on tape until they can reproduce the melody without the tape. It is essential, according to Blake, that a student do this before touching an instrument, as imitating the mechanics of a performance alone does not develop one's ear. In 2010, Ran Blake published a book with Jason Rogers entitled The Primacy of the Ear. In the 144-page work, Blake details his thinking about the artistic process and distills his approach both to teaching and playing. It explores the relationship between the ear and the mind, musical memory, ear training exercises, and an approach to developing one's personal style. Discography An asterisk (*) after the year indicates that it is the year of release. As leader/co-leader References External links – official site Ran Blake at NPR Music 'Ep. 87: Ran Blake, pianist/composer/educator' Interview by Tigran Arakelyan Third stream pianists Post-bop pianists American jazz pianists American male pianists Musicians from Springfield, Massachusetts Bard College alumni MacArthur Fellows 1935 births Living people New England Conservatory faculty Novus Records artists Milestone Records artists Avant-garde jazz pianists ESP-Disk artists 20th-century American pianists Jazz musicians from Massachusetts American male jazz musicians Ilk Records artists Improvising Artists Records artists Music & Arts artists Sunnyside Records artists Black Saint/Soul Note artists Impulse! Records artists 20th-century American male musicians NoBusiness Records artists