself.

The songs, like many of Cyrus’, show the artist has potential to make a unique name for herself in the already famous Cyrus spotlight.

The first single, “July” is a slower song with a chill tune. The song is about someone staying with someone even though they are not wanted. Though there’s not a lot of lyrics, the words Cyrus uses are strong and explain the situation perfectly.

Before the very last line of the song there’s a long instrumental with a whistle that takes up for the lack of lyrics. It’s powerful and gives you a chance to reflect on the song before it hits you with the very last line.

“Lonely” is the next single. This one starts with a simple and sweet piano and then Cyrus jumps in with a line that catches you off guard: “I’m slowly killing myself.”

The song is about is about not knowing who you are and not fitting in. It sticks with the piano throughout, which allows the song to be slow and simple and allows you to really focus on the lyrics at hand.

The third single “fuckyounoah” is the most upbeat of the three. This song is mostly about not being good at love and just accepting and owning it.

This is a song you could listen to and enjoy in an upbeat mood as long as you don’t listen to the lyrics. The lyrics are striking, but are almost the side of the other person from the “July” track.

The three songs are good in their own ways. Noah has a lot more to come, and if it’s all as good as these songs, she’ll be in good shape.

The ultimate guide to Downtown Louisville

by mabrew05

So you’re strolling through Main Street in Downtown Louisville, where should you go?

First, go get the Main Vacation Package: six attractions, all within walking distance of each other, and only $46 total for all six.

The first stop is located the furthest you should go down Main Street without turning around: Kentucky Peerless Distillery on 10th Street. The ticket gets you a tour of the distillery.

If you’re walking the second stop would be Frazier History Museum. This is a self-guided history museum that has a newly constructed bourbon exhibit.

The next stop is Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. You can’t miss this because of the giant 120-foot-tall bat out front. This is a self-guided museum and a tour of the factory. And you walk away with a mini-bat.

The next one is one you might want to avoid if you don’t like children everywhere around you. Kentucky Science Center is five floors of science, mostly targeted towards Children, but they have a cool mirror out front.

Evan Williams. More bourbon, no problems. The Evan Williams ticket includes a tour and a tasting. You can’t go wrong.

Last but not least is Muhammad Ali Center. This museum is jam packed full of history about Ali and the time in which he lived. It’s full of interesting interactive exhibits.

If you’re in Louisville and haven’t made a stroll down Main Street, you should. And for $46 total, you’re paying under $8 a piece for each museum. You really couldn’t get a better deal.

Get out and explore the city you’re calling home.

Jack O’Lantern Spectacular is spectacular

by mabrew05

If you like pumpkins and fall and don’t want to spend too much money, go to the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular at Iroquois Park.

This fall festivity is a lot of standing and a bit of walking, but if you go on a weekday, it’s not too crowded and also cheaper.

Sunday through Friday, it’s only $14 for adults which isn’t a bad deal considered you get to see over 5,000 carved pumpkins in only a third of a mile.

They have concessions that you can get while waiting in line before you go on your adventure, with beer, hot chocolate, and even a stand with bourbon balls.

Every year there’s a theme and this year’s theme is the four seasons.

Once introduced to the theme, you’re first immersed in spring, where there are spring themed pumpkins from all aspects of the holidays, movies, and zodiac signs of spring.

This continues for all of the seasons, all while there are silly faced pumpkins carved out and everywhere, including on the trees.

The halfway point presents you with a large post of the pumpkins with very large pumpkins and a farris wheel that’s taking a few carved pumpkins on a ride.

The winter season had “snow” and Christmas trees to really give a sense of the season.

Near the end of the trail, there was a memorial section that honored people who had passed this year.

Overall, the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular is fun for any ages and worth every penny.

Ultimate Halloween episode list for The Office and Rec with Friends

by mabrew05

It’s October and it’s getting cold outside which gives you an excuse to sit around in your sweats and binge your favorite shows. Of course, to keep it in season, you have to watch the Halloween episodes of said shows.

Here’s a list to make it easy for you.

First up The Office with five episodes:

Season 2, Episode 5: “Halloween” – It was cringy and Jim was a three-hole punch.

Season 5, Episode 6: “Employee Transfer” – Stanley does what we all wish we could do and wears a mask so he can sleep at his desk and everyone dresses as the Joker.

Season 7, Episode 6: “Costume Contest” – Todd Packer is a pregnant nun.

Season 8, Episode 5: “Spooked” – Get spooked.

Season 9, Episode 5: “Here Comes Treble” – Dwight is a pumpkin. You know what I’m talking about.

Second up is Parks and Rec with three episodes:

Season 2, Episode 7: “Greg Pikitis” – Ann dressed up like Raggedy Ann and Tom dresses like T-Pain which is all you need to know to understand the plot of the episode.

Season 4, Episode 5: “Meet n Greet” – Andy and April have that Halloween party at their house even though Ben doesn’t approve.

Season 5, Episode 5: “Halloween Surprise” – Andy and Ron take Diane’s girls trick-or-treating and it’s, well, something.

Last is Friends with just one episode (Thanksgiving is really where Friends shines when it comes to holiday episodes):

Season 8, Episode 6: “The One with the Halloween Party” – Chandler is a pink bunny and Ross is space poop, and they arm wrestle. Rachel gives away all the candy.

The top five spooky songs for spooky season

by mabrew05

It’s spooky season which means it’s time for Halloween music. Though not as popular as Christmas tunes, there are some great songs for the ghostly time of year.

The first song to make the list coming in at number five is that song that nobody really likes, but is a must on any and every Halloween playlist: “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Picket.

The song coming in at number four is also a must on any Halloween playlist: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. It’s a classic thriller of a song.

The song that comes in third is “Nightmare on Elm Street” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. This song has a good upbeat vibe that doesn’t even sound like it should be a Halloween song, but it is.

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult comes in second place. This song is a slower song that has a very chill vibe to it. It’s the kind of song you can play around a bonfire in October while hanging out with friends.

First place is a song that comes from one of the best Halloween movies ever. It’s number one because of that and because it’s a great song. “This is Halloween” by The Citizens of Halloween is number one on the list. It’s from the movie “Nightmare Before Christmas” and it describes Halloween perfectly.

Here’s what’s on my playlist

by mabrew05

I don’t know about you, but I have a playlist simply titled ‘favs right now.’ This is a playlist I put the songs I’m currently obsessed with, so obsessed with that I’ll listen to them so much over and over again until I hate them and replace them with something else.

This is probably why this playlist goes from 25 songs to 45 back to 25 in a week’s time.

So, what’s new on the playlist this week?

I’ve added, yet again, songs from AJR’s album Click. The songs of selection are Weak, The Good Part, Sober Up, Drama, Turning Out, I’m Not Famous, and Come Hang Out. All great songs that can get anyone pumped up, even if a morning commute that involves sitting in traffic.

A few other songs have made their way back onto the playlist, some that haven’t been there in years. Tongue Tied by Grouplove, Chariot by Gavin DeGraw, and Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros all made their way back onto the playlist.

Some new songs found their way onto the playlist as well. Call It Dreaming by Iron & Wine, All We Ever Knew by The Head & The Heart, and Just Kids by Lowland Circus all were added to the playlist after I discovered them this week.

This is this week, and these are great songs. Give them a listen. I might not like them as much in a week, but I will always have more song suggestions.

Harvest your home on a budget

by mabrew05

Fall is coming up which means cooler weather and hanging out with friends indoors. No one wants to be the hangout spot that has no decor, but no one wants to spend the pretty penny it takes to get top-not cute decor.

Dollar General. You can put decor all through your living room and kitchen for $50. I went in there to look at some things and walked out with a coffee mug that said something like “pumpkin spice is life” and only spend $2.50.

Most Dollar General’s have their fall decor already out and are working on getting Christmas decor out, which means you can start shopping for both.

They have plenty of options on colors and themes for fall. If you want to go for a more sunflower and harvest look, they have fake flower pots and sunflower door wreathes.

They also have more Halloween themed items like pumpkins and candy skulls.

Not only to they have decor, but they have items that you could use for Halloween parties. From lights to decorations to shot glasses.

And the best part? Most of the items range $1 to $5.

There’s no better way to decorate your home on a budget than going to Dollar General and filling a cart.