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Music Theory for Late Starters
Trivia: Which U.S. constitutional amendment guaranteed women the right to vote nationwide?
RetireHub
October 18, 2025
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Saturday newsletter is here!
Today we’re sharing fun tips on Music Theory for Late Starters, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
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What We’re Reading
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 | By: Rosalie Rayburn A remote wind farm. A journalist chasing the truth. Investigative journalist Digger Doyle arrives for a press conference at a remote wind farm in New Mexico, expecting a routine environmental story, not a body at the base of a wind turbine. The victim? Carmen Lawlor, a controversial activist. |
On This Day in 1867, The United States officially took possession of Alaska from Russia in a ceremony now known as Alaska Day. The transfer followed the U.S. purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million—about two cents per acre—under a deal negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward. At the time, many mocked the purchase as “Seward’s Folly,” but the discovery of gold and vast natural resources later proved it to be one of the most valuable land acquisitions in American history.
Music Theory for Late Starters: It’s Never Too Late to Learn the Language of Music
Whether you’ve just picked up a piano for the first time or dusted off your guitar after decades, learning music theory later in life can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. Many people assume theory is only for the young or the classically trained, but the truth is, anyone can grasp the basics and use them to make their musical journey richer and more enjoyable.
Music theory is essentially the “grammar” of music—the set of rules that helps you understand why certain notes sound good together, how chords are built, and what makes a melody move the way it does. Once you learn a few key concepts, like scales, chord progressions, and rhythm, you start to see patterns everywhere. That moment of recognition—when the mystery turns into meaning—is what makes learning theory so satisfying.
For late starters, one of the biggest advantages is patience and perspective. You already know how to pace yourself, how to practice with intention, and how to celebrate progress without rushing the process. Plus, with today’s digital tools, learning has never been more accessible. Apps, YouTube tutorials, and online classes make it possible to explore at your own rhythm, with bite-sized lessons that fit into your daily life.
A good starting point is the major scale, often described as the “DNA” of Western music. From there, you can learn how chords are built from those scales—like stacking building blocks—and how they create the emotional color of a song. Understanding rhythm and time signatures also helps you keep steady, especially when playing with others or reading sheet music.
Most importantly, theory should serve your creativity, not replace it. Don’t worry about memorizing every rule or mastering complex notation overnight. Think of it as learning the language behind the sounds you already love. When you understand why your favorite song moves you, or how to write your own melodies with intention, you’re not just learning—you’re connecting more deeply with the universal joy of music.
How comfortable are you with music theory? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: What’s One Daily Wellness Habit You Try to Keep Up With?
TOP COMMENTS
“Movement, hydration, eating healthier, consistency with medication and prayer”
“All of the above as I feel I have figured it out but need to find the time to regularly follow.”
“I recently changed my vitamin routine. I found out that iron isn't absorbed well when taken with calcium. I moved my iron to evenings and continue taking the rest in the morning.”
“All of the above. Anything I can do to maintain quality of life as I age.”
“I could also check off a few others listed! Journaling is new to me so trying to remember everyday!”
Until supplies run out, receive a free $10 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid subscription to RetireHub.
We were recently gifted a hundred of these Amazon gift cards, and want to pass them along to our loyal readers. If you sign up for a RH premium subscription (just $5/mo — less than a cup of coffee), we’ll send you a $10 Amazon gift card.
When the Silence Speaks: Coping with “Employer Ghosting” After an Interview
You meet with enthusiasm. You share ideas, you connect. Then, suddenly—nothing. No next steps. No follow-up. Just silence. That’s what employer ghosting feels like: being led to expect something, only to be ignored once the connection is made.
The emotional sting of ghosting can cut deeply—especially later in a career, when we bring experience, care, and clarity to every opportunity. But as the article points out, this phenomenon rarely reflects your worth. In most cases, silence is about the employer—not you. It may stem from internal disorganization, indecision, shifting priorities, or simply lack of courtesy.
Instead of chasing a response, the piece suggests following up once or twice with grace, then shifting your energy to opportunities that value your time. Ghosting can also be a signal—one that helps you see early whether an organization truly honors communication and respect.
In a world where hiring is competitive and processes often uneven, ghosting has become disturbingly common. Yet, handling it with self-compassion, intention, and boundaries can transform disappointment into clarity. The point isn’t to silence your ambition—but rather to safeguard your dignity as you navigate new chapters.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Mirror love
Meaning: Mirror love refers to the practice of showing yourself the same kindness, compassion, and appreciation you would give to someone you deeply care about. It’s about recognizing your own worth when you look in the mirror—seeing not flaws or age, but a lifetime of strength, wisdom, and beauty reflected back.
In a sentence: “After her morning walk, Evelyn paused at the mirror, smiled at her reflection, and whispered a few words of mirror love—a gentle reminder that every laugh line told a story worth celebrating.”
Good News of the Day
Airship-Style Wind Turbine Reaches Higher, Delivers Cheaper Clean Power
A new wind turbine design that floats like an airship is showing promising potential for renewable energy. Lofted about 1,000 feet above the ground, it taps into stronger, more consistent winds—far exceeding what ground-based turbines typically capture.
The prototype, called S1500, delivered a remarkable 1 megawatt of power during a test in China’s western desert. That output is about ten times more than earlier airborne models, demonstrating how combining dirigible-style engineering with turbine technology can push wind power to new heights.
One of the most compelling features of this design is cost efficiency. The developers estimate it’s roughly 40% cheaper to build and deploy than standard turbines. In turn, that could translate to up to 30% lower energy costs for communities using this technology.
Because it floats above terrain and obstacles, the airship turbine avoids many limitations of ground turbines—like spotty wind near hills or buildings and the associated risks of bird collisions. Instead, it remains in steady gusts, unimpeded by surface turbulence.
Still, important challenges remain. Engineers need to ensure stability during storms, improve tether durability, and test these systems over long stretches of time in real-world conditions. If they succeed, this hybrid balloon-turbine approach could be a game changer—for remote regions, disaster zones, and places where traditional wind farms aren’t viable.
In short, floating turbines may be more than just a novel concept—they may redefine how we capture wind for a cleaner, more accessible future.
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RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
Which U.S. constitutional amendment guaranteed women the right to vote nationwide? |
Which bandleader’s orchestra popularized “In the Mood” in the swing era? |
Which nation won the 1966 FIFA World Cup? |
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