Music education is crucial for the holistic development of children, as it offers a wide range of benefits that impact their cognitive, emotional, social, and creative development. Here are some key reasons why music education is important for children:
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Photos from my tour break vacation to the island of Mallorca, Spain. Most of these photographs are from the city of Palma de Mallorca, Spain. As usual, I like street photography, architecture, graffiti and interesting perspectives with lines and shapes.
This was the last of my photography workshop learning sessions as I was able to meet with two professional photographers at the local amusement park fair Fira del Ram (Fair of the Ram) for some unique perspectives with the rides. I learned that street photography is technically illegal in Spain due to privacy laws so very few of these photographs have people in them.
Besides hanging out with the local professional photographers, I also met some excellent street musicians including one of the best accordion players I’ve heard who goes by “Tony Mallorca”. You can see several videos of him playing on my YouTube channel in the “Short Video” section at: https://www.youtube.com/@ConradAskland
Also got to experience a sunrise hot air balloon ride and that was a little scary to take photos from so high up but you’ll see a few below. Another highlight was visiting the Frederic Chopin and George Sand Museum in Valdemossa on the island of Mallorca, Spain. (Chopin wrote some of his piano pieces on the island of Mallorca)
These photos were taken with my Sony A7 iv camera and two lenses: a Sony GM 35mm (my favorite) and a Sony GM 35-70mm. See below for some of the photos
Photos from my visit to Paris, France in February 2023. Sadly, I didn’t get a full session of night photography because I had to leave Paris early due to an upcoming worker strike. These photos taken with a Sony A7 iv camera, Sony GM 35mm lens and Sony GM 24-70mm lens
We had a great time performing the Cirque du Soleil ice-skating show Crystal in Oslo, Norway! Great audiences and I was able to see many of my relatives as well. Six shows at the Spektrum Arena in Oslo, Norway. Here are photos from our Oslo performances. Photos by Mike Hillingseter
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Photos in Stuttgart, Germany from February 2023 on my days off. Stuttgart city center, a parade, cathedral exteriors and interiors, and some street photography shots. For these photos I used a Sony A7 iv camera and for lenses a Sony GM 24-70mm and Sony GM 35mm
See below for gallery of Stuttgart, Germany photos
Here are photos I took at Disneyland Paris with a Sony A7 iv camera and alternating lenses of Sony GM 35mm f1.4 and Sony GM 24-70mm f2.8. (I keep going back to the 35mm for it’s clarity and great video ability in low light)
On tour break I had the awesome opportunity to spend four days at Disneyland Paris. It was so much fun! My favorite is always the Disneyland park but I also enjoyed the Walt Disney Studios lot (in California that would be the “California Adventure” lot). I got my Premier Access pass and whizzed through the lines and THAT was fun too.
I was lucky to have 4 days off in Antwerp, Belgium before we started performing our Cirque du Soleil shows. The central old town is absolutely beautiful. On a private historical walking tour I learned how Antwerp used to have canals but they were covered up long ago (which provides for interesting, winding street patterns.
Here are some photos I took while in Antwerp, Belgium. Street photography style with a Sony A7 iv and two different lenses: a Sony GM 35mm f1.4 and a Sony GM 24-70mm f2.8 zoom. I’m really partial to my fixed 35mm for street photography but it was nice to get some wider shots with the zoom down at 24mm
We had a wonderful time performing the Cirque du Soleil “CRYSTAL” show at the Palais12 arena in Brussels, Belgium. Here are some street photography photos I took while exploring the wonderful city of Brussels. Chocolate, Flemish stew, waffles – I’d come back just for the food!
All these photos with a Sony A7 iv camera and Sony GM 35mm f1.4 lens
While performing with Cirque du Soleil in Brussels, Belgium – I took a day trip to Brugge. I loved it so much that I went back and spent another three days there. It’s known as a “magical medeival fairytale city”. Buildings in this town go back to the 14th century and earlier. I was told that during World War II there was an agreement not to harm the city, so it escaped the destruction that destroyed so many other medieval towns in Europe.
Whenever I mention Brugge, anyone who’s been there says “that’s my favorite city” if they’ve been there. It was so peaceful, beautiful, delicious food and even some windmills. The night photography in Bruges was so much fun with all the canals and narrow alleys with cobblestone roads. I hope you enjoy some of these photos. On a final note, what is the correct spelling? My local guide spells it “Brugge” but the famous movie with Colin Farrell is spelled “In Bruges”. Maybe more than one spelling is okay…..
Ghent, Belgium. Another absolutely stunning city with breathtaking architecture. My travels in Belgium have been so lovely as I’ve been exploring the cities of Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. Also had a chance to hear the Brussels Philharmonic perform live in performances of the Brahms Symphony #2 and Schumann Violin Concerto in A minor. A wonderful week for exploration and photography!
For these photos I’m using a Sony A7 iv with a Sony G-Master 35mm f1.4 lens
