【推荐1】In 2009 in southern Germany, people uncovered a flute (长笛) made of an animal’s wing bone. The delicate instrument is one of the oldest known musical instruments on Earth, indicating that people have been making music for over 40,000 years. We can’t be sure exactly when human beings began listening to music. But scientists do know something about why we do.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins University recommend that you listen to music to stimulate your brain. They have found that listening to music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human activity. That’s why they see so much potential in music’s power to change the brain. Besides, just the promise of listening to music can make you want to learn more. In one 2019 study, people were more eager to learn when they expected to listen to a song as their reward.

Music also has a positive effect on your ability to memorize. In one study, researchers asked people to read and then recall short lists of words. They found those who were listening to classical music outperformed those who worked in silence or with white noise. The same study also tracked how fast people could perform a simple task—matching numbers to shapes. A similar benefit showed up. The music of Mozart helped people complete the task faster and more accurately (精确地).

Neurological (神经学的) researchers have found that listening to music encourages the release (释放) of several neurochemicals that play a role in brain function and mental health like dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure, and serotonin, a chemical related to immunity.

【推荐2】Zhou Zhaoyan is just 6 years of age, but she has touched the hearts of Internet users worldwide, many of whom are still living amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Since her parents started to post her performances on video—sharing platform YouTube in early March, her account Miumiu Guitargirl has attracted more than 157,000 fans.

The video of her singing Fly Me to the Moon, written by Bart Howard, while playing guitar received over 5 million hits on the platform. In her version of the classic song, Hotel California, by the Eagles, she is seen singing, playing guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums and maracas. With over 1.8 million hits, it’s been described by viewers as the “cutest version” of the song. Followers send best wishes online to the “talented angel”.

Some singers, bands and celebrities from home and abroad also reposted her videos on their social media. The American instrumental guitarist Nei ZaZa reposted the girl’s cover of his guitar music I’m Alright on the Facebook, and commented: “6 years old! They get younger and younger!”

The girl has covered both Chinese and English songs. The most difficult is I Wish You Love, which was sung by bossa nova singer Lisa Ono. It took about three weeks to master the guitar—playing and singing, her father says, adding that as many people like the girl’s music, she’s more confident about herself and wants to learn more.

“I’m glad that many people like my music. I know some of them will watch it over and over. I feel very warm-hearted,” says Zhaoyan from Nanjing, Jiansu Province, who learned guitar from the age of 3 from her father, a guitar teacher.

In late February, her parents started to post short videos of her playing guitar on the Chinese video—sharing platform Bilibili. At that particular time, Zhaoyan was practicing guitar about five hours a day, as the family were confined to their home due to the pandemic.

【推荐3】There will be four concerts that are worth expecting this year. Tickets for each concert are just $59. 95 per person when you order all four events. Here is the complete show information for each concert.

Dean Z-The Ultimate Elvis

August 12-15, 2023

Ticket price: $65. 59

Dean Z is the ultimate Elvis! When Dean was three, “This Is Elvis” was being broadcast on television. He immediately jumped on the coffee table and started imitating Presley’s every move. His newest show, Dean Z-The Ultimate Elvis, is the high point of a life-long career paying tribute (致敬) to the man who will always be known as the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley!

December’ 63

August 19-22, 2023

Ticket price: $70. 39

The music of Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons comes to life in this unique concert experience. December’ 63 shows favorite songs from Frankie Valli that have been exciting audiences for decades. This recreation (重现) of a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons concert will have you reaching for the high notes as our performers take you on a musical journey with stops at every phase of their careers!

Piano Men: Generations

August 26-29, 2023

Ticket price: $69. 95

Don’t miss the return of last season’s most popular concert! The amazing father and son team of Terry and Nick Davies celebrate the musical influences of Billy Joel and Elton John. Not only have Billy and Elton written and performed music that has been spread for four decades, but also seated themselves behind the piano! Join Terry and Nick and their incredible band on this journey through their long, successful careers.

Rockin’ Out With Steve Watts

September 9-19, 2023

Ticket price: $73. 69

Fireside favorite Steve Watts and members of the popular Fireside Band bring you a fast-paced, heart pounding concert of Rock and Roll classics to the Fireside stage for two weekends. Steve and the band will play some of his particular favorites from the 1960’s through today including such artists as Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, The Beatles and many more!

【推荐2】In the UK, a country known for its bad weather and lack of sunshine, there appears to be an ever increasing number of very tanned (晒黑的)young people. So just how are they achieving their golden tans? Some are choosing the sun-free option and are getting their tans from a bottle. However, it appears that others are turning to tanning salons (沙龙), of which there are thousands in the UK.

So why do the British prefer to be tanned? Often, they are trying to emulate their favourite celebrities. Research from the British Sunbed Association suggests that many people believe a tan makes them feel and look healthier.

This is a belief that is most definitely not shared by Cancer Research UK. They firmly state that being tanned is not a sign of health. In fact, they are strongly against young people using sunbeds. On their website, they state that people who use sunbeds before the age of 35 have a higher risk of melanoma (黑素瘤).

The dangers of tanning did not appear to concern ten-year-old Kelly Thompson who hit the headlines in April after receiving severe burns from spending 16 minutes on a sunbed. Kelly's mother was shocked that her daughter had been allowed to use the sunbed and that the tanning salon was unmanned (无人看管的). She noted that: ''There was no one to give advice on using these potentially dangerous machines. ''

Whether the British government has been taking notice of such recent tanning tragedies is not clear. What is clear however is that self-regulation (自行监管) in the sunbed industry looks unlikely to continue. Just after Kelly's story was reported in the news, the government issued a statement advising that people under 18 should not use sunbeds and that all salons should employ trained staff.

【推荐3】I am an anxious traveller. I arrive at airports and train stations extra early. I double-check all of my documents, feel butterflies in my stomach until I’ve arrived where I’m going. Non-anxious people laugh at me for being nervous. I used to feel bad about it, seeing it as unreasonable, weak. Not anymore now. I’ve learned to respect my anxiety.

Recently, I was driving along a country road at the start of a long trip that would mainly be on a large highway. I began feeling that something could go wrong. What if I run out of petrol? I worried, even though I still had plenty. So when I saw a petrol station just before the entrance to the highway, I decided to fill up. Just in case. And that’s when I discovered that one of my front tyres was badly deflated (漏气的). If I’d taken no notice of my anxiety, the tyre would have blown on the highway. My planning ahead, even though it wasn’t necessary, saved me from a possible disaster.

A growing number of psychologists are getting the message out that anxiety and other negative feelings have a role to pay in our lives. Psychologist Dennis-Tiwary thinks our culture goes to extremes in demonizing (妖魔化) difficult emotions. She knows what it’s like to be trapped by anxiety. “I remember a period at work when there was a lot going on,” she says. Worries kept waking her up at 4 a.m. and it kept her from fang back to much-needed sleep.

Instead of trying to stop this unpleasant feeling, however, Dennis-Tiwary leaned into it. “If you sit with the anxiety, you have an opportunity to learn from it,” she says. “I usually write down two or three things I could do to solve it” The next day, she always s felt calmer.

But how do we manage anxiety before it takes control of us? According to Dennis-Tiwary, solutions include meditation (冥想), exercise, volunteering, and close contact with nature.