Hello Four Minute Story readers!  It has been a very long time.  But let’s not make excuses because I’ve got a great guy to tell you about.

This is a little different than the past Four Minute Stories.  This time, there’s no charitable organization involved … though I do know the person I am about to tell you about.

Enter: ARPIT MEHTA - author (Arriving At Love)

The man is a talented photographer, a jokester, recipient of the most unique name in my entire friend group, and now, poet.

When I first met Arpit, it was through a friend of a friend of a friend, or something like that.  He was writing a blog about music, and that sparked my first bit of interest.  One day he had showed me a blog where he had written a handful of poems.  And then that was it.  Nothing more, for years.  Then a month ago, he and I were talking and he mentioned that he had a collection of poems being printed.  Now from where I stand, my goal is to highlight people doing things for the greater good.  In Arpit’s case, he donates to local organizations from his own income.  He’s a firm believer that charity and business should stay separate.  Like TOMS shoes.  Despite doing a GREAT thing for the world, they are still overcharging people for underconstructed shoes.  (don’t get me wrong, they are still doing a great job)  But for Arpit, he prefers to donate money.  The use can be determined to fill any need, instead of just a certain need like shoes.

Back to poetry.  This collection of poems focuses mainly on the theme of Love.  Arpit says, “I tend to write a lot about love since I’m an old-school romantic. A friend of mine was helping me pick out the poems to publish, and she recommended the theme of love. Particularly, arriving at love … there is a place that love comes from, and that is from God. It may get lost in there, but I think it was part of what I intended to express.”

Arpit says his favorite piece in the book is “Serendipity” though I tend to like one on page 9, called “Aurora.”  In it, there’s a line that says, “The truth, my dear, is love just never found us … or hasn’t found us yet.”

If there’s anything I can conclude from all of this, is that I had forgotten how great it is to read poetry.  This collection reminded me. 

If you’d like to purchase a hard-copy of Arriving At Love, click the title.  And from September 1, 2011 until midnight on September 7, 2011, the e-book will be available as a freedownload right here:

FREE DOWNLOAD - Arriving At Love by Arpit Mehta

Andrew Barefoot (with Ben & Tyler)

Halle Project, CanaVP, CanaMusic

Let me set this up for you.  I’m shooting a wedding at a local winery.  A couple videographers show up and start doing their thing.  NBD (No Big Deal, as my friend Gary often says).  After bumping into them a few times and making conversation, I learn that they aren’t from around San Diego … they’re actually from San Luis Obispo, California.  Better yet, they know my good friend April, an amazing florist from their area.  This leads to more conversation than work at this point and we get to talking. 

Right here is where I would generally tell you a crazy unreal story about Andrew and some miraculous things that have taken place in his life that have brought him to this point.  Only problem is, the story is far too nuts to share!  That said, it’s also not my story to share.  Here, I tell you stories about people and what they are doing.  Right now, I’m going to share what Andrew is doing.

Let me preface this story with a little extra information.  Andrew is only one third of this operation.  We got Tyler and Ben working with Andrew, and together they power the Halle Project.  Though my writing style is simple, relaxed and unprofessional … and both incorrect in structure AND grammar … I would prefer to let them tell their own story.  My true goal here is “Promotion With A Purpose” and with that, I URGE you to watch their video outlining their project and their goals:

WATCH THE VIDEO

So now you know, or you don’t.  These guys drip with creativity and passion.  From the few short hours I spent working along side them, I knew.  With the oversaturation of artists in this new generation we live in, why don’t you allow yourself to overflow with your own passion.  If you create, capture, freeze time, or just want to generally help out, please get a hold of these guys.

They do have needs.  Strangely enough, their need is very similar to that of Four Minute Story.  They need people who need people.  The Halle Project aims to artistically shine a light (using film) on different organizations, ministries or missionaries around the world that are lacking support.  So PLEASE watch their video, explore their site, book them for your wedding even!  They fund the Halle Project from their own pockets, so booking them for your wedding will indirectly support the project.

…That there is Andrew’s Four Minute Story.

Coming up on April 29th, We’ve got 1/3 of a group of dudes who are more talented in their left ear than most of us will ever be.  They do it all, and they’re nicer than your mom all at the same time!

My greatest apologies for being MIA on here for a while now. Sometimes life gets busy.  We get selfish with our time.  But mostly, we’re in need of some stories!  Please let us know who we can profile.  Here are the factors to consider:

First, this person is donating their time, not to be rich, but to be awesome.  Second, they’re not boring.  If they are, we’ll do our best to make up funny lies that don’t hurt anybody.  Third, I’d prefer if they were local (or somewhere I’ll be traveling to) so they could be properly photographed in the four minute way.  That’s all for now!  Off for some travels, but I’ll be on the ball about getting this story out on time!

Jessica Baron

Guitars In The Classroom

This is Jessica Baron.  Or Jess.  Hers is officially the first non-friend story I’m telling.  Everybody up to this point has been a personal friend of mine.  I found her by going to this website called www.Google.com … and typed in “San Diego Organizations” … and VOILA!  There was a massive list of stories to be told.  I scanned quickly and when I saw the word “guitars” mixed in a bunch of other words, I knew I had to tell this story.

Jess is the founder of something extraordinary called Guitars In The Classroom, a non-profit started in 1998 that creates a marriage between music and education.  All this, done by training classroom teachers to integrate strumming/singing and song-based learning into lessons.  Basic music stuff that, secretly, is easy to do but oh so pretty and pleasing to the ears.  Music stuff that, at least here in California, is quickly getting chopped from the classroom curriculum due to the budget cuts.  So apparently music is not deemed important enough to keep, but let me tell you something, it is important.

There you have it. 

So the contact that Jess is making with Guitars In The Classroom, is that contact, or time spent, between educators and students.  How much time is that?  Over 1,000 hours per year.  A LONG TIME!  Long story short, music has been proven to help improve test scores.  Which in turn improves the overall quality of a school.

Side note: When at-risk schools’ test scores improve, the school can maintain or improve its status with the state; its funding can be spared from performance-related cuts, and children will benefit. Half of GITC programs are in these “Title 1” schools helping kids engage creatively with learning so they can do better in every way.

On top of the children gaining from this, the teachers who are being spread thin or forced to teach subjects out of their specialty area are able to therapeutically take a “time out” to play a little music.  It’s a mutually beneficial situation.  

Jess’ desire, since day one of this program, has been to share music.  According to the Guitars In The Classroom website, 25 states are currently participating!  The great thing is, there is a ton of room to grow. Guitars In The Classroom makes it easy.

Need another reason to get involved?  Well, this is a big one.  Guess who is behind this all the way?  Jack Johnson.  You know, the laid-back, Hawaii-lovin’ rock star who sings about banana pancakes … yeah, that guy.  He’s helping to get the Hawaiian team started.

Who else?  George Winston.  Makana.  If you appreciate music, you’ll know these two names.  If not, look them up.

I don’t even know where to go from here.  Jess warned me, when we first started talking, that four minutes would never be enough.  She was right, I can go for days on this topic.  I love music.  Jess loves music.  You love music, I know you do.  Let’s talk about how you can help out.  Are you a teacher?  Most of my friends are, and I hope they are reading this right now.  Better yet, are you a famous musician?  A few of my friends do that as well, get in on this now.  You’ll be glad you did.  Are you rich?  Donate.  Guitars aren’t cheap, but GITC has a connection to get them for cost so more kids can get their hands on these things.

Alaska & Afghanistan are in the works.  Those places are far from home.  Both are basically in Russia.  (Oh, I went there.)  Music is world-wide.  Music helps.  Can Guitars In The Classroom be a part of your story?  Head over to the website and explore.  There’s a lot of great info!  I wish I could tell you more.

…And that’s Jessica Baron’s Four (or more) Minute Story.

Coming up on February 23rd, we have a woman who took her love for music and her passion for educating children and mixed them together to create something amazing!

Also, stay tuned for a new song in the Four Minute Music section!  This time, a pop-a-billy band from Alabama.  Check back on Saturday the 26th for that track!