Miles Davis’ Milestones

One very interesting genre of music which is as popular before as it is today is Jazz. Jazz is often termed as the music of the soul, and it tends to manifest in words and melody the feelings of the heart. This music started as early as the 1800, with the birth of the blues by the African-American community. The blues, which are songs that are derived from hymns and work songs, became the foundation of jazz. The full-blown birth of jazz came about at around 1900 at New Orleans. Jazz in here is depicted as a blend of different types of music – opera, military bands, church music, ragtime, African drumming, and even some dance styles (Marsalis, 2008). Through the time, jazz has evolved in itself, giving birth to a number of sub-styles such as bebop, dixieland, swing, and modern jazz. This evolution also brought about a number of great composers, and hundreds of great songs. Miles Davis is one of these composers. He was a pioneer in cool jazz, a type of experimental jazz which involves voices unfamiliar to traditional jazz. One of his famous songs holds his name in it – Milestones. This track was recorded at around 1958, and is an advent on Miles’ take on working with modal jazz – another type of jazz (Biography, 2005). In this essay, I will try to expound more on this recording by discussing some important elements found in it, namely its melody, harmony, and rhythm and how they blend together to form a jazz sound. Read also about  Coleman Hawkins Melody is simply defined as a flow of notes, a flow of tones which sounds pleasing to the ear. In regular jazz music, there are usually two kinds of melody. One is melody being played at the start and end of pieces. These are usually notated, and strictly followed. The second one is the melody produced when a soloists improvises. Improvisation is very important in jazz, and the melody produced in here must be exciting at the same time pleasant to listen to. It should not be boring and must never outshine the other instruments too much. In the song Milestones, there is a distinct difference heard between these two melodies. Its first melody flows smoothly, creating a feeling of easiness, being subsided by notes. Then, the solo kicks in with a series notes alternating between fast and slow speeds. These contrasting melodic patterns give a great deal of interest for the listener. It creates a relaxed sensation at one moment then gives a slight tension at another. If melody is the horizontal aspect of music, harmony is its vertical counterpart. It comprises of notes being played together, such as triads, major chords, fourth and other intervals. In the song Milestones, harmony is best described as an accompanying effect to the soloist. Better known as â€Å"comping†, this provides a bed on which the soloist improvises on. The song’s harmony has a very strong and tight feeling. This is due to the modal take of the song, wherein the song uses a single scale. Thus, both the soloist’s melody and the harmony of the other players fit perfectly with each other. Also, the harmony is not only played as strict flow, but it is constantly modified. For example, it plays on counts 2 and 4 for some bar, and then suddenly shifts to 1 and 3. The harmony also plays syncopated notes, notes that are off beat the normal rhythm. This gives an additional excitement to the overall feeling of the song. But most importantly, it supports the soloists and never tries to overpower it. Milestones also portray another important element common to jazz takes – its swinging rhythm. This is usually attained by the rhythm section by playing triplets, or three notes at a count, and omitting the middle note. This rhythm gives a forward feeling and tends to move along that direction. It is very different from common contemporary songs, where the downbeat or the quarter note is very much accented. In Milestones, the downbeat is almost lost; in fact the first count of every bar is usually unaccented both by the rhythm section and the soloist. In a whole, the rhythm of the song produces a slightly danceable feeling, but in a cool and slow way. The song’s tempo is not that fast, but the swinging rhythm gives it a kind of push that tends to create a continuous flow of music. These elements give the song a traditionalistic view since it holds the very foundation of jazz music. The swinging rhythm, the accompanying harmony, and the soloist’s melody are the main components of a good jazz song. Miles Davis expanded more on this by creating a much more intricate solo filled with varying tempos and dynamics. The other band members were also able to add to the flavor of the song by playing their parts in a very interesting manner yet still being in perfect fit with each other. In a nutshell, Miles Davis was able to fuse traditional jazz elements with a great deal of experimentation, producing the masterpiece Milestones. References Marsalis, M. (2008) History of Jazz/Black History in America. Retrieved February 22, 2008 from http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm Miles Davis Biography (2007), retrieved February 22, 2008 from http://www.milesdavis.com/bio.asp

Compassion Fatigue Essay

The idea of caring for others is the motivating reason that draws most people into nursing. The concept of being a supportive part of a person’s health care needs is exactly the cause of compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue can hit the best of nurses. Nurses who are highly driven and detail oriented are at a higher risk for developing compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue was a term first applied in 1992; it is described as a syndrome that occurs in nurses when caring for a patient facing life-altering or life-threatening changes resulting from an illness. Compassion fatigue is prevalent among nurses today, due to increasing patient loads, as a result of nurse shortages and hospital cut backs. Compassion fatigue in nursing should not be ignored. There are classic warning signs that someone might be experiencing compassion fatigue. Recognizing the signs of compassion fatigue and following the necessary steps to prevent and treat it can provide one with the tools needed to make their nursing career rewarding. Warning signs of five concepts of compassion fatigue An essential first step in developing a prevention plan is to recognize the warning signs of compassion fatigue. Learning to become aware of the problem is the first step in prevention. Compassion fatigue cuts you off from the people that need you the most. Warning signs of compassion fatigue can include cognitive, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, and somatic symptoms (Portnoy, D. 2011). Cognitive Nature of the Problems and their Causes Cognitive behavior is the ability to judge and reason effectively and having a perception of your surroundings. Cognitive symptoms can include a decreased sense of personal satisfaction and personal accomplishments. A feeling of indifference or apathetic with ones patients is another sign. A  sense of disorientation with lowered levels of concentration can also be seen during this phase. Emotional Nature of the Problems and their Causes Our emotions are a valuable source upon which we can rely on. Our emotions help us make decisions, and communicate with our patients. When experiencing compassion fatigue our emotional health suffers. Emotional signs that one might be experiencing compassion fatigue could include powerlessness, anxiety, guilt, anger, numbness, fear, helplessness, sadness, depression, shock, blunted or enhanced affect (Portnoy, D., 2011). Behavioral Nature of the Problems and their Causes Behavior is simply the way we react to a given situation. In regards to nursing, behavior is the skills and ability to care for our patients. Behavioral symptoms of compassion fatigue usually manifest in behaviors that are out of the ordinary for the person. Some examples might include irritability, being withdrawn from family, friends and co-workers, moody, appetite changes, unable to get adequate sleep, and isolating one’s self (Portnoy, D., 2011). Spiritual Nature of the Problems and their Causes Spirituality can be described as a person’s way of being, thinking, choosing, and acting in the world in light of that person’s ultimate values(Barlow, 2006). Spiritual compassion fatigue can cause a person to question the meaning of life, or experience feelings of hopelessness. They might also question their relationship with God, or their religious belief system. Often times they will stop attending the church that they once faithfully attended. Somatic Nature of the Problems and their Causes The somatic system deals with our bodies. The somatic system is responsible for nearly all voluntary muscle movement as well as for processing sensory information. When compassion fatigue affects our somatic system we can experience physical symptoms such as, sweating, rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulties, aches and pains. Frequent headaches and colds can also develop during this phase (Portnoy, D., 2011). Physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the caregiver Examining the progression of compassion fatigue and its symptoms, one thing is important to understand, compassion fatigue can have a major impact on a nurses professional career. It is easy to see that some of the symptoms can impair the ability of the nurse to provide quality nursing care to their patients. The best defense against compassion fatigue is for healthcare workers to take a proactive approach to their physical, emotional, and spiritual care. Physical needs of Caregiver The first step in the providing for the needs of caregiver is for the caregiver to recognize the symptoms of compassion fatigue. Healthcare workers should develop an improved sense of self-care. Healthcare workers, nurses in general spend their professional life taking care of others. Nurses should take care of their selves first. They need to develop a healthier lifestyle, by getting regular sleep, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. Emotional needs of Caregiver Nurses who are young, idealistic, and highly motivated tend to suffer from compassion fatigue at a higher risk (Bush, N., 2009). Talking to friends, peers, and family to gain ideas on how to better balance your job responsibilities with your personal life is one area of focus for the healthcare worker. Learning to set boundaries in the early stages of your career can be a valuable tool. Recognizing your limitations is important; you cannot stop all the suffering and pain of all your patients. Learning that you can be there to help your patients without needing to fix everything can lessen the emotional toll that dealing with difficult situations presents. Spiritual needs of Caregiver Caregivers need to prepare their minds, bodies, souls, and spirits to become resilient in working with patient at intense levels (Bush, N., 2009). Caregivers need to develop skills of empathy when dealing with patients. A positive belief system and attitude can prevent feelings of hopelessness.  Caregivers should recharge their selves by making a list of enjoyable things that they find pleasure in. Remembering how inspired and motived they felt during those early days after graduation can help to refocus their thoughts in a more positive manner. Coping strategies and resources Applying a systemic approach to the prevention of compassion fatigue can provide the healthcare worker with valuable tools in the prevention of compassion fatigue. Awareness of what situations contribute to your stress level, what events cause an increase in your stress. Develop a health balance in your life. Provide yourself the opportunity to enjoy your favorite activities on regular bases. Learn to connect with friends, co-workers, and family to develop a positive support system in order to talk out your stress by sharing your thoughts and reactions to certain situations. Conclusion Realizing that you have control over how you manage your life. Being compassionate is not a character flaw; on the contrary, it is a great gift. The healthcare profession is a very demanding career. The ability to serve others is one of the highest callings that a person can have, but in order to do this effectively you must first take care of yourself. Understanding the key symptoms of compassion fatigue will allow for caregivers to put into place the necessary tools in order to prevent compassion fatigue. Engaging in self-care strategies will be beneficial for healthcare workers in order to handle to day to day stressors of their profession. References barlow828. (Nov 28, ’11). Spirituality in Nursing. Retrieved Sunday, Sep 01, 2013, from http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=646693 Bush, N. (2009). Compassion fatigue: are you at risk?. Oncology Nursing Forum, 36(1), 24-28. doi:10.1188/09.ONF.24-28 Gilmore, C. (2012). Compassion fatigue — what it is and how to avoid it. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 18(5), 32. Portnoy, D. (2011). Burnout and Compassion Fatigue: Watch for the Signs. Health Progress. Retrieved from http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/healthprogress.pdf

History - Imperialism on Trial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History - Imperialism on Trial - Essay Example They even introduce diseases foreign to the natives to cure of - and, of course, to profit from. Crosby wrote the second and third stanzas of the poem to show the introduction of the American economic and legal system in the Philippine culture aimed to exploit their talents and resources for America's gain. At that time, the establishment of factories and stores has taught Filipinos the inclusion of market economy system in their culture. Under this system, Americans involved in the conquest introduced the virtue of industry and hard work to take advantage of the Filipino's productivity and the value of legal and penal system to justify their greed and hunger for power. Perhaps the Americans had been deeply ashamed for their political and military might that they took advantage of other countries to salvage their dignity, according to Crosby. The severity of the political frauds that mess the United States are being reflected in the poem's third stanza. The American ship Maine has been toppled down by the Spaniards because of their defective vigilance.

International Management Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Management Master - Essay Example For companies who want to survive in the longer run and on a much wider scale, it has become a necessity to send assignments abroad. However, even if the practice of initiating expatriate programs is necessary, companies usually tend to think that it is a high cost investment as they are expected to bear the cost of the pay of the employees, their housing and the other facilities given to them and their family, like education, health, safety and the daily necessary expenses. The costs generally shoot up if the country they are being sent to have a high cost and low standard of living. Expatriate assignments may indeed be very expensive but some far sighted companies who have the longer run and the larger picture in mind are ready to afford the cost, as long as they believe that the return will be profitable and will help them expand. When it comes to calculating returns, not all companies can come to a satisfactory conclusion and experience qualms about entering into expatriate assignments. Some of the reasons for this are that costs cannot be traced back easily and the returns on the investment may take years to appear which may also not be very obvious at first. For exam For example, a company may be able to report costs such as the remuneration given to the employee but can not quantify the return such as the value of the experience gained by the international managers at work, or the global exposure that the company got because of the assignment. Due to the difficulties faced in these calculations, many companies think that expatriates are very expensive and leave it at that, without bothering themselves about the future benefits they may earn over a period of time. There a number of things the human resource professionals of the company need to consider before embarking upon an expatriate assignment. These assignments need to be dealt with prudently as they incur a lot of costs for the company and the return they are expected to get may not be what the company has in mind. Thus, these assignments should be programmed along the strategic goals of a business. To minimize costs and to maximize the return, the human resource department of the company needs to decide whether the employees going abroad have the required technical skills to handle the task. Moreover, the employees being set abroad should be assigned a work that is important and will be beneficial to the business and the costs incurred by the company should not just be for a pleasure trip of the employees. When expatriate assignments are undertaken, knowledge transfer between countries begins to grow. One of the most important benefits of having international assignments is the multi-cultural knowledge and experiences an expatriate gains and the ability to survive in a challenging and a strange environment certainly assists the company in the longer run. The expatriates then become invaluable for the company as their abilities meet the requirements of international standards and their knowledge and experience enables the company to grow and maintain a healthy environment for its other employees. The human resource function of the company

A business plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A business plan - Essay Example The Banking industry faces challenges concerning the financial systems in place. This is because the systems do not favor the small-scale entrepreneurs’ needs. This is manifest in the hard conditions set for the small-scale loan seekers. Finansol requires capital of US$25M to start operations (Austin, 2008, 34). The changes of regulations that govern the financial institutions will also enable the bank to obtain these funds through lease financing. The company has also access to funds through certificate of deposits and the issuing of bonds. Additionally, Finansol can seek funding through the exchange of loan portfolios for favourable percentage of stock. The start of the banking business will proof realistic because of the favorable business environment in the banking industry. The banks will offer favorable sources of lending facilities to the clients in a bid to boost business activities. The financial forecast of Finansol is realistic because the figure provided indicates the true position of the organization in the next five

Adam Smith and Political Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Adam Smith and Political Economy - Essay Example The quality of life and individual prosperity is determined by social and economic progress of individuals and the community at large (Bowie, Michaels and Solomon, 243). People should engage in activities that promotes fairness and unity in the society for common interest of the society. Therefore, individuals must show concern for others in the society, in order to achieve harmonious and significant living. The individual’s liberty in fulfilling social obligation is one of the driving forces of a nation development. People make their own choices without interference from others to maximize their personal gain. The choice to be made must satisfy a certain need in the society (Bowie, Michaels and Solomon, 264). Adam Smith perceived rivalry as an important element in an advancement of the nation. Exercising this personal liberty sets persons mind free to engage in activities which brings benefit to both individuals and to the community. This liberty has made people to choose the ir own activities to engage in. However, individual liberty should not obstruct the rights of other people in the society. No one is coerced to undertake any activity whatsoever. This is imperative for advancement of a nation because, people maximize their input in activities of their own choice (Bowie, Michaels and Solomon, 271). People have chance to select and competitively participate in economic activities of their own interest. If people work live without interfering with others affairs, this will promote peace and understanding in the society. Fairness should be the guiding principle in making decision to fulfill communal obligations. The communal regulations are set to guide individuals in choosing their own activities for economic progress (Bowie, Michaels and Solomon, 274). It is always essential to take into consideration the needs of the public before engaging in any activity. People should carry out those activities which will result to individuals benefit and serve the needs of the entire community. Therefore, it is fair to engage in activities of the society as an individual and try to avoid doing things which are likely to cause damage to other people. This means there is an extent to which a person can do things and going beyond the set principles will be unjust to the society. For example in business, traders should sell legal goods otherwise this will be unfair to the consumers. They should also sell those commodities at a fair price and avoid overexploiting the consumers. Fairness should guide them in deciding what to sell and the price at which they will sell those commodities to the public. Fairness will also ensure equality in the nation and people will have a sense of life. On the other hand, injustice limits achievement of individual goals and achievement of their obligations to the society. For example, if some students were allowed to cheat in an exam, this would be unfair to the society and negligence in fulfillment of their obligat ions (Bowie, Michaels and Solomon, 286). Therefore, fairness will determine the individuals’ performance towards their social obligations. Living a moral life is a triumph against evil. The author has emphasized on the importance of living a good life on earth. People should ensure uprightness in all their dealings

Business Data Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business Data Analysis - Essay Example The distribution of sales from each customer is analyzed to identify the most important customers. The call times for various calls are analyzed to identify the number of employees that need to be kept. Based on the analysis done, it is evident that company needs to analyze its performance with respect to quarter as well as profit center. The company needs to have 5 employees making sales calls. At the same time, the company was able to identify the most profitable customers on whom it needs to focus on. Introduction Laurel McRae has recently joined Handy Hydraulics for data analysis and strategic planning. In order to analyze the performance of the sales of the organization, Laurel collected the data for the sales for third and fourth quarter of 1990 and first and second quarter of 1991. She also collected the data regarding the machines and the days when they are working and various alternatives to replace the existing system. Number of calls received per hour was collected to anal yze the sales call being made and number of employees that shall be entrusted with the responsibility of handling calls. She also collected data regarding sales from each customer. This data enables Laurel find the company’s most profitable and least profitable customers. ... answers: Answer 1 a.) Histograms and relative frequency distributions of the company’s daily average order size for quarters 1 and 2 In the simplest of terms, histogram can be defined as a series of contiguous bars or rectangles representing frequency of the data in given intervals (Black, 2009). Histogram is a very useful tool to analyze the frequencies of different class interval. The daily average order size can be calculated as dividing the total sales by total orders. The table below shows the frequency table for the organization’s daily average order size for Q1 and Q2: Range Frequency Q1 Frequency Q2 220 0 0 Table 1: The frequency distribution table for daily average order size for Q1 and Q2 As can be seen from the table, majority of the frequency is concentrated towards the middle. The frequencies for Q1 as well as Q2 are 0 for all the intervals till the average order size of 59. While there is no daily average order size above 220 for Q1, there is no daily aver age order size above 200 for Q2. The best way to analyze this frequency distribution table is to analyze the histogram. The graph below shows the histogram for the company’s daily average order size for Q1 and Q2: Figure 1: Histogram of company’s daily average order size for Q1 and Q2 As can be seen from the graph, the frequency for both the seasons can be thought of following a normal curve. For Q2, the highest frequency is in the range of 100-119, while for Q1, the highest frequency is in the range of 120-139. b.) Quarterly charts for the company’s total number of orders per day The table below shows the frequency distribution for the total number of orders

Global Food Politics in Organic Food Industry Essay

Global Food Politics in Organic Food Industry - Essay Example This report stresses that nutritionists are placing an unprecedented amount of emphasize on organic products, which makes people feel compelled to read the list of ingredients before buying it. That's when the buyers will be pleasantly surprised to discover that they can actually understand the list. For instance, the ingredients of organic milk are simply: certified organic grade A milk, and Vitamin D3. This unique feature not only helps consumers to identify an organic product, but also provides a sense of security when people consume the product. When people pick up a conventional product, they glance at it to check for defects, and then toss it into the cart. It is unlikely that anyone is going to read the ingredient list closely. This paper makes a conclusion that even though organic foods differ from conventional foods in many aspects, study shows that there are no substantial differences between their taste and safety. Buying an organic product is more of an act of protecting the environment than promoting one's own health. If consumers' budget allows, they should buy more organic products, because it is a simple way of giving back to the Mother Nature, and help to preserve biological stability on earth. People are more willing to save in order to be able to afford products like these today. One for the quality and two for the environmental attributes which are given back to the earth. These are two of the main motivators for the organic food industry today and why it is gaining in such popularity as well.

Career Paper ( Preschool Teacher) Essay Example for Free

Career Paper ( Preschool Teacher) Essay History Preschool is something very important for toddlers. Preschools were established in Europe around the late 1800s. They were later introduced to the United States in the 1920s. According to the Encyclopedia of careers and vocational guidance 9th edition preschools expanded rapidly in the united states during the 1960s. Job Description Preschool teachers usually instruct children usually until they reach the age of five. They conduct activities designed to develop social, physical, and intellectual skills needed for primary school. During an interview I was told many things on the subject. You need a lot of patience said Esther Rodriguez a preschool teacher. There are many tasks needed to be done. While researching I came across plenty of information on the internet, Echoices says that some typical tasks are planning individual and group activities, and monitor activities to prevent accidents and conflicts between children. Nature of Work Preschool teachers play a very important role in the development of children. In the Encyclopedia of careers and vocational guidance 9th edition states that a preschool teachers primary responsibility in the social development and health of each child. Preschool teachers design activities that build on the childrens native abilities and help them develop skills and characteristics that will help them grow. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves and the world. Preschool teachers introduce children to math, language arts, science, and social studies. These subjects are taught using games, music, artwork, films, books, computers, and other tools to teach basic skills. The majority of children need adjusting when they first go to preschool it being their first time away from home and their parents. Because young children look up to adults and learn through examples, its important that the teachers are good role models. Education, training, qualifications, and work experience Licensing requirements for preschool teachers vary by state. Some states require a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and others require certification by a nationally recognized authority. The child development associate (CDA) credential which is the most common type of certification. It requires a mix of classroom training and experience working with children. This comes along with an independent of an individuals competence. The Encyclopedia of careers and vocational guidance 11th edition shares some requirements. In high school you should take child development, home economics, and other classes that involve you with child care. It also says youll also need a fundamental understanding of the general subjects youll be introducing to preschool students, so take English, science, and math. Dont forget art, music, and drama for creative skills. Florida Earnings 2003 Statewide average annual earnings $20,405 Statewide average hourly earnings $9. 81 Statewide entry level annual earnings $14,560 Statewide entry level hourly earnings $7. 00 Statewide experienced level annual earnings $22,090 Statewide experienced level hourly earnings $10. 62 Miami Earnings 2003 Average annual earnings $23,150 /hourly $11. 13 Entry level annual earnings $14,435 / hourly $6. 94 Experienced level annual earnings $27,414/ hourly $13. 18.

Broadening Your Prospective Essay Example for Free

Broadening Your Prospective Essay 1. Compute the activity-based overhead rate for each activity cost pool. Activity-based overhead is determined by dividing estimated overhead by the estimated cost drivers. Activity cost Pool Estimated Overhead /Cost drivers=ACB Overhead Rate Market analysis 1,050,00015,000$70 Product Design2,350,0002,500$940 Product development3,600,00090$40,000 Prototype testing1,400,000500$2,800 2. How much cost would be charged to an in-house manufacturing department that consumed 1,800 hours of market analysis time, was provided 280 designs relating to 10 products, and requested 92 engineering tests? The total charged to an in-house manufacturing department would be $1,046,800. This dollar amount is determined by multiplying the overhead rates of each activity to the amount consumed for that activity and added together for a total. (1,800*70= 126,000), (280*940=263,200) (10*40,000=400,000), (2,800*92=257,600) 3. How much cost would serve as the basis for pricing an RD bid with an outside company on a contract that would consume 800 hours of analysis time, require 178 designs relating to 3 products, and result in 70 engineering tests? $539,320 would serve as the basis for pricing an RD bid with an outside company because that dollar amount is the breakeven point. (800*70=56,000), (178*940=167,320), (3*40,000= 120,000), (70*2,800=196,000) 4. What is the benefit to Ideal Manufacturing of applying activity-based costing to its RD activity for both in-house and outside charging purposes? The benefit to Ideal Manufacturing of applying activity-based costing to its RD activity for both in-house and outside charging purposes is it will allow the company to gain control of the operating costs of the department. Activity-based costing allows a company to appropriately assign overhead head cost. For example, Ideal manufacturing activities fell into four pools and activity-based costing helped the company to properly allocate its overhead dollars. Under using or over using overhead dollars means the company has to supplement those funds from or to another activity which is a waste to the company. The basis of activity-based costing is to assign cost only to those activities of a product that is actually using the activity in essences cutting costs. This is not only a benefit to Ideal Manufacturing but to any company that is looking to become more efficient and effective.