Insights and information
about music, brain health, aging, and much more.
Guess Who’s Playing for Sounds Good Choir – Amy Wurtz
Sounds Good accompanist and conductor Amy Wurtz was literally present at the creation of Sounds Good when the first two choirs were launched in Evanston and Hyde Park in April 2016. Her role has expanded along with the choirs: she’s at the piano for the Good Memories...
Angelique Kidjo – This legendary Beninese singer is the heart of world music
No matter where Angelique Kidjo performs (Royal Albert Hall, the Telluride Jazz Festival, the Syndey Opera House), what she performs (R&B, funk, Afrobeat, traditional West African music), or with whom she performs (Carlos Santana, Ibrahim Maalouff, Alicia Keys,...
ALL TOGETHER NOW! Tune up with vocal warm-ups
Even though he is a conductor, artistic director, and co-founder of multiple choirs, Jonathan Miller isn't at all biased when he suggests vocalizing with others is a fun and effective way to warm up your voice. Below, he shares more ways to exercise your vocal...
Where to take a forest bath in the Chicago area
The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, also known as forest, or nature, bathing, has a multitude of health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, the term shinrin-yoku—which roughly translates to "making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of...
Improve your lung capacity—take a long, slow, deep breath
Changes in your body that naturally occur as you age can cause a decline in your lung capacity, or the total amount of air your lungs can hold. According to the American Lung Association, the lung tissue that helps keep your airways open can lose elasticity, which...
Living in Color – 9 Reasons to Make Coloring Books Your Next Healthy Passion
Ever wonder why coloring is such a large part of children's lives, both in and out of school? Although parents and teachers have been known to bring out crayons and paper as a way to occupy a child's time, the real reason is that coloring helps small hands develop and...