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Blind Jazz Sax Teacher Inspires Students to ‘Feel’ Their Instruments, Uses His Disability as Teaching Tool

Blind Jazz Sax Teacher Inspires Students to ‘Feel’ Their Instruments, Uses His Disability as Teaching Tool

Yannick Morin
February 09, 2024

👋 Welcome, fellow knowledge-seekers!

Hop in, buckle up, and let's cruise through the fast-paced highway of news - packed with joy, thrills, humor, mysteries, and sexiness. Get ready, set, read!

🗓️ Oh, cool thing about today, February 9th, is that it's the birthday of William Henry Harrison, who was the ninth President of the United States. Born in 1773, he's got a pretty unique spot in U.S. history. Not only was he the oldest president to take office until Ronald Reagan took the title in 1981, but Harrison also holds the record for the shortest presidency. He delivered a super long inaugural speech in the cold without a coat, caught pneumonia, and passed away just 31 days later. Talk about a brief stint! So, when you think of February 9th, it's a bit of a bittersweet historical tidbit from the presidential archives.

Man Awarded for Quick Rescue Response to House Fire in the Washington Mountains

Released photo by Washington State Department of Transportation – WSDOT

Hey, grab your morning cup and check this out: A dude who usually spends his days keeping the roads clear for the Washington State Department of Transportation (DoT) turned into an absolute hero over at Blewett Pass. Brandon Haight, just doing his regular check on the snowy routes, spotted something way out of the ordinary—a red glow and thick smoke cutting through the peaceful snowscape. It wasn't your typical campfire; it was a house going up in flames. With no time to waste and knowing cell service was a no-go in that area, he quickly got on his radio to alert the traffic management center about the emergency.

Then, like something out of an action movie, Haight dashed over to the burning house, going full beast mode by banging on doors and windows to alert anyone inside about the fire. Thanks to his quick thinking, all the residents managed to get out just in the nick of time, including a guy chilling in an RV that was also in danger of getting caught in the blaze. The fire was so wild, even the surrounding pines were getting in on the action. But, because of Haight's heroics, everyone made it out alive. For his bravery, the state handed him the WSDOT’s Safety Challenge Coin, a token of recognition for going above and beyond in keeping his community safe. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! (Source)

Blind Jazz Sax Teacher Inspires Students to ‘Feel’ Their Instruments, Uses His Disability as Teaching Tool

Matt Weihmuller and students – photo by Rob-Harris Productions Inc.

In the heart of Tampa's performing arts scene, there's a jazz saxophonist who's not just playing tunes; he's changing lives. Matthew Weihmuller, who navigates the world without sight, is teaching his students at the Patel Conservatory to see beyond the conventional. Imagine your music class turning into a scene from a Star Wars movie, where you're learning to trust your instincts and "feel" the music, just like Obi-Wan Kenobi advises. Weihmuller flips the script on traditional teaching by turning off the lights and saying, "Welcome to every day of my life," sparking not only a unique learning environment but also a good laugh among his students. This approach isn't just for kicks; it's a profound method to deepen their connection with their instruments and the music they create.

Weihmuller's journey into music was a symphony of challenges and determination. Learning pieces through braille sheet music was a slow process, taking months or even years, mainly because the resources were scarce. But with resilience and creativity, he began to create his own braille music, a practice that not only aided his studies but also shaped his teaching philosophy. He encourages his students to rely less on sight and more on touch and hearing, pushing them into a realm where they're attuned to the subtleties of jazz improvisation—a skill that's crucial for navigating the unpredictable flows of jazz music. His impact goes beyond teaching music; it's about inspiring others to turn perceived disadvantages into strengths. Hearing a student say he's changed their life is the ultimate note of success for Weihmuller, proving that barriers are merely stepping stones for those willing to feel their way through them. (Source)

Incredible New Image Captures Evidence of Once-Flowing River on Mars

Riverine gravel ridges on Mars as captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter – NASA via SWNS

Hey there, space enthusiasts! Ever wondered what a Martian riverbed looks like? Well, thanks to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), we've got a sneak peek, and it's out of this world! Orbiting between 155 to 196 miles above Mars, the MRO snapped some breathtaking shots above the Aeolis Planum region, revealing ridges that trace back to ancient river systems. These images aren't just cool to look at; they're a window into Mars' wetter, wilder past, showing us a side of the Red Planet that's quite different from its current dusty demeanor. The MRO, with its High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, is doing some serious detective work up there, giving us the deets on where Martian rivers once flowed—from top-right to bottom-left, if you're looking for specifics.

Launched back in August 2005, this spacecraft isn't just taking pretty pictures; it's on a mission to hunt for signs of water and ice, digging deep into Mars' climate history. And boy, has it been busy! As of July 2023, the MRO has sent back over 450 terabits of data, pinpointed safe landing spots for future Mars missions, and even found glaciers of pure water ice. That's not all; it's uncovered clues like chloride deposits hinting at ancient lakes that might have dotted Mars' landscape. Each discovery is like a puzzle piece, getting us closer to understanding whether Mars could have supported life. So, next time you gaze up at the night sky, remember there's a little orbiter out there uncovering the secrets of our neighboring planet, one incredible photo at a time. (Source)

✨ Quote of the day

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." – George Eliot (1819-1880)

✨Chart of the day

The World’s Largest Consumer Markets in 2030 (Source)

Hit the picture to supersize it and save your peepers a strain 👇

Source: visualcapitalist

📰 Want to know what else is going down in this Wild World of ours?

Biden angrily pushes back at special counsel’s report that questioned his memory, handling of docs (Source)
Donald Trump wins Nevada’s Republican caucuses after being the only major candidate to participate (Source)
Kobe Bryant immortalized with a 19-foot bronze statue outside the Lakers’ downtown arena (Source)
A look at the Iraqi government’s relationship with armed groups that are clashing with US forces (Source)

🎭 Yo, peeps! Time for the joke of the day!

Source: Google Images

📸 Feast Your Eyes on Today's Stunning Snapshot Series: The Ever-Gorgeous Kirsten Dunst

Alright, here's a fun tidbit about Kirsten Dunst you might get a kick out of: Did you know she made her film debut in Woody Allen's "New York Stories" when she was just six years old? But here's the kicker – her first major role that really put her on the map was playing the child vampire Claudia in "Interview with the Vampire" alongside big shots like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, and she was only 12! Imagine schooling with vampires as your early acting gig. Pretty cool, right? Talk about starting off your career with a bite!

Let's get right back to the main event we've all been waiting for: those smoking hot Kirsten Dunst Instagram pictures!