Great piece. I'm a lifelong Gershwin fan, Beatles fan since 10 yrs in 1964, and reading Team of Rivals to improve my understanding of Lincoln's greatness. What a wonderful insight into Louis Armstrong. Thanks for pulling it all together!
"There is a widespread superstition, likely rooted in some toxic mixture of racist condescension and Rousseau’s idea of the “Noble Savage,” that black jazz musicians are unschooled primitives who make their music by instinct, without study or reflection."
I am 82 and have been taking lessons(for about 3 years now) on my 100+ year old baby grand piano. Learning how to play music I have listened to since I was in utero has broadened my ability to listen and think and play the music I love. I have even written a few songs with music and lyrics. I am not ready to go public yet if ever but if I do I will let you know.
Great essay. I discovered that having a degree in Computer Science is a rotten way to learn how to program. It's not how I learned -- and I was part of the team that created the ARPAnet while I was a kid. Here's how to learn.
Good essay, thank you. LOVE your second paragraph.
Yes, learn from people who are doing what you want to learn.
I had the incredible good fortune to be accepted into a new Department of Neuroscience in 1979, in Canada. The chairman was a dynamic Englishman named Jack Diamond, who had been asked to create a department of Physiology. He told them he would instead create a department of Neuroscience, because HIS training had been with 3 Nobel Prize Winners, Hodgkin, Huxley and Katz, who had worked out the mechanism of action of how a nerve transmits its message down the axon to its target cell.
I learned my science from him, including the truly gripping story of his mentors' achievements. He also gave me a deep and fanatical respect for the Scientific Method itself. THAT method, which is critical thinking writ large, has served me well in my career, and in my life. Even at 78 years of age, I still like nothing better than being in my own mind.
Great piece. I'm a lifelong Gershwin fan, Beatles fan since 10 yrs in 1964, and reading Team of Rivals to improve my understanding of Lincoln's greatness. What a wonderful insight into Louis Armstrong. Thanks for pulling it all together!
Lets forget for a moment we're talking THE BEATLES!!! What they were was a very good tight little Rock & Roll band.
So much could be written in response to this post, but I'll just say, 'beautiful'. Thanks Max.
Gershwin's piano style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX0_LLPBiI4&list=RDJX0_LLPBiI4&start_radio=1
Another goodie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOF9ZHO-j94
Thanks. and this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQdeTbUDCi
My computer said this is unavailable. Is it correct?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQdeTbUDCiw&t=19s
This will start it in the middle. Delete everything after the w.
"There is a widespread superstition, likely rooted in some toxic mixture of racist condescension and Rousseau’s idea of the “Noble Savage,” that black jazz musicians are unschooled primitives who make their music by instinct, without study or reflection."
These people are known as Idiots.
I read Max’s novel “Blessed With All This Life”. It was sublime, as is this essay.
One of the best and most creative pieces I have read in quite some while.
Really enjoyed reading this. Inspiring.
I am 82 and have been taking lessons(for about 3 years now) on my 100+ year old baby grand piano. Learning how to play music I have listened to since I was in utero has broadened my ability to listen and think and play the music I love. I have even written a few songs with music and lyrics. I am not ready to go public yet if ever but if I do I will let you know.
Stunning essay.
Great essay. I discovered that having a degree in Computer Science is a rotten way to learn how to program. It's not how I learned -- and I was part of the team that created the ARPAnet while I was a kid. Here's how to learn.
https://www.blackliszt.com/2025/01/how-to-learn-to-be-a-computer-programmer.html
And here's a comparison of doctor training (mostly apprentice) vs. software training.
https://www.blackliszt.com/2020/07/job-requirements-for-software-engineers-should-stop-requiring-cs.html
It's clear that there are far better ways to learn than college.
Hi David,
'
My path was on the job as well.
Good essay, thank you. LOVE your second paragraph.
Yes, learn from people who are doing what you want to learn.
I had the incredible good fortune to be accepted into a new Department of Neuroscience in 1979, in Canada. The chairman was a dynamic Englishman named Jack Diamond, who had been asked to create a department of Physiology. He told them he would instead create a department of Neuroscience, because HIS training had been with 3 Nobel Prize Winners, Hodgkin, Huxley and Katz, who had worked out the mechanism of action of how a nerve transmits its message down the axon to its target cell.
I learned my science from him, including the truly gripping story of his mentors' achievements. He also gave me a deep and fanatical respect for the Scientific Method itself. THAT method, which is critical thinking writ large, has served me well in my career, and in my life. Even at 78 years of age, I still like nothing better than being in my own mind.
Yes, learn from the best you can find.