When I think about my passion for music and neuroscience, I realize I owe that development to Oliver Sacks, and not to Daniel Levitin.

Oliver Sacks should have been my first profile as his writing introduced me to Daniel Levitin.

But, I have some time right now, so let me tell you about Oliver Sacks. If you’re familiar with the name, it’s probably because you saw the movie, Awakenings, with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. That movie was based off of Sacks’ book of the same name.

Dr. Sacks is a medical neurologist, author, and neurology professor.

What drew me to his research was a book called Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. Musicophilia, or literally, love of music, talks about the effect music has on neurological disorders including brain trauma. I didn’t know that Dr. Sacks was a medical neuroscientist, so I assumed this book would talk about music and learning. Silly assumption!

At the time I read the book, I was experiencing epileptic seizures. It was a new diagnosis for me, so I found anything talking about seizures interesting. And, Dr. Sacks had a chapter on music and epilepsy in his book. He explains that for one epileptic, a type of music caused seizures. For another with constant seizures, music was the only thing that could stop the seizures. Music of all genres is a passion of mine, but fortunately (or unfortunately) it has no correlation to my seizures.

Sacks quotes Georg Philipp Friedrich Frieherr von Hardenberg, better known as Novalis, who wrote, “Every disease is a musical problem; every cure is a musical solution”. The doctor discovered this was true as he saw patients with Parkinson’s, aphasia, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Tourette’s syndrome respond positively to music. Sacks explains, music works because it engages so many parts of the brain. Rhythm, actual or imagined, activates areas of the motor cortex, crucial in synchronizing and energizing movement.

Why music can sometimes complement or even replace medication for serious brain anomalies is still a mystery, but it is still fascinating. In a subsequent interview about the book, Sacks addresses the correlation of music to brain development, stating, “Regular exposure to music, and especially active participation in music, may stimulate development of many different areas of the brain . . . In terms of brain development, musical performance is every bit as important educationally as reading or writing”. He references Daniel Levitin at this point, who wrote in The World in Six Songs that music has become more of a listening activity rather than a full-engagement activity: “music-making engages much more of our brains than simply listening”.

The 81 year-old Sacks recently disclosed his advanced ocular melanoma which has metastasized to his liver. His remaining time in this world is short, but his discoveries and advancements in the world of neuroscience will continue in the works of those he inspired and mentored. His latest book, On the Move: A Life, is set to release in May.

A week from today, I start NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I'll be working on a middle-grade fiction - aimed at adolescents. I started it back in July, but it stalled because it became boring. Now that NaNoWriMo is here, I'm determined to finish the book! The story is about two brothers who travel up the Truckee River in the 1860s, their adventures with pioneers and Native Americans, and their participation in the Pyramid Lake battle where a tribe of Native Americans lost most of their land.

So, here's where I ask you for help. I have 30 days to write 50,000 words. I'd love your emails, 
tweets, facebook posts of encouragement. But, if you'd like to go one step further, you can "sponsor" my writing by helping a friend.

Yes, NaNoWriMo does have its own fundraiser, but to me, it looks like selling girl scout cookies - the person who raises the most money wins a prize. The only prize I want to win is the one for meeting my goal. So, instead, I'm asking if you would be willing to sponsor me by helping Jace and his family.

Jace is the 2 year-old son of my friends, Tisha and Jason Poncio. In January 2013, the doctors diagnosed

him with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He's had his ups and downs, and unfortunately, he has spent too much time in the hospital, which is a 45-minute drive from his home. Tisha and Jason have two other daughters who are elementary school-age. They miss their brother terribly and are grateful for those few bright moments when their brother is healthy enough to be home and can share some special moments with them.

Tisha works as a high school teacher, and Jason is a graphic designer. They have both missed several days of work due to Jace's illness.

So, my request is this - if you are able, would you be willing to help Jason and Tisha financially as I write? You can help as little or as much as you are able, but I was thinking maybe $5 per every 5,000 words I write?

You can send your donations to
Jace Poncio Medical Fund
PO Box 6
Celina, Tx 75009

If you would like to send your donation via paypal, let me know, and I can get you that information.

Thank you! And, let the writing begin!

Wow!! I'm so glad my alarm went off this morning when I had forgotten that I set it! About a month ago, I signed up for a webinar on neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain to change. To be honest, I had forgotten about it, but luckily, I had put it on my phone's calendar. I was rudely awakened at 9:30am, and I really debated over getting up, but now, I'm so glad I did!

The seminar, The Neuroplasticity Revolution: New Ways to Improve Learning, was hosted by Scientific Learning and featured self-described "psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, researcher, author, essayist and poet", Norman Doidge. Here's another individual I need to follow not only because Oliver Sacks is a fan, but because what Dr. Doidge taught today was so fascinating!

I'm sure each participant took something different out of the webinar, but here are the points that were important to me.

*Brain tissue doesn't feel pain. I often wondered why surgeons kept patients awake when working on the patients' brains. Wouldn't that be painful? Apparently, no. The brain's neurons are the reasons we feel pain, but the neurons themselves don't feel pain, and that's pretty important in the study of the brain. Neurosurgeons and neuroscientists alike have been able to learn so much about the brain because they've been able to probe the brain and learn which areas of the brain control different areas of our motor, sight, hearing, smelling, touch, and taste abilities. For example, Dr. Doidge explained that our verbal abilities exist in four different sections of our brain - the ability to read words, the ability to understand words, the ability to hear words, and the ability to speak words. He showed us brain scans to demonstrate those areas, but it only shows that we know now so much more about the brain and how to learn about the brain than ever before.

*One way to change the brain is through the tongue! Dr. Doidge talked about Cheryl, a woman who had incredibly severe balance issues. Dr. Doidge explained, think about the movie Vertigo and that sense of forever falling. That's how Cheryl lived initially for many years. Neuroscientist, Dr. Paul Bach-y-Rita, demonstrated how the brain can heal itself or relearn what it once knew by electronically speaking to neurons and reactivating them. How did he do this? He placed a sensory device on the woman's tongue. Why the tongue of all places? Dr. Doidge explained that the tongue has so many sensory receptors. I did some more research on this and found that first the tongue has more sensory nerve endings than anywhere else in the body with the exception of the lips. We all know about taste buds, right? Well, what I discovered is that there are four nerves leading to the brain from the tongue that communicate with the brain, and the tongue is an obvious place for communicating with the brain because the nerve endings are so close to the surface of the brain. The result for Cheryl is that she can now live a normal life. She no longer has to fear falling, and she is no longer trying to catch herself from falling every second of her day.

* Finally, why is early childhood considered the critical period for language learning? I've heard the term plasticity used with language learning - that the brain is most open to change, adaptation, learning at a young age and less plastic as an individual grows older. But, Dr. Doidge explained this even further. It's not that the brain is less able to learn as we age, but rather that an individual has used his native language so much that any new language has to compete with that amount of knowledge to gain any strength in the brain. Specifically, Dr. Doidge (as cited in Scientific Learning, 2013) said, "Every day we use our native language, we reinforce its dominance of the linguistic map space. It is because our brain is plastic - and competitive - that it is so hard to learn a new language and end the tyranny of the mother tongue." 

It's hard for me to imagine that there would be a battle in my brain for which language I should speak. But, it also begs the question - if immersion is the best way for a new language to gain ground in my brain, is it possible that language extinction could occur, or would the areas of the brain that control verbal abilities simply grow? I believe language extinction might only occur if a person is no longer permitted to use his native language. This makes me think of the original Native American language which has all but become extinct, or the children of Spanish-speakers who have immigrated to the US who came to the US with only so many years practice of their native language and through immersion, no longer remember their Spanish. So, it is possible, I think.

At any rate, I think I've learned more about neuroscience in this one-hour webinar than I have learned in all my reading and following twitter accounts. And, I have a new goal - Read Dr. Doidge's book, The Brain that Changes Itself. Remember, I wanted to read Proust Was a Neuroscientist, but that book is still sitting on the couch waiting for me to flip open to the first page!

Scientific Learning. (2013, October 2). The neuroplasticity revolution: New ways to improve learning [webinar]. Retrieved from http://www.scilearn.com/events/webinars/. NOT AVAILABLE FOR REDISTRIBUTION

For the month of July, I joined Camp NaNoWriMo to work on writing a fictional novel. NaNoWriMo is an annual event in November and is the abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month. The camp is a bit of an incentive with lots of encouragement and fellow "campers".

I'm very excited about what I'm writing. I know I'm deviating from the norm as this story has nothing to do with the brain or music, but I thought some creative writing might get the juices flowing for an eventual non-fiction novel.

The story I'm writing right now is considered historical fiction. It takes place in the 1860s in Nevada, and that's all the information I'm sharing now until the book is finished!

Thank you, always, for your support!

I've just started reading Dan Levitin's "The is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession", and by started, I mean I just got through the 12 page introduction! The whole book is 250 pages, so it shouldn't take me too long. What I like about the introduction is how Levitin has given his bio leading up to being a neuroscientist. While I haven't been an instrumentalist, I didn't start with an interest in music and the brain. It took Levitin some time to get where he is now, so that gives me hope that I can still get where I'm going!

I did, however, finish watching two of Levitin's videos, produced by PBS - "The Music Instinct: Science and Song" featuring Bobby McFerrin and a number of other psychologists, scientists, and archaeologists interested in the connection between the brain and music; AND "Musical Brain" featuring Sting.  My husband would argue that "Musical Brain" was the better of the two, but I enjoyed each of them.

In "Musical Brain", Levitin finds that Sting is a student as well as a musician. He agrees to have Levitin scan his brain to see what if any differences there are between an "expert musician" and someone with less experience. The most significant thing I learned with this brain scan is the increased activity between the left and right brain. Levitin explains that he has seen this before with seasoned musicians. The left brain communicating with the right brain demonstrates skill as well as creativity - and this is something that has to be developed: it is not innate. The two converse throughout with Sting thoroughly enjoying what Levitin is teaching him. Of course, I envied Sting. How amazing to have a one-on-one with Levitin and ask him all the burning questions I have!

The second video, "The Music Instinct", contained a much broader description of the connection of music to the brain - an archaeological standpoint, educational development, and cultural music connections. I didn't initially understand McFerrin's involvement in this video, but I think his experience with multi-cultural music was a vital component. A lot of what I saw in this video was familiar. I knew about the important correlating between early music learning and academic achievement, and I knew that music was probably the earliest form of communication. The significant part of this video, for me, was the multicultural component of music. Each culture has notes/melodies that sound normal to them, but might sound like a cacophony to the rest of us. Despite that difference, most cultures can listen to music they've never heard before and be able to distinguish the language of the composer and whether the music infers happiness, sadness, or fright. Further, despite the differences in cultural music, each musician is able to harmonize with another. The difference in feelings came from a study with indigenous tribe who had never heard a piano before, let alone western music. It is amazing to me how universal music is. I also enjoyed the round tables that the camera often switched to - Levitin conversed with other experts in the field regarding past, current, and future studies necessary to learn more about music and the brain.

The disappointment I had with both videos is that there was no one featured who lived in the northwest, so I'm still seeking a mentor up here! I will continue to watch videos and read books pertaining to the connection of music to the brain, but I still need the practical experience! If you are reading this and know someone in the Seattle area, let me know!

*Disclaimer: I am writing this blog as part of the NaNoWriMo challenge - 50,000 words in 30 days. My goals with this and other blogs are to write a total of 50,000 words and to present the brain and learning in a less technical way. I don't know if these blogs will lead to a book, but if they do, I will acknowledge anyone who has commented on my blog (with their permission of course!) Please see my questions at the end of this blog, even if you didn't understand this blog!

 

You've heard about VAK learning styles, right? Results of a simple learning style exam shows whether you are a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic/tactile learner; however, have you ever considered the evolution of sensory development?

• The sense of hearing, or one's auditory system begins with the creation of the ears in the 5th week of gestation. The ears are fully developed by the twenty-fourth week of gestation; however, an infant still needs the first year after birth for his sense of hearing to be completely functional.
• While the structures that connect to the sense of touch develop in the 9th week of gestation, the actual sense of touch is first fully functional by the twenty second week of gestation.
• Vision, like hearing, originates with the creation of the eyes in the 9th and 10th week of gestation. After birth, infants can initially "detect motion, can focus on an object about eight inches away, are sensitive to brightness, and have red and green color vision". Their sight continues to develop over three years when the eyes are finally fully operational.

Importance of Touch in Educational Development
As the sense of touch is one of the first to develop, some educators and educational psychologists are focusing on how to use tactile stimulation in the elementary grades to increase learning. Lise Eliot, associate professor of neuroscience that Chicago's Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, explains, "After birth, social touch is especially important for babies' development. Infants deprived of close holding and contact can suffer all kinds of emotional and developmental problems". Touch continues its developmental and educational importance as infants become toddlers and then school-age. This does not mean that a child will not receive auditory or visual stimulation. This will occur naturally throughout the educational process. Teachers and educational psychologists, however, have found that focus on touch, used in early education, results in higher cognition learning, or learning skills that can transfer to any future studies. James R. Murphy further explains this importance of enhancing young children's higher cognition learning, writing, "It is much harder to develop these skills as one nears puberty and beyond".

Some examples of touch taking place in the learning process are through music, manipulatives and string figures.

String Figures
James R. Murphy writes extensively on the use of string figures, a Native American tradition, in his articles in the Huffington Post. I actually had to google the phrase because the only thing that came to mind when I read "string figures" was a puppet!

Did you ever create a "cat's cradle" with string on your fingers? Once you completed the design, you would turn to a friend who had to carefully take the string design and convert it into the soldier's bed. The game could be endless if you know how to make each new pattern. For me, I knew how to make the cat's cradle, but I couldn't go beyond that. Murphy argues that learning the different patterns of string figures cements the ideas of learning patterns in general, and patterns are used in almost any area of learning from mathematics to reading. Some might even contend that once children hear that string figures originate in Native American culture, they can learn more about the history of the United States, therefore entering into the realm of social studies.

As an educator, Murphy found, "This curriculum represents a unique opportunity to shape a young person's feelings about their intellectual abilities and about their capacity to learn".

Music
Similar to string figures, students who take instrument lessons also learn patterns through memorizing music notes, the positioning of fingers on the instrument, and repetitive choruses. Younger children can learn basic instruments including simply clapping their hands and learning rhythm, as this is not specific to learning styles. As the students move up in grades, they can consider their learning styles and choose more complex instruments if they feel they excel in kinesthetic/tactile learning.

Manipulatives
So, what exactly are manipulatives? You've probably seen the blocks, tiles, cubes, geoboards, tangrams, counters, and spinners in all kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Then, they're abandoned until students study higher math. But, manipulatives can prove to be more important than simply teaching mathematical skills. Manipulatives teach students to distinguish colors, discover shapes, and of course learn patterns. Again, instruction using manipulatives teach skills that can transfer to other courses.

As demonstrated, any hands-on learning activity can improve the brain and enhance learning. They also create a student who can both learn and do. They've already experimented and learned what works and what doesn't. They've learned how to fail and how to succeed. And, they've learned teamwork and social skills, particularly through the use of string figures as they trade the string figures back and forth and explain to each other which strings to pull apart or bring together to create the next string figure.

I'm curious - Murphy, who introduced me to the use of string figures in the classroom is a retired teacher. Do any of my readers who are currently teachers use string figures in their instruction?

Words: 846  -- Cumulative total= 2238/50,000 (does not include disclaimer or questions below)

Questions to my readers:

• Was this blog too technical or too basic?
• What did you like best/worst about this blog?
• What questions did you have about this topic after you finished reading, if any?

I'm starting the NaNoWriMo challenge in two days, and this time, I'm determined to meet the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. That's equivalent to about 1,700 words per day.

For those of you unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, it is the abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month, and it's an event that started in 1999 with only 21 participants. Last year, there were over 36,000 participants!

I have two primary goals and one secondary goal with NaNoWriMo in November:
1) Write 50,000 words, the "Wri" part of the challenge!
2) Write about the brain and learning in a way that everyone can understand. My blog readers have told me that my blogs have been too scientific in this area, but neuroscience and learning are my passions. I want to prove to myself and to others that I can talk about this passion in a way that doesn't lose my readers!

If I am able to accomplish the first two goals, I'll look at ways that I can turn what I have written into a book, the "No" part of the challenge!

For each blog, I'll provide the number and percentage of words toward the 50,000 word challenge, and I'll also ask readers whether I've met the goal of keeping my reader's interest.

Thank you to all my readers who will be joining me in next month's journey!

In 6 days, 9 hours, and 34 minutes, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) will start. Many people have told me I should write a book, but I've never known what to write about. Having said that, I really want to try to write the 50,000 words challenged by the originators of NaNoWriMo in November. I tried this last year, though without a theme, and I wasn't successful. Thankfully, this is only a yearly event, and I can try again! I think having a theme will motivate me to be successful, and who knows? Maybe, I will be able to edit my blogs into a book worthy of publishing!

I know some of my readers haven't liked my brain posts. I don't really have other writing prompts, so I haven't remained as consistent as I would like in blogging. Next month, though, I would like to write at least a daily blog on "fun facts about the brain and/or learning". I'll try to keep the blogs to the basics, and hopefully, everyone who stumbles upon my blog will find something interesting in each blog I write.

I welcome suggestions, too! My prompts come from daily emails I've requested from google alerts. I've set up these email alerts for brain, learning, cognition, connectome, neuro-education, educational neuroscience, and educational psychology. One of those topics will be a part of each blog I write in November.

In addition, at the bottom of each blog, I'll let my readers know the cumulative words to date that I've written as well as a percentage of the 50,000 words.

I hope all of you will enjoy!

I've put off writing for a number of months blaming my depression and anxiety as my demotivators. Now, I'm questioning whether they're only contributing factors.

I'm still in that stuck point of do I finish my PhD program, or do I withdraw? The reality of no more guaranteed federal financial aid has hit. I actually owe a small bit of tuition this quarter, and all subsequent quarters will be my responsibility. I can try and qualify for a low interest loan, but would it be an investment or simply another opportunity to waste money?

So, now back to my writing. I haven't been doing the work I need to be doing on my dissertation proposal on top of not doing any outside writing. Could it be I'm holding onto something (school) that I should have already let go? Maybe education is no longer the dream I should be pursuing. And, maybe, my unwillingness to let it go has kept me standing still? 

I saw a quote in my twitter feed that jumped out at me today: Award-winning novelist, Anne Tyler is credited as saying, "I've never quite believed that one chance is all I get. Writing is my way of making other chances".

I've had many chances to be successful, whether it be financially stable, content professionally, or locationally happy.  Often my husband and I will say, this is our second chance to do it right, and we've said that so many times, it's become an inside joke.

I only recently rediscovered writing, and it has been so much fun! I've also found it incredibly satisfying seeing how my skills and talents easily transfer. Even still, I saw it as a complement to my schooling. Being a student must come first, even if my passion for schooling had started disappearing in 2008. 

I don't know Anne Tyler's story, but if it has anything to do with losing one's direction, her words might be worth heeding.

Earlier today, I was directed to an article, written by Dan Levitin, speaking of the dissatisfaction shoppers have when listening to repetitive Christmas music. As a courtesy to those unfamiliar with his research on music, Levitin provides an in-depth introduction. Then he argues two seemingly contradictory constructs:

• We have evolved from listening to music in community to listening to music individually via iPods, Mp3 players, etc.
• Christmas music ought to be enjoyed within a communal setting.

Can both arguments exist? Initially I asked this question as seen in the article comments, but I believe I now understand his arguments and see this is no contradiction at all.

Repetitive Christmas Music
To understand the gist of this article, we must first understand Levitin's definition of repetitive Christmas music and where people find it annoying.
Levitin explains he is referring specifically to those Christmas songs with which we are overly familiar: Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. To his definition, I would add store jingles written specifically for the Christmas season and played far too frequently through the loud speaker.
I worked at a discount retail chain from 1994 to 2000, and I still remember the store's jingle:

• Make it more magic. Add a little ho, ho, ho ...

If as a store employee, I had heard the song as many times such that I remember the lyrics approximately 20 years later, I can only imagine how shoppers must have felt.
Secondly, Levitin argues it is only the repetitive Christmas songs heard within retail establishments that are annoying to people.

Evolution in Listening to Music
Levitin draws upon his previous research and explains how our early ancestors used music to communicate and celebrate important events. These people would listen and/or sing as a community, and they enjoyed doing so.
Today, we enjoy music within a solo environment. From the invention of the Walkman to today's iPod and mp3 players, we have found that listening to our favorite songs is best accomplished through headphones and ear buds. Certainly, this private listening ensures that we aren't offending those around us, but Levitin believes listening to music individually holds greater meaning.
It is an evolutionary step. I would liken it to our computer use. I was drilled on correct penmanship in elementary school, and I loved to write almost the same as I do now. I had no difficulty writing with a pen or pencil, but now, having used the computer for 20 years, it is extremely challenging to handwrite anything. My hand hurts immediately, and my penmanship is very poor compared to years ago. Is it, then fair to say that we have evolved in this one form of communication?
Through my understanding of this analogy, I can better appreciate Levitin's theory in our evolution in listening to music. Further as we are now individual listeners of music rather than communal ones, it is logical that listening to music in a communal setting can be challenging or, as Levitin writes, annoying.

Christmas Music Enjoyed Communally
Wait a minute: in one paragraph, Levitin argues our music listening evolution logically explains why we don't appreciate music in a communal setting. In the next paragraph, he argues that Christmas music can only be enjoyed in a communal setting. How can this second argument be true when we've already been lead to believe repetitive Christmas music in retail settings is annoying?
I am reminded of Levitin's chapter 7 from "The World in Six Songs": Religion, or People Get Ready. Music, like Christmas songs, can be used to celebrate or commemorate a holiday. When music is employed as a method of celebration, it is best done within a group setting. Levitin explains in his book,

• Ceremonial music is almost always specific to place and/or time. Such music sung or played irreverently could be considered blasphemy.

It is therefore important that these songs be enjoyed and/or sung at the right place and at the right time.
Shoppers consumed by materialistic consumerism aren't celebrating anything. We are obsessed with finding the perfect gift and will travel to multiple stores to find said gift. Television commercials and daily ads in the mailbox constantly remind us of how many shopping days remain until Christmas. Is it any surprise that we are stressed and frustrated before even entering a store? Certainly this is neither the appropriate place nor time for repetitive Christmas music.
We will find the Christmas spirit, but it will only come after we have lost that glazed obsession compelling us to buy gifts. And, when we have embraced the Christmas spirit, we can enjoy, rather than be annoyed by, Christmas songs whether with family, at a Christmas party, or at a house of worship.

When I first started thinking about my dissertation, I was considering one's culture as the foundation; whether I was focusing on the massage practitioner, the kinesthetic learner, the foreign language learner, or the adolescent - I had to take under consideration the culture from which these individuals first learned how to engage.
Of course, the realization that culture was the common theme in my dissertation topic ideas wasn't immediately clear. My goal was to find something that focused on learning theory; therefore I was concerned with the dependent variables rather than the independent ones.
Having recently read a preview of Emery Petchauer's "Hip-hop culture in college students' lives : elements, embodiment, and higher edutainment", I find myself not only eager to read the book, but fascinated at my self-identification as a hip-hop collegian and thoughtful of future research studies started from this book.

Self-Identification
When I re-initiated my journey with journalism in 2009, I was offered a position as the Tacoma Hip-Hop Music Examiner. For some, that title meant I only liked hip-hop music. The truth, however, is I love all genres of music, and this assignment only served to force me to learn about the hip-hop scene in Tacoma. It has been an incredible learning experience as I have found new favorite music, networked with local indie musicians, and learned more than I ever imagined about the music industry.
As I further embraced my love of writing and sought other writing opportunities, I began to consider the implications of a career that integrated writing, music, research, and education. More networking possibilities emerged. I voraciously searched for anything that merged music and education (without being music education) and discovered authors Oliver Sacks, Anthony Storr, and Daniel Levitin who advocate for music cognition. In February I will attend a national music industry conference. In March, I'll attend a music cognition conference. I am now aware of how my fields of interest do integrate and can make me uniquely qualified as not only a writer and researcher, but also as a musician's advocate.
My soul-searching remains unfinished. As I have said I realized my interest lies in both learning theory and the culture one brings to learning. One essential factor I have emphasized in the past is the learner's understanding of his learning style and temperament - collectively called a learning strategy. One assessment defined me as "personally ideational with kinesthetic preferences": I love to learn ideas, but I do so best in environments where I feel in some kind of relationship with the instructor and where I am able to "do", not just see or hear what I'm learning. It would appear from Petchauer's book I could also be defined as a hip-hop collegian:

• For hip-hop collegians, it is natural to sample from all different types of knowledge sources for class because this is precisely what they’ve been taught to do through hip-hop.
  Another example is the idea of feeling something, or what has been called “kinetic consumption.” Feeling or affect is a legitimate way to engage with the world, and it is a quintessentially hip-hop way to engage with the world. Hip-hop first and foremost is meant to be felt. Period. Sure, it may be interesting, evocative, or even offensive —but all of this comes after its feeling.

I have never walked away from a class feeling that I have thoroughly learned everything offered in that class. That might sound strange coming from a self-proclaimed learner, but for me, I never felt it was necessary to know everything. It has always been about quality of knowledge, not quantity. I was interested in finding things that connected, and the unimportant disconnected information was only worth studying when there was a test. I suppose you could also say I have "sampled" in my search for integration of music, writing, research, and education. I skipped chapters on health and music or what types of music a person liked and instead focused on how music affected the body and mind in general.
The idea of "feeling" education, in my opinion, is the definition of a learner who is "personal" and "kinesthetic". Learning has to connect in some way to my passions: travel, languages, music, movies, writing, strategy, etc. And, in order for me to fully learn, I have to emotionally and physically understand the information - not just cognitively understand it. I've often found a disconnect between what I know cognitively and what I know emotionally and physically. Typically I will remember longer what I first felt rather than what I first heard. Therefore, I believe I will add hip-hop collegian next to scholar practitioner and perpetual learner.

Implications for Further Research
If there is such a thing as hip-hop culture and such a type of learner as a hip-hop collegian, could there be a pop culture or a country music culture, and what would those types of learners look like?
Having not yet read Petchauer's book, I can only assume he limits his discussion to college students.
What about the hip-hop culture in high school, and is it the same or different than that in college? Is understanding the hip-hop learner any less important than studying the hip-hop collegian?
I am new to this field of study, so it's very possible some of the above questions have been answered. Finding answers to these questions and more only further solidifies my understanding that my fields of interest do and should merge.

Recommended Reading
Petchauer introduced the concept of hip-hop collegians with his dissertation, "Welcome to the underground: Portraits of worldview and education among hip-hop collegians", published by Regent University in 2007. He has since explored the hip-hop culture as it pertains to college education with African Americans. While "Hip-hop culture in college students' lives : elements, embodiment, and higher edutainment" is Petchauer's first book, he has lectured on the topic as recently as November 2010, urging his audience of education students to use hip-hop as a method of teaching and to use the concept of feeling knowledge rather than just knowing.
Looking at just the date when Petchauer earned his EdD in education pedagogy, I will assume that he is approximately the same age as I. I am intrigued by his field of study and envious of his success in publishing. If his book is as good as I believe it will be, I will have to add Petchauer to my list of influences. Certainly, he has set an example for me to follow - publishing a book four years after earning his doctorate! I wonder if I can do the same?

I have requested Petchauer's book from my library through interlibrary loan. With any luck, I should be reading it by the end of January. Stay tuned. You may find a blog or two about it!

November has been filled with some exciting learning moments worthy of a summary. In fact, I think I'll finish every month with a summary from this point forward.

ContentPalooza
Toward the end of October, I accepted a challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days throughout November. The challenge was inspired by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but designed for self-described writers instead of authors.
I thought it would be an excellent motivator for me. Unfortunately, unlike many others who accepted the challenge, I didn't have multiple writing projects to complete. Perhaps if I had planned some projects, I would have been more successful. I've decided to restart this challenge next month, prepared with more than just blogs to share, and I'll again challenge myself to write 50,000 words in 31 days. That extra day might be just what I need!
As this will be my last blog of November, my final ContentPalooza wordcount will be at the bottom of this blog.

You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother's Eyes
It's my personal opinion that biographers write not to teach, but, rather, to show. These books are bragging materials for most, and the only readers are fans.
I admit I was cautiously optimistic about Jermaine Jackson's book. As a member of the Jackson 5 and Michael's self-proclaimed closest brother, Jermaine caused me to question the validity of his story. He proved me wrong, though, showing both the good and bad of his brother and teaching me many lessons throughout.
Biographies and auto-biographies truly fit the clichè: a dime, a dozen. The library is full of stories about presidents, singers, actors, pioneers, and authors. But Michael Jackson wasn't just one of many successful singers. He really didn't follow anyone's example in paving his success. I wouldn't even describe him as a musical pioneer.
Instead, he earned the label, "King of Pop" because he was a perpetual learner of music, an individual who lived with audacity, a performer keenly aware of his audience, a seeker in the acquisition of excellence, and the definition of his passion. His fame made him rich, but it never stole his innocence despite attempts by greedy fans and crazed fans.
If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend purchasing Jermaine Jackson's bookor borrowing it from your local library. My blogs are only a small representation of what I learned from Michael, gleaned from the perspective of someone whose first glimpse was his music video, Thriller. For those of you who experienced Michael as part of the Jackson 5 or the Jacksons, you may walk away from this book with a different education than I.

Music
On a final note, as a music advocate, I want to share some music-related news I discovered this month:

• Songwriters, Composers, and Music Conference: I'm not exactly sure who made the introduction, but I've been following music manager and A&E consultant, Lisa Davis, and her association with SCMC Music for quite a while. Lisa often educates tweeters about the music industry, and her organization regularly hosts A&R conferences throughout the country. Registrants have the opportunity to perform in front of major label executives and meet with them one on one.
  I've been wanting to attend one of these conferences for awhile, but they've always been too far. Of course I'm neither songwriter, nor composer, nor musician; but I am a writer specializing in entertainment promotion. In February 2012, the SCMC will be coming to Tacoma. I would love to attend as a sponsor, but I'll save that for the future. Instead, I am promoting the event to every local musician and promoter I know. And, I'll be attending under general admission so I can appreciate the panelists and the live musical performances.
  I will always be an advocate for good music, and I will support artists whether they choose major label or an independent one. In fact, I encourage both types of artists to attend this conference as it could be potentially one of the best opportunities for music education.
• Greg Double and Blue Nose Music Entertainment: I have been following Greg Double since I heard his songs, Faded Like Blue Jeans and All I Need. I saw him perform live at the release of the first Unofficial Puget Sound Mixtape, and I was hooked.
  He has worked with many local Puget Sound artists and his entertainment group, including Greg, Castroni, Mike G, Thunderchief, Mr Tactical, and DJ Skrewball, is touring throughout the northwest. Their next show is December 7th at the Nectar Lounge in Seattle. After their Seattle show, the group travels to Longview, WA to perform at Las Racas on December 14th.
  You can check out their music, including the newest song, "Real as It Gets" on Blue Nose Music Entertainment's Reverbnation site. For all the latest updates on Greg Double and his Blue Nose Music Entertainment, follow Greg on twitter.
• SicIll (Sick-Ill): SicIll and his group, Darxxide, were my first introduction to hip hop music in the Puget Sound. They opened the door for me to network with many Puget Sound hip hop artists, including interviewing artists produced on the first Unofficial Puget Sound Mixtape.
  A year ago, I profiled SicIll as artist, producer, and director. This month he announced his newest album, "Pandemic". It is a follow-up to his first album, "Epidemic".
  SicIll is also taking charge of the third production of Puget Sound Mixtape. To be included on the album, local hip hop artists need to email a quality copy of their mp3 by December 31 to therealsicill at gmail dot com.
  You can follow all the updates on SicIll by liking his Facebook page or following him on twitter.
• Upcoming Releases: I'll be updating my blog in the coming months with the album releases from Puget Sound's J-Pros and Brooklyn's L*A*W.

I know there is other music news, but these have been the items that have stood out to me.

I hope all of my readers have enjoyed November and for my American readers, I hope you got enough to eat on Thanksgiving. It was a busy month for me, even if I didn't get as much writing done as I had wanted.

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As I continue to read Jermaine Jackson's story, the one descriptor that continues to reverberate to me is passion.

• Michael, at age 5, was passionate to prove he belonged with his brothers' singing group.
• Michael was passionate to go beyond his father's lessons and learn from the greats such as Jackie Wilson and Smokey Robinson.
• Michael was passionate when he started writing songs, understanding theory, composition, and emotional affect.
• Michael was passionate about selling albums.
• Michael was passionate about placing music above any romantic relationships
• Michael was passionate about being perfect as songwriter, producer, singer, and dancer.
• Michael was passionate about achieving seemingly impossible dreams

Jermaine writes of Michael, "... when he surrendered to inspiration, everything fell into place. For him, music was an endless source of material from within; a constant stream that he just had to step into and take from".

Labels
How often are we told we are not our job description, our illness, or our societal roles. We are not what we can do or what we can't. These labels are simply parts of the whole.
It would seem that Michael did not subscribe to this politically correct protocol. He was his passion: a consummate performer. His passion demanded he be a perpetual learner, a disciplined dancer, and an audacious individual.
Others may have viewed him as awkward, shy, strange, lavish, eclectic, extravagant, or even weird; but everyone knew Michael Jackson was the definition of a performer.

Define Your Passion
There is certainly nothing wrong with being multi-faceted. As I mentioned above, we each have our profession and societal role; but should we be satisfied with being "someone who ..."? If Michael had merely been someone who sings or someone who dances; had he merely been someone who writes songs or someone who produces music -- Michael would have never been labeled the "King of Pop". He embraced his so-called label and reinforced it until the day he died.
I'm often reminded of those who knew who they wanted to be when they were grown. Some maintain their passion from an early age, but most do not. I changed my mind constantly, and I realize now that those changes came from fear of failure. I couldn't assert my passion because I was afraid it was the wrong choice, or I was afraid I would not be successful.
Barbara Bailey Kelley and Shannon Kelley, authors of Undecided, remind us while we have the freedom or opportunity to do or be anything, we will be unsatisfied if we dwell on "anything" instead of "do or be".

In conclusion, I don't think we should be content with avoiding labels, especially if those labels demonstrate our ability to exceed goals others have set for us or our ability to achieve successes no one else has achieved.
My challenge to you is to be passionate about your passion, and embrace the label you have rightly earned. Afterall, I do not want to be remembered as someone who writes; I want to be remembered as a writer.

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At age 14, according to his brother, Jermaine, Michael was caught between playing the same pranks of his youth and taking control over the creative performances of the Jackson 5. He was also learning about love from the romances of his brothers and decided the only one worthy of girlfriend status would be someone just as sweet and honest as Diana Ross.
In a way, Michael was gaining an appreciation of when it was okay to be obnoxious and when he needed to be serious. He was able to find a balance between the two, creating his audacious personality he carried until his death in 2009.

Audacity Defined
I love how my friend, Jennie explains audacity:

• groovy goal-setting, productivity + personal accountability, confidence + self-efficacy, and productive, proactive, adventurous dreaming.

Using this definition, I will show how Michael began to live with audacity, and my challenge to you is that you'll reflect on these examples and look for ways to live audaciously.

Groovy Goal-setting
If being a goal setter were not enough, audacity demands that the goals you set be groovy, exciting, and excellent.
The Jackson 5 signed their contract with Motown Records with the understanding that the songwriters, not the band, would create the songs. Initially, that was what the group needed: Michael was 8 years-old at the time, and his brothers weren't much older. At 14, however, he became inspired to make changes.
The Commodores were the opening act for the Jackson 5 in 1972. The group had yet to release their first hit, but The Commodores had more creative freedom. Michael observed saxophonist, Lionel Richie, create songs and the band making the song their own during the tour's off hours.
Jermaine explains, "When Michael ... witnessed the Commodores' songwriting autonomy, it strengthened his creative resolve". Michael would be a songwriter; he would be the one to say how he would arrange and perform songs; and he would receive recognition in the Guiness Book of World Records. These "groovy" goals would later culminate in his collaboration with Lionel Richie creating the grammy-award-winning "We Are the World" in 1986.
Michael knew what was expected of him as lead vocalist of the Jackson 5, but he was not satisfied with mere expectations. If he was to continue toward being a serious musician, he needed to focus on making creative freedom a reality.

Productivity + Personal Accountability
Don't just do it; make sure you do it. I've heard people talk about accountability buddies. We can always use someone to keep us in check. But, I have learned that a buddy comes secondary. In our lives, it's not enough for us to avoid bad choices; we need to ensure we're making right choices!
I'm reminded of a Who's the Boss episode where Angela and Tony are taught not to use negativity when raising a child. When they get home to find their child playing with a broom, Angela yells, "Don't do that!" Tony corrects her, saying, "Broom elsewhere!"
Michael took his first steps toward his goals by first insisting "his own take on a certain delivery" of "Lookin' Through the Windows" superceed that of Motown choreographers and studio producers. Jermaine describes another instance of Michael's taking control of his performance:

• For our 1974 single "Dancing Machine" ... he wanted to try something "different" and perfect a dance he'd seen in street theater: "The Robot". He used every spare minute to practice in front of the mirror at Hayvenhurst [the future Neverland Ranch] or in the studio, and probably before he went to bed. ... when he finally showed us the polished version, it was incredible.

Michael's teenage years show that productivity is not just action: it is motivation, improving upon what we already know of our talents and skills, and an upward progression toward achieving goals. Jermaine explains, "The Robot' was his first signature move long before the Moonwalk moment".

Confidence + Self-efficacy
Believe in yourself, and believe you can do it. You've set your goals, right? And, you're checking yourself to ensure you're aiming in the right direction? Congratulations! You've shown yourself that you have the follow-through and the ability to be successful.
Jermaine tells readers, "[Michael's] interpretation [of 'The Robot]' and ['Lookin' Through the Windows'] was kept on the final cut"; and "Kids all over Los Angeles were busting "Dancing Machine" put us back in the Top 10".
Proven success creates immediate confidence; it also convinces us that we have made the right decisions in the goals we have set for ourselves.

Productive, Proactive, Adventurous Dreaming
Finally, as the old Nike commercials used to say, "Just do it!" And, once you've done it, do something else. In other words, train yourself to be a doer.
Michael proves himself as a doer as a perpetual learner and as an active observer. It was in Jamaica that he decided he wanted to "make music that makes a difference". The results of that decision can be seen in his songs -

• "Black or White"
• "Cry"
• "Earth Song"
• "Gone Too Soon"
• "Heal the World"
• "The Lost Children"
• "Man in the Mirror"
• "There Must Be More to Life than This"
• "They Don't Really Care about Us"
• "We Are Here to Change the World"
• "We've Had Enough"

Michael received numerous awards for his music including 15 Grammys, 23 listings in the Guiness Book of World Records, and a lifetime achievement award, awarded posthumously and received by his children. There is no denying he lived his life audaciously and provides us an excellent example of achieving our dreams.

I am certainly no expert in living audaciously. Everything I've learned is through reading and participation in a twitterchat. If you'd like to learn more, I encourage you to check out my friend, Jennie's website. She is the queen of living with audacity and an incredible life coach!

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Whether you are a writer, a musician, or any other career-minded individual, it is important to approach and anticipate your audience appropriately. In last night's read of Jermaine Jackson's "You Are Not Alone", I saw this "know your audience" attitude exemplified by both Jermaine and Motown Records executive, Berry Gordy.

Approach your Audience Appropriately
Jermaine compares the recording equipment and recording studio sizes as part of his description of the Jackson 5's rise to fame. As someone with limited knowledge, I read through these sentences without much thought. But, then I realized, Jermaine would not have included this technical information without a purpose.
I realized, as I'm sure Jermaine and his editors did, that Michael Jackson's biography would be read by a wide and varied audience: certainly, there were the curious who never gave thought to Michael as a musician, but there were also Michael's million fans, some of whom I'm sure never knew the enormous legacy Michael would leave in the music recording industry. Finally, there would be the many involved in the music industry who read the book to find out how Michael became so successful. Jermaine was able to appropriately assess his reading audience and be a storyteller and a technical writer.
I liken it to The Ultimate Fighter reality show produced by the UFC. My husband loves the show because of the fights. He recognizes the moves in the octagon and tries to explain them to me. I don't like to watch fighting, but I'll watch the show with him because the producers show the fighters as they are outside of the octagon. Audience members see the fighters' families and understand the why of the fighters' passion. In other words, the UFC has approached its audience appropriately, making their show appeal to everyone.

Anticipating Your Audience Appropriately
It took some time for the Motown label to sign the Jackson 5, but once Mr Gordy added them as employees, he advised them of his plan for success:

• We ... understood the subtle lesson in keeping us hidden - the strategy of wait-and-reveal: release the music to get people talking ... but don't let them see you. Give 'em nothing. Leave 'em in suspense, like a movie. Get them curious and when they're hooked, get them over-excited. Then, when the mood is right, "reveal" the great spectacle, album, appearance or concert.

As predicted by Mr Gordy, the Jackson 5 released three No. 1 singles - "I Want You Back", "ABC", and "The Love You Save". Each sold over 2 million copies before the group had ever gone on tour.
In reading this business plan of Motown's Mr Gordy, I can't help but think about the concept behind The Voice: in a day where autotune can clean up the worst singer if the looks are right, how can anyone determine pure talent? Even YouTube videos can be edited. But like Mr Gordy, the producers discovered a way to find natural talent, understanding that skill and looks could come secondary.
A business plan is essential for any career-minded individual. You need to tackle your business, knowing how to best approach your customers. The approach is perhaps even more important than demonstrating your business is financially sound; therefore, do your research, find the most successful like-minded business and ask about its initial business plan. It is not enough to find someone who is no closer than you at reaching success; you must find someone who is already successful!

You may have already created your business and are slowly but surely making your way to the top, but I would encourage you to consider what would it mean to have three No. 1s before you made your first bid on a major project? How amazing would it be to confidently present yourself to an audience who sees you and understands you in their own unique way?

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Even before the Jackson 5 signed with a nationwide label, their father, Joseph found ways to introduce them to music greats, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, and Jackie Wilson. Jermaine describes Michael as "peppering them with questions", and writes,

• ... in the van going home afterward, [Michael] became the most vocal and animated out of all of us: "Did you hear when he said ..." or "Did you notice that ..." or "Did you see Jackie do that move ...". My brother was a master studier of people and never forgot a thing, filing it away in a mental folder he might well have called "Greatest Inspirations & Influences".

Michael, the Perpetual Learner
Even at the age of 7, Michael recognized the value of not only being a good student at school but also a good student at music.
Is it any surprise that Michael was the most successful, musically, of the Jackson 5? He had his natural pure voice that was made for music. He had the discipline taught to him by his father. He even had the stage experience, gained through performing throughout the country. But, he also had the humility to respect those who had already achieved fame, and Michael was willing to learn from them as well.
How often do we settle, satisfied with our own natural talent and basic schooling? How often do we think talent and basic education is sufficient for success? How often are we willing to be "the worst member in the band" so that we might learn from those greater than we? And, most importantly, how often are we able to set aside our pride and humble ourselves to seek out the experts and "pepper them with questions"?

My Lessons Learned
I'll admit it took me more than 30 years to learn what Michael had with 7. I thought chance meetings with those I admired or those who inspired me were for autographs and pictures. But, the truth is autographs are really only good for selling on eBay, and pictures are really only good for sharing with friends. If you walk away with these superficial memories, in my opinion, you have no right to claim these individuals as inspirations or admirations. Take the additional step to learn from these individuals who have already proven themselves successful in their field.

• The Appropriate Venue: Finding the right time and place to contact a potential "teacher" is perhaps the most important part of the learning process. Quiet observation can happen at any moment, but communication has to be planned.
  Understand that like you, others have work hours and off-work hours. Fame and or recognition does not change that fact. If you wish to be taken seriously by someone from whom you wish to learn, you must first respect his time.
  There are multiple "places" that could be considered the appropriate venue depending on the individual. I have had success through email, twitter, concerts, facebook, conferences, and phone interviews. Not all of these encounters were planned, and I wasn't always prepared but each was a learning experience!
  As a side note, neither twitter nor email are time specific, meaning questions asked through these means can be answered at the expert's convenience. If using twitter, first note how many individuals are following the account and how often the expert tweets before choosing twitter as the appropriate venue.
• The Appropriate Questions: An equally important part of being a good, respectful learner is the approach: you must know why the expert is an expert. It's not enough to know that the two of you share similar interests or work in the same field. Respecting your teacher means you know his niche or specialization; you know his previous work; you know his current work; and you know with whom he has worked.
  Of Michael, Jermaine writes, "He watched them onstage with the scrutiny of a young director, focusing on [songwriter] Smokey [Robinson]'s words, focusing on [performer] Jackie [Wilson]'s feet". Michael asked these musicians questions specific to their recognized skills, and we must do the same if we expect to have that "mental folder ... called 'Greatest Inspirations and Influences'".
• Opportunities for Networking: Finally, never miss an opportunity to network. This means you shouldn't treat these encounters as one-time experiences. It is okay and, in fact, important that you view these "meetings" as a jumping off point. Part of respecting the teacher is not using him as an encyclopedia. You can ask questions, yes, but also share what you are doing to improve your knowledge and add to the field of your passion.
  Most of these contacts will be excited that you view them as teachers and will want to know the why, what, when, and how of your passion. These individuals can refer you to their colleagues and open doors that would otherwise be closed.
  Still, as with any situation, you need to be aware: there will be those who have a superiority complex and are incredibly competitive. They don't want to teach, and they certainly don't want to know about you. But, then, if you've done your homework, you should already know that!

As children, we should expect those closest to us to not only recognize our natural talents and skills, but also to nurture them. As adults, it becomes our responsibility to seek out our own mentors and seize every opportunity to learn. So far, this has been the most important lesson I have learned from Michael Jackson's life.

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After reading this last section of Jermaine Jackson's book, I'm sitting here wondering how my life might be different if I had a family member who not only encouraged my passion but also pushed me to be better than the most talented.

How Michael Acquired Excellence in Music
Jermaine dispels the belief that his father was a strict uncaring music manager. Instead, readers see a man who saw natural talent and passion and cared about his sons enough to spend all his free time with them encouraging them to be excellent, not just great.
Jermaine explains that his father, Joseph, had experience as a musician, but never saw the success his sons would later find. Joseph initially created a trio of Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie. Michael at age 5, spent the rehearsals playing homemade drums. Once Michael wowed an audience of family members with his sweet pure voice, his father added him to the group. Marlon joined at his mother's insistence, and the quintet, under the tutelage of their father, became the Jackson 5. While Joseph was strict about regular rehearsals and perfecting each brother's performance, Jermaine insists this was not an uncaring man:

• When he witnessed our gradual improvement, this pleased him and in turn made us dig deeper. Impressing him and winning his respect mattered. Family members ... came over, and Joseph asked us to sing. He noted their enthusiastic reactions, but it was never good enough. "You can give more. We can be better." At least Joseph was kicking our butts with something we loved doing. At least he was spending time with us, unlike a lot of fathers in the neighborhood. We felt driven, not pushed, guided into where we wanted to go.

Joseph wanted the group to appear as natural performers, not trained ones. Michael worked hard to understand the emotion in music so that he could show feeling on stage without appearing fake. All the brothers studied James Brown and the Temptations. It was Joseph's intent that the group learn to "play the microphone", develop "showmanship", and "[understand] ... voice is the melody, and melody is everything".
The Jackson 5's first musical competition came shortly after Michael's 7th birthday; and along with 14-year-old Jackie, 12-year-old Tito, 11 year-old Jermaine, and 8 year-old Marlon, the group was honored as the 1966 Roosevelt High School Contest Champions.

Lessons Learned in Acquiring Excellence
I've loved writing from an early age. I received recognition, but no one really encouraged me to improve upon my writing. No one spent extra time with me to ensure my writing was better than the best. I'm sure I'm not the only one with these thoughts. When we're young, we need more than just recognition for our talents. We need more than just a classroom teacher who must focus on the entire class and not individuals who already show potential for greatness. And, when we're young, how are we to know to ask for mentoring. We probably think once our talent has been recognized, we probably are experts.
I'm thankful for many of the teachers I've had from elementary school through college, but it wasn't because of their teaching style: Rather, I was smart, and I was a quick learner. It wasn't until I took a creative writing course in college that my writing skills were relatively poor. The same was true of my Spanish. I excelled in my high school classes, but my first long-term trip to a Spanish-speaking country, I struggled to have even a small conversation.
Certainly, talent and passion are not enough to acquire excellence. I have since traveled extensively to Spanish-speaking countries, and those I've met have patiently helped me to improve my conversational skills. As to my writing, once I rediscovered the passion, I sought out mentors. Continued studies in post-graduate school, of course, also improved my writing skills. Still, I can't help but think of so many years wasted because there was no one who said, "that's good. Now, let's make you better".

I suppose in the end the best wisdom I can leave is to young parents. When you see passion and talent in your children, make sure you nurture it. They don't know that it can be improved upon, but you do! Don't wait too long!

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The idea of pursuing the American dream that brought so many immigrants from their home countries to Lady Liberty's shores has faded for the most part. This is not to say that the American dream no longer exists; rather the pursuit that made the dream so fulfilling is hard to find.
I think the change in "pursuit" came shortly after generation X came of age. Those younger than I are content to find their fame through posting YouTube videos or auditioning for reality shows. It is no longer about proving one's worth through education and experience, but rather who you know and who they know that brings you success. It almost seems that biographies and autobiographies will soon go out of style. Who wants to read about someone's million YouTube views while there are so many others who have honed their talent and studied the masters but still have not been discovered? Who wants to read about a girl whose mother, aunt, and grandma had already found fame in the same industry? Perhaps some do, but not I. I'd rather keep admiring those individuals who rose from poverty and truly "pursued" the American dream.

Michael Jackson's Childhood
Jermaine Jackson gives readers an intimate view of his siblings' childhood as they grew up in a two-bedroom house. He and his four brothers slept head to feet (think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) in a three-tiered bunk bed in one of the bedrooms. His three sisters and youngest brother shared the foldout couch in the living room. The kids were told they were not poor because they owned their home. And their parents encouraged them to dream. Jermaine writes of Michael as a child:

• He was crazy about Lionel toy trains - small but weighty model steam engines and locomotives, packaged in orange boxes. ... in his imagination, our shopping carts became two or three railroad cars, and 23rd Avenue was the straight section of the track. It was a train that went too fast to pick up other passengers, thundering along, as Michael provided the sound effects.

The siblings were each others' playmates who sped not only in abandoned shopping carts but also on the playground's merry-go-round. They didn't celebrate Christmas due to religious beliefs, but the children knew Christmas carols and hated that theirs was the only home on the block with no tree, lights or decorations.

Neverland Ranch
Is it any wonder, then, that Michael chose to relive the best of his childhood memories and those he craved but never had once he had the money to do so? Jermaine writes he was not surprised the first time he visited the completed Neverland Ranch.

• Neverland has always been portrayed as the outlandish creation of a "wild imagination" with the suggestion that a love of Disney was its sole inspiration. Elements of this may be correct, but the truth runs much deeper, and this was something I knew immediately when I saw with my own eyes what he had built .... Christmas lights trimming the sidewalk ... a huge steam train ... a miniature train ... and the merry-go-round ... spinning to music, a beautiful carousel of ornate horses.

Reading these first few chapters of Jermaine's book, I'm reminded again - it's not enough to know the American dream is attainable. You have to appreciate the attainment which is an upward climb and not a lateral move.

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I haven't read too many biographies in my life. I typically stick to crime drama fiction or non-fiction specific to psychology or education. Still I enjoyed Betty White's autobiography, Madonna's unauthorized biography (written by her brother), and Child Neurosurgeon, Ben Carson's autobiography.<

Michael Jackson
I have been a fan of Michael Jackson, the musician, since I was able to watch music videos on my bedroom television. Little did I know that Jackson was recognized as the king of pop - a talented songwriter and dancer.
I attended a concert shortly after Jackson's death, and the group had put together an incredibly touching tribute accompanied by "Man in the Mirror". Everyone in the audience knew the lyrics, and hearing their voices throughout the arena was amazing.
As I said I loved Jackson, the musician. Most fans want to know personal details about their favorite celebrity, either to see the advantages a celebrity has or to find flaws in the celebrity's life that make him average. I suppose I would be one of those fans, but in Jackson's case, I sought to better understand a man who had incomparable talents but seemingly immoral character. It never made sense that someone so famous would put himself in a position where his character is questioned.

Bias or Truth
Many musicians have bad habits - sexual promiscuity and drugs, the most common - but audiences are blind to such actions. Such immoral or illegal actions are considered "normal". Violate a vulnerable individual, and suddenly, fans, media, and the music industry take notice. Jackson was accused of child molestation and indecent conversations. At the same time, people questioned whether the man was racist with his paling skin. They also joked about how many nose jobs he had undergone. Of course, journalists had more than they needed to keep their careers going in the last three decades due to Jackson's life. Jermaine Jackson wrote a biography about his brother, intending to show the true man Michael was. I'm two chapters into the book, and I'm already wondering if the book will show more bias than truth. When Madonna's brother wrote her story, he told both the good and the bad. His book angered Madonna, but her brother's objectivity made what he wrote believable. I hope I can say the same of Michael's biography, but this was written by a man who viewed himself as very close to Michael and always believed Michael to be innocent. On the otherhand, Michael's sister, Latoya, never believed him innocent. This brings the question - who is the best biographer? I may need to read my next biography authored by someone unrelated to the individual described.

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This blog is part 7 of my series exploring Daniel Levitin's "The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature". I would highly recommend you start at the beginning of 7-part blog series of Levitin's book to fully appreciate his writing. I would also highly recommend following Daniel Levitin to continue learning from this musician and neuroscientist.
For those new to my blog, I use book chapters from each book I read as my blog prompts!

Chapter Seven: Love or "Bring 'Em All In"
I am unfamiliar with this Waterboys' song Levitin chose for this chapter, but it is obvious by his description this is one of his favorites:

• [it] is to my ears among the most perfect love songs ever written. It is the yearning of one human to feel at one with the world, to embrace all that is contained in it. It is a love song to all of us, to the good and the bad, to the great and the small.

Levitin does three things with his final chapter. He, of course, talks about love's lessons, but he also talks about the connection of the love song with brain and social structures. Finally, he provides the perfect close to the book with a quick review of all the "six songs".

What is Love?
Levitin tells his readers, love song lyrics tell us love is good, and love is bad; love is a drug, and love is death to loneliness. Is it any surprise that lyrics of love top the pop music charts? Romantic love is the first most common theme, followed closely by the end of love.
Is it too abstract to say love can be good or bad? Before I wrote this blog I decided to create a "love" playlist from my existing music, and I listened to almost all of them before I finished:

• Found myself today singing out loud your name. You said I'm crazy. If I am, I'm crazy for you. Sometimes sitting in the dark, wishing you were here turns me crazy, but it's you who makes me lose my head. (performed by Adele)
• She's left me no chance at redemption, no further exemption - Just a big red "Goodbye" in lipstick on the wall. Goodbye says it all. (performed by Blackhawk)
• Baby I believe in you and everything you do. Every time we kiss, it always feel like this. (performed by New Kids on the Block)
• Here's an open invitation to a perfect place. If you need some time to think, shelter from the rain, I've got just the spot for you. Welcome to my heart! I promise to take care of you. (performed by Bell Biv Devoe)
• Your body is my favorite magazine, and your face is my favorite book. It ain't the way that you rock your hair. It ain't the stylish clothes you wear. It ain't the clearness of your tone when you're talking on the phone. It ain't the way you say my name or how you look in your lingerie because if I took it all away, it still would be the same because you're so naturally sexy. (performed by L*A*W
• Guess what, I'm having more fun, and now that we're done, I'm gonna show you tonight, I'm alright. I'm just fine. And you're a tool so, so what! I am a rockstar. I got my rock moves, and I don't want you tonight. (performed by P!nk)
• I can't stop thinking about you, girl. I'll keep hoping that you'll hear these words. I can't stop thinking. You're in my mind; a picture of your face is left to remind. (performed by Danny Wood)
• And that makes two of us. We are birds of feather. True love brings together a precious few of us. (performed by Raffanelli & Selby)
• I just want to lay next to you for awhile. You look so beautiful tonight. Your eyes are so lovely. Your mouth is so sweet. (performed by Michael Jackson)
• There she goes, so beautiful, so fine from head to her toes. When she talks, it's just like when wind blows. When she smiles, the whole world knows, and I just wanna be in her world. (performed by Greg Double)
• If love is so damn hard, then tell me why we stay and give ourselves as fools not knowing what's at stake? We offer up some empty words like we know what it takes. (performed by Joey Mcintyre)

The songs' similarities with metaphors and similes show that it's not too abstract to call love good or bad. Levitin describes love songs as having a lot of sappy lyrics, but beautiful harmonies. Perhaps this is the reason why love songs become so memorable and sentimental: of all the "types" of music that exemplify human nature, love songs are the only ones that couples choose as their song.
Immediately upon reading about love being an addictive drug, I thought of "Poison", "Bad Medicine", and "I Need You".

Love Songs' Place in Society and the Brain
Love songs are important not only because they articulate feelings and teach us life lessons, but also because they are necessary for social structure. Levitin explains,

• .. monogamy ... requires that we establish bonds and feelings of intense attachment; love and its neurological correlates can be seen as the evolutionary adaptation that makes these long-term bonds possible. Once the adult male-female love mechanism is in place, it can be easily adapted for parent-child love.

Why is music so representative of our human nature? Levitin explains whether it be knowledge, joy, comfort, friendship, religion, or love - it is the pre-frontal cortex that controls our understanding and perhaps appreciation of music. With this structure being one of the largest in the brain, it also affects our ability to be social.

You've heard of books being called timeless, right? I think this book would fit into that category. Each chapter provides an opportunity for further research, provides a guideline for instruction, and could be used as an opening for discussion. Levitin chose his songs, in my opinion, that were his favorites; but the song titles could be changed (respective of the aspect of human nature) depending on the audience, without changing the message of each chapter.
For me, I intend to take a closer look at Levitin's chapter on knowledge as an inspiration for my new dissertation topic.