Books with author J D Jacobson

Couples with great marriages know one simple truth: the best marriages are made up of many everyday decisions that say "I love you" rather than those that say "I love me." When we put the other person first, even in little ways, we find true fulfillment.This book offers husbands practical, hands-on advice to start applying immediately. Maybe you are just entering into marriage and want to start off on the right foot. Maybe you have made some mistakes along the way and are struggling to connect. Or maybe you want your marriage to go from good to great. Wherever you currently are in your relationship, let Matt Jacobson help you learn how to love your wife well.

Can Talent be Explained? The "Secret" Techniques of Great MusiciansIn this groundbreaking look into the world of "classical" music, David Jacobson interweaves his educative experiences at the Curtis Institute of Music with his quest to understand how performers such as Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, Vladimir Horowitz, and Glenn Gould achieved such unsurpassed levels of musical expression and technical skill. What were their "secret" techniques and musical insights? Can students learn the principles of musical expression the greatest players used?Jacobson has spent many years analyzing the approach of these and other master players uncovering their "secrets" (including how note grouping, "laws of phrasing" and alignment with the meta-pattern of music--MPM-- affect the technique and musical expression of playing) which he explains in clear, precise, non-technical language, supplemented by color diagrams, photographs and annotated musical examples. His conclusion: the methods, paradigmatic shifts and musical approach of these masters are essentially the same, yet, fundamentally different and often opposite to what is taught by contemporary music teachers and accepted methods--such as those of Ivan Galamian and the Suzuki method (which are both critically examined)--for string playing, orchestral instruments, piano and voice. Jacobson's dissatisfaction with contemporary pedagogical methods, which tend to be based on the personal beliefs of particular teachers, led him to search for a more rigorously researched pedagogical platform (by studying the methods of great masters) that could serve as a fundamental paradigmatic model for the teaching of all instruments and voice applicable to any genre of music. The rediscovery of these techniques and concepts will:Provide a paradigmatic pedagogical model for the teaching of all instruments and voiceMake playing easier and more expressive Improve the effectiveness of teaching; the principles of expert playing are clearDevelop talent naturally, without impedimentCreate many more outstanding performers and composersEnd the need for a conductor's presence in orchestral performanceChange our ideas about the nature of genius, talent and our own potential.In an unfinished treatise, the great cellist, Emanuel Feuermann, wrote: "It is surprising how few rules and principles there are and still more surprising how completely they change the entire style of playing…the really outstanding string players, whether Kreisler, Casals, or Heifetz, are similar to each other in the way they use their muscular systems and handle their instruments and bows. The main difference lies in their different personalities, talents and ideas, and only to a very small extent in their techniques..." Lost Secrets of Master Musicians argues that: Music has a meta-pattern (MPM).This pattern is discoverable. Great players' technique and musical expression emerge from this meta-pattern (the ones studied in the book). This may or may not have been a conscious alignment, but represents a gestalt shift in perception. The field, and educational organs of classical music, as a whole, derive their teaching of technique and musical expression from analysis of the printed music. Printed music is an abstraction of music. It's patterns are fundamentally opposite and incommensurable with the meta-pattern of music. Fundamental mental (conceptual)/physical settings determine potential, both individually and systemically. The great players studied in this book learned to play from printed music. Yet, the mental/physical settings of these master musicians (the ones studied in this book) were aligned to the meta-pattern of music. Physically, mentally and expressively they were in congruent relationship with their medium.

Closeted high school sophomore Charlie Creevey’s quiet life in the Sierra Nevada Foothills is shattered one day when a menacing stranger invades his home, forcing him to flee to the Pacific Northwest. Barely escaping with his life, Charlie is whisked away to Seattle to take refuge with an aunt and uncle he doesn’t know. There, he discovers he hails from a family of witches, and will soon be initiated into the craft and must face the reality that he is a gay witch.Just as he starts adjusting to a new school and a new life, an evil coven of witches, known for killing teens in and around the Pacific Northwest, attempts to kidnap Charlie. At the same time, he tries to deny his growing feelings for popular junior Diego Ramirez. Facing his first gay teen love, he learns the hard way that ignoring his heart endangers him and everyone he cares about. Will Charlie refuse to accept who he is, or will he acknowledge the truth in order to stay alive and protect the people he loves?If you enjoy young adult paranormal stories or LGBT paranormal romance novels, you will love this series!

NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER: Prior to July 2017 "The Boy Who Couldn't Fly Straight" and "The Boy Who Could Fly Home" were one book and has now been separated into these two books to make them more accessible. If you purchased "The Boy Who Couldn't Fly Straight" prior to July 2017 and are looking for the next book in this series then you'll want book 3, available early 2018.What if you were the only one between an evil witch and everything you love? Newly initiated into witchcraft, high school sophomore Charlie Creevey's abilities are out of control. He can see things happening in people's homes on the other side of town, and inanimate objects fly across the room and smash into walls.With the help of his aunt, he learns to control his new skills, and pours himself fully into the craft. However, his awakened abilities have been noticed by the murderous witch, Grace.At the same time, he and Diego Ramirez finally admit their feelings for each other, leading to Charlie's first relationship and the challenges of gay teen love. Tiptoeing out of the closet, Charlie wants to pull Diego closer to him, but keeps him at arm's length to safeguard the secret that he is a witch.Grace and her coven continue their kidnapping and killing sprees across the Pacific Northwest, terrorizing Charlie's witch community and drawing him deeper and deeper into the evil coven's plans.Constantly outwitting Charlie, Grace eventually lures him into the full horror of her schemes. Can gay teen witch Charlie survive and save his loved ones or will he be pulled over to the dark side and lose everything dear to him?

Narrated by Fear.When tragedy destroys Ricey Kennedy’s family, Fear is never far behind. Forced to leave everything she’s ever known and move to New York, Ricey thinks life can’t get any worse. But then she meets Katrina, the high school’s mean girl. Day after day Ricey suffers the humiliating onslaught from the smooth-tongued bully, and it doesn’t take long before her self esteem is crushed into nothingness. Struggling through life, romance is the last thing on Ricey’s mind when she meets the cute Tom Wilson. But Tom is determined to show Ricey that she could have a real chance at a new life and love, if only she can face her biggest fear of all . . .​

Closeted high school sophomore Charlie Creevey’s quiet life in the Sierra Nevada Foothills is shattered one day when a menacing stranger invades his home, forcing him to flee to the Pacific Northwest. Barely escaping with his life, Charlie is whisked away to Seattle to take refuge with an aunt and uncle he doesn’t know. There, he discovers he hails from a family of witches, and will soon be initiated into the craft and must face the reality that he is a gay witch. Just as he starts adjusting to a new school and a new life, an evil coven of witches, known for killing teens in and around the Pacific Northwest, attempts to kidnap Charlie. At the same time, he tries to deny his growing feelings for popular junior Diego Ramirez. Facing his first gay teen love, he learns the hard way that ignoring his heart endangers him and everyone he cares about. Will Charlie refuse to accept who he is, or will he acknowledge the truth in order to stay alive and protect the people he loves? If you enjoy young adult paranormal stories or LGBT paranormal romance novels, you will love this series!

Can Talent be Explained? In this groundbreaking look into the world of "classical" music, David Jacobson interweaves his educative experiences at the Curtis Institute of Music with his quest to understand how performers such as Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Horowitz, and Glenn Gould achieved such unsurpassed levels of musical expression and technical skill. What were their "secret" techniques and musical insights? Can students learn the principles of musical expression the greatest players used?Jacobson, founder and director of the San Francisco Institute of Music, has spent many years analyzing the approach of these and other master players uncovering their "secrets" which he reveals in clear, precise, non-technical language, supplemented by diagrams, photographs and annotated musical examples. His conclusion: the methods, paradigmatic shifts and musical approach of these masters are fundamentally the same, yet diametrically opposed to what is taught by contemporary music teaching systems (such as those of Ivan Galamian and Shinichi Suzuki, which are both critically examined) for string playing, orchestral instruments, piano and voice. (YouTube videos can now be played at 1/4 and 1/2 speed at pitch.) Jacobson's dissatisfaction with contemporary pedagogical methods, which tend to be based on the personal beliefs of particular teachers, led him to search for a more rigorously researched pedagogical platform (by studying the methods of great masters) that could serve as a fundamental paradigmatic model for the teaching of all instruments and voice. His exploration of the "secret" techniques and musical insights of great performers aims to revitalize the art of classical music in general. The rediscovery of these techniques and concepts will:Provide a paradigmatic pedagogical model for the teaching of all instruments and voiceMake playing easier and more expressive Improve the effectiveness of teaching; the principles of expert playing are clearDevelop talent naturally, without impedimentCreate many more outstanding performers and composersEnd the need for a conductor's presence in orchestral performanceChange our ideas about the nature of genius, talent and our own potential

Wisconsin entrepreneur Ole Evinrude will inspire children in this addition to the Badger Biographies series for young readers, where the story of Ole's invention, from drawing board to factory floor, is told in a reader-friendly format that includes historic images, a glossary of terms, and sidebars explaining how an outboard motor works.Ole Evinrude was born in Norway in 1877 and immigrated to the United States when he was five years old. The Evinrude family settled in Wisconsin and began farming, but it was clear from a very young age that Ole would not follow the family tradition. Ole Evinrude was meant to work with boats.Building an outboard motor was not easy, though - Ole suffered numerous mechanical and financial setbacks along the way. After years of hard work and persistence, the Evinrude motor company was founded and Ole's outboard motors were an instant hit around the world. Ole continued to improve the design of his motor and attracted other entrepreneurs to the area, making Wisconsin the center of the outboard motor industry for decades.

"Will you play with me?" Kara asks everyone, but they're all too busy. But when the little girl finds a big red blanket and starts to play all by herself, her entire family wants to join the fun. Soon, they're all letting their imaginations run free, as the blanket turns into a galloping horse and a slithering snake. Kids won't just want to read this; they'll want to play along, too.

Newly initiated into witchcraft, high school sophomore Charlie Creevey’s abilities are out of control! He can see things happening in people’s homes on the other side of town, and inanimate objects ¬ fly across the room and smash into walls. With the help of his aunt, he learns to control his new skills, and pours himself fully into the craft. However, his awakened abilities have been noticed by the murderous and evil witch, Grace. At the same time, he and Diego Ramirez finally admit their feelings for each other, leading to Charlie’s first relationship and the challenges of gay teen love. Tiptoeing out of the closet, Charlie wants to pull Diego closer to him, but keeps him at arm’s length to safeguard the secret that he is a witch. Grace and her coven continue their kidnapping and killing sprees across the Pacific Northwest, terrorizing Charlie’s witch community and drawing him deeper and deeper into the evil coven’s plans. Constantly outwitting Charlie, Grace eventually lures him into the full horror of her schemes. Can gay teen witch Charlie survive and save his loved ones or will he be pulled over to the dark side and lose everything dear to him? NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER: Prior to July 2017 "The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly Straight" and "The Boy Who Could Fly Home" were one book and has now been separated into these two books to make them more accessible. If you purchased "The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly Straight" prior to July 2017 and are looking for the next book in this series then you’ll want book 3, available early 2018.

This addition to the Badger Biographies series for young readers tells the story of Les Paul, the legendary “Wizard of Waukesha,” who pioneered the solid body electric guitar, multi-track recording, and many other musical inventions. Fascinated since boyhood with musical technology, the young Les moved from experimenting with his mother’s player piano and phonograph to developing his own amplifier and tinkering with crystal radios.After leaving his hometown of Waukesha at age 17 to pursue a musical career—a decision his mother supported—the budding jazz guitarist lived in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, in each city finding a new audience and new musical partnerships. A regular on the radio, Les became a fixture in early television, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and later, a show of his own with partner Mary Ford. Along the way, he overcame numerous physical challenges, including recovery from electric shock and rehabilitation after a horrific car accident—both of which threatened his musical career. And yet, Les Paul pushed musical technology forward more than any other musician of the twentieth century. This Grammy Hall of Fame inductee died in 2009, making Les Paul: Guitar Wizard a timely addition to the series. This lively story is rounded out with sidebars on radio call letters and how an electric guitar works, a full discography, and over 60 historic photographs.