Primacy Of The Ear(Blake/Rogers) And College Tuition For Undocumemnted Children

"Primacy of the Ear"by Ran Blake with Jason Rogers(wonderful writer) is part textbook,part polemic and part autobiography.It helps guide the young improvising musician to develop a personal style.Listening,memory,melody,introspection,
extroversion,repertoire, reflection and integration are key ingredients in the process of becoming a unique musical stylist.Creating a personal style starts,according to Blake,in the ear. He believes the ear is an honest broker when one listens to music.The ear pulls you to a sound faster and more confidently than your brain and brings you to the muse.Style is a selective re-creation of conscious,subconscious values and judgements. One core element of style is a lack of universality and an embracing of peculiarity and eccentricity(Monk,Taylor).Blake feels a need to save his listening for music that is important to him.He wants the young musician to develop degrees of concentration when listening to pieces.Falling asleep to music is important to invite the subconscious into the learning process.Repeated listening,memorization,analytical dissection and learning an artist overall work are important elements of developing your mastery of the music your interested in.It is also a stepping stone to unique improvisation.

I recently listened to a debate about children of undocumented workers who want to go to state colleges and pay the in-state tuition cost.Some politicians are against spending taxpayer money for undocumented children who have been in the country the majority of their lives. Their parents have been working for companies in the U.S for fifteen years and have contributed revenue to the states through various taxes(sales,payroll,income). The companies have been very happy with their parents employment and the labor costs they have saved.The in-state tuition cost enables thousands of children to go to college and without this assistance the majority couldn't continue their education.

One of the major problems with the debate is the lack of concentrated listening politicians have concerning the fate of undocumented workers.They don't really take the time to really listen to the full story of the undocumented families that come the the U.S. to avoid economic catastrophe.They understand the state expenses very well but don't see the whole migrant picture because they are not taking the appropriate time to listen and develop the needed compassion to assist these children.The politicians should review this issue as a musician prepares to improvise.They should value what Blake is saying about finding one's muse.Each issue we face today has depth and values that must be studied and reflected on through introspection.Money shouldn't have the final voice when young lives are in the balance. The management of revenues is an important problem for states because many in our country hide their wealth and and seek subsides at every turn.They see undocumented workers and families as objects and production pieces in their lust for increased income and luxury.Their capital can move freely from country to country to seek the highest profit but humans must stay within boundaries and see their children starve.Listening to a patient and experiencing their loss was the key component in Carl Roger's counseling philosophy.My wish is for all politicians who are quick to dismiss the undocumented to take Blake and Rogers advice and spend some quality time experiencing the road traveled by these migrant souls.