Primacy of the Ear
Ran new book, The Primacy of the Ear, has been selling well on lulu.com.
The book outlines Ran’s philosophy on development of the ear and explains how musical memory is the key to becoming a more potent musician and shaping a personal musical style.
Several readers have posted reviews on lulu. Here are a few excerpts:
From marcehannaford: “A fantastic book for anyone who wants a clear methodology for developing their aural skills and a personal sound. This is clearly written, without heavy jargon, with plenty of suggested examples and further reading that does not discriminate against any genre. As a university lecturer I plan to incorporate many of the ideas into my course.”
From Jonathan Dimond: “One of the most remarkable accomplishments of this book is the manner in which Blake and (co-author) Jason Rogers have been able to encapsulate the essence of such an experiential method in printed word. I anticipate using this book for reference, teaching and practice well into in the future. This book was long-awaited by me and many others who knew it was in the pipeline, and was worth the wait!”
From gahughes: “I read through this book in one evening — but its content, utterly relevant to the modern day improviser/composer, can inform and inspire the music making of anyone who reads it for a very long time after… It’s one of the most clearly thought out aural texts for any music student, delivered plainly and intelligently … As a teacher and player I recommend this book to musicians who are really serious about developing their ear, but also anyone who has an interest in musical sound in contemporary culture.”
The book costs $30, plus $4 shipping in the U.S. You can order a copy here.