Don’t Forget The Music

Music can change the world because it can change people.

Bono

A few years ago, I stopped listening to music.

I didn’t have time for it.

I listen to podcasts all the time.  I’m constantly filling my head with shows on leadership, personal growth, blogging, business, and spiritual growth.  I listen at twice the normal speed, so I can listen to more content.  I listen in the car.  I listen while I’m running on the treadmill or lifting at the gym.  And I sometimes listen at work while I’m working on tasks that lets me listen.

I used to listen to music all the time.  Music takes you back to a place you once were.  Music inspires you.  Music challenges you.  And music connects you with others.

A month ago, I started listening to music again.

When I recently started listening to the Hamilton soundtrack on Spotify, the DC Talk Radio station on Pandora, or the Mozart Radio station on Pandora, I felt like fresh air had been pushed into my lungs.  I felt like I could breath again with a renewed sense of purpose.

Don’t forget the music!

If you’re like me, you may be focused on feeding yourself with books and podcasts.  These are great, but don’t forget that music can also fill your mind and soul in ways the spoken and written word cannot.

Also, music provides a unique way to connect with the Creator.

Ice Breaker – Last 5 Songs You Listened To

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  What are the last five songs you listened to?

My Answer:  I spent some time chilling to Pandora Radio while I relaxed and checked a few things on the web last night.  Here are the last five songs I listened to:

1. Demons by Imagine Dragons
2. Waiting On The World To Change by John Mayer
3. Best Day Of My Life by American Authors
4. The A Team by Ed Sheeran
5. Get Up Get Down by Phillip Phillips

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

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Thank You – #3

Thank You No. 3

Today, I’m thankful for music.

This afternoon, Isaac is playing at a piano recital in Chestnut Hill.  This is a special event for which he had to audition.  He will be playing a piece by one of Bach’s sons.  Isaac has an incredible ear for music.  Sometimes, I take music for granted.  It often speaks to us and for us when words won’t suffice.  It lifts us up when we need a boost, and it helps us process times when we’re down, confused, or angry.  Music is like God’s paintbrush for our ears.

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.  Psalm 96:1-3

Why are you thankful today? 

Ice Breaker – Favorite High School Music Group

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Question:  What was your favorite music group when you were in high school?

My Answer:  I’m sure I had several favorite music groups at that time in my life.  My favorite was U2.  The Joshua Tree came out while I was in high school, and I remember several of my classmates going to the Joshua Tree Concert when it came through our area.  Sunday Bloody Sunday, 40, Where The Streets Have No Name, and Pride are just a few of the songs that were in my regular playlist back in the late 80s.

Here are a few music groups that would make my honorable mention list:  DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, REM, and Billy Joel (not a group, but still makes my list).

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – 5 Songs On Your Playlist

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week, I revisit an Ice Breaker from the archives.  The cool thing about some of the ice breaker questions is that sometimes the answers will change based on your life experience.  My answers this time are a little different this time around.

Question:  Name 5 songs that you would put on your playlist right now.

My Answer: Check out this video below…

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

(And here are the links to my songs:  Oceans, 10,000 Reasons, Where The Streets Have No Name, Home, and All The Poor And Powerless)

Ice Breaker – Music In Your Head

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question.  The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community.  I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments.  While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Last night, we enjoyed Hannah’s season ending track and field banquet.  (My wife says I’m writing too much about track and field.)  It was a great way to end the season as teammates laughed together and coaches celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s team.  One of the coaches said something about one of the senior runners that led me to this week’s ice breaker question.  I hope you’ll chime in with your answer.

Question:  What kind of music is in your head?

My Answer:  I listen to many types of music – hard rock, alternative rock, rap, ska, gospel, and sometimes classical.  I’m loving the Lumineers, All Sons & Daughters, Mumford & Sons, and Philip Philips.  But lately, I’ve enjoyed getting back to classic rock.  There’s something about classic rock that brings me back to my youth.  I enjoy listening to bands like Yes, Boston, Van Halen, and CCR.  Last weekend as I journeyed to and from the Poconos for my annual camping trip with some great friends from New Jersey, I found myself scanning through the FM tuner in search of another classic rock song.  Good times!

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!  (As always, feel free to share links.)

Ice Breaker – Musical Instrument

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question.  The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community.  I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments.  While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week’s question is inspired by my son.  On Monday, he will be turning 13, and he already is an accomplished piano and trumpet player.  He is talking about following in his grandfather’s footsteps in becoming a music teacher and a piano tuner.  He loves music, and he loves playing different musical instruments.

Question:  What musical instrument(s) do you (or did you) play?  Or what musical instrument do you wish you could play?

My Answer:  I took piano lessons for about a year and a half when I was seven or eight.  But my main instrument was the saxophone.  I started playing when I was in fifth grade, and I played through high school.  I played in marching band and concert band, but I especially enjoyed playing in jazz bands.  In high school, I played the alto saxophone in a stage band, the tenor saxophone in a dixieland combo, and the soprano saxophone in a jazz combo.  My senior year in high school, I went to states for all three of these jazz groups.

I still have the alto saxophone that my grandfather played when he was young.  It comes out every once in a while, but I don’t make time to play it as much as I might like to.

As for other instruments, I tinker around with my acoustic guitar on a rare occasion.  Maybe when I retire, I’ll have more time to play the guitar, the saxophone, and the piano again.  Until then, I play a mean iPod.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!  (As always, feel free to share links.)

Ice Breaker – Songs On Your Playlist

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be inserting some of the top posts from the Stretched blog.  The post today (Ice Breaker – Songs On Your Playlist) originally appeared on the blog on March 23, 2012 and was the fourth most popular post of the year.  This post was one of many that confirmed by understanding that Jon Stolpe Stretched was not just a blog.  This post reminded me that Jon Stolpe Stretched is about The Stretched Community.  Ice Breakers have become a regular weekly part of The Stretched Blog.  I’m excited to repost this and get new feedback from you – The Stretched Community.  (Typically, the Ice Breaker posts appear on Friday – hence the introduction to this post.)

It’s Friday!  How did it come around again so quickly?

Friday means Ice Breaker time here on The Stretched Blog.  In case you’re new here or you forgot, ice breakers are questions used to help us get to know each other a little bit better.  Each week, I ask a question which I answer first.  After that everyone else answers the question by posting their answer in the comments.

Without further delay, here’s this week’s question:  If you could make a playlist of your favorite songs, what five songs would make the list?

My answer:

1. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
2. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
3. Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
4. Love Is The Seventh Wave by Sting
5. The Best Thing by Big Tent Revival

Each of these songs carries a memory of a time or place.  Leanne and I shared our first dance to Wonderful Tonight.  I remember listening to Sting’s song and playing hacky sack with my brother, Brian Willem, and Shane D’Entremont on the beach during a high school youth group camping trip.  And the Big Tent Revival song reminds me of Creation 97.  Leanne and I went to the music festival that year while she was five months pregnant with our daughter, Hannah.

Now it’s your turn.  What’s on your playlist?  I can’t wait to hear your answers!  Leave a comment by clicking here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaMuBX4aMmw]

3 Thumbs Up! June 2nd, 2012

Time for another rendition of the Stretched 3 Thumbs Up!  Each week, I highlight 3 things that deserve a thumbs up.  This week is a bit of a hodgepodge which I hope you’ll enjoy.

Thumbs Up Number 1: Home Sausage Making.  Before you laugh or get too grossed out, hear me out on this one.  This book is a great resource for anyone who is adventurous enough to try making their own sausage.  There are so many great recipes in the book along with tips for making sausage.  Homemade sausage is way better than store-bought sausage.  I enjoyed homemade bratwurst over the weekend, and it was clearly better than anything you can buy already made.  Check out Home Sausage Making for a fun, new culinary experience.

Thumbs Up Number 2:  Pandora.  Pandora has become one of my favorite apps for the iPad.  Pandora is an on-line radio application that allows you to create your own radio station based on a song or artist.  Within seconds, I can listen to music that fits my mood or focus.  The application is also available for PCs and iPods (and other platforms I would imagine).  I know the local radio guys don’t like this application, but it’s worth checking out Pandora if you’re trying to listen to a certain type of music.

Thumbs Up Number 3:  Team GCC.  This is a new blog and new adventure by a group of students and alumni from Grove City College.  This team of young men is pedaling across the country with a common vision and purpose.  They started in Seattle, Washington this past week, and they’re currently making their way across the northwest.  Check out Team GCC, and follow them as they make this 4,000 mile journey.

What else deserves a thumbs up this week?

Ice Breaker – Walk-Up Music

It’s not Friday, so don’t get too excited.  I decided to move up this week’s Ice Breaker one day to make room for tomorrow’s May 2012 Review post.  This week’s question was inspired by my three camping buddies with whom I spent my Memorial Day weekend.  If you watch major league baseball these days, most players have a walk-up song that is used as they approach home plate for their at-bat.  Since I’m a Philadelphia Phillies fan, my examples come from the Phils.  Carlos Ruiz walks out to In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins.  Chase Utley walks out to Kashmir by Led Zepplin.  And Hunter Pence walks out to A Warrior’s Call by Volbeat.

I’d like to tie this into this week’s ice breaker question.  For those who are new around here, an ice breaker is a question that helps us get to know one another.  Each week, I ask a question which I answer in my post.  Then, it’s your turn to answer the question in the comments of the post.  Here is this week’s ice breaker:

Question:  What would you chose for your walk-up song or music?

My Answer:  The Theme from Chariots of Fire.  This way I could run from the on deck circle to the batter’s box in slow motion.  I know it’s not your typical rocking song, but this music by Vangelis is inspiring to me.  Then after I hit my home run, I could run around the bases in slow motion as the music comes back on over the public address system.

Okay, now it’s your turn. Let’s hear your answer to the question. Leave your answer in the comments below, so we can all enjoy.