What Founding a Music Education Platform Taught Me About Personalizing All Fields of Education

From Music Lessons to Universal Learning: A Founder's Journey Through the True Cost of Educational Equity

The Problem I Didn't Know I Was Solving

When I founded Practicing Musician in 2017, I thought I was solving a simple problem: making quality music instruction accessible and affordable.

I was wrong.

Or rather, I was solving that problem—but what I discovered along the way would fundamentally reshape my understanding of education itself, across every sector from kindergarten classrooms to corporate training rooms.

The breakthrough came during the most unlikely moment: a global pandemic that should have destroyed everything I'd built.

The Unexpected Gift of Crisis

On March 20, 2020, as COVID-19 shut down schools and music programs nationwide, a Facebook group called "Music Educators Creating Online Learning" was founded (now rebranded as Music Teachers Guild Forum). Notice the operant word “creating” in the original group’s title. That’s because online music learning for school programs didn’t exist. Practicing Musician did, but we weren’t well known yet. 

I watched as this group grew to nearly 50,000 music educators in just a few short months. On July 19, 2020, I made a decision that seemed straightforward at the time: I would crowdsource additional educational content to help struggling music educators.

I posted on the group, and approximately 150 music educators—people scattered across different states, time zones, and teaching contexts—volunteered to help. They had never met each other, and most of them never communicated with each other. What happened next should have been chaos.

Instead, these 150 strangers, working in complete isolation, created 7,500 perfectly integrated educational video assets that worked together seamlessly as a unified curriculum.

Think about that for a moment.

150 people who had never spoken to each other produced thousands of educational pieces that fit together perfectly. No prior relationships, barely any communication... Yet the result was coherent, comprehensive, and pedagogically sound.

If 150 educators could achieve this, what could 1,000 do? What about 10,000? What about 100,000 creators, each bringing their unique cultural perspective, teaching style, and expertise—all working within a framework that ensures quality while enabling personalization at a scale previously unimaginable?

That question changed everything. It became the foundation for what I now call Community-Driven Cultural Adaptation—a model where communities of educators, not corporations or algorithms, ensure that learners worldwide can see themselves reflected in their education.

The Mathematics of Representation

Here's where my education in psychology intersected with my work in technology to reveal something profound about educational personalization.

We talk about "personalized learning" constantly in education technology. Adaptive algorithms. AI tutors. Customized pathways. But we're not actually personalizing what matters most: representation.

Let me show you what I mean with some math that kept me up at night.

The Language Calculation

Consider a platform like Khan Academy—I use them because their data is public and they represent the gold standard of free, accessible education. They've produced over 10,000 video lessons in English, averaging 6-9 minutes each. It's an extraordinary achievement that has helped millions of students.

Now, I need to be intellectually honest here: Khan Academy videos are primarily screencasts—screen recordings with voiceover narration, using digital pen tablets to write and draw on a virtual blackboard. This format is actually quite inexpensive to dub into different languages. You could theoretically record voice-over translations for all 7,100+ world languages at a fraction of the cost I'm about to calculate.

But here's the critical insight: Language dubbing solves linguistic accessibility, not representational equity. When you're listening to a dubbed screencast, you still don't see yourself in your teacher. You hear your language, but you don't experience someone who shares your cultural context, your life experience, your worldview explaining concepts in a way that resonates with how you understand the world.

Language is simply the most objective dimension for calculating what true representation actually costs. Let me show you the math—not because this is what Khan Academy should spend, but because it illustrates the scale of the challenge facing any educational platform that wants to deliver genuine personalization:

• 10,000 existing videos

• 7.5 minutes average length (midpoint of 6-9 minutes)

• 7,100+ world languages

• $1,500 per minute (industry standard for professional talking-head educational video production with visible educators)

The math:

• 10,000 videos × 7,100 languages = 71,000,000 total videos needed

• 71,000,000 videos × 7.5 minutes = 532,500,000 minutes of content

• 532,500,000 minutes × $1,500/minute = $798,750,000,000

Nearly $800 billion. That's what it would cost to reproduce that library in every language with visible professional educators from each linguistic community presenting the material—not automated translation, not subtitles, not dubbed screencasts, but actual teachers you can see, whose presence reflects your cultural identity, delivering instruction in ways that resonate with your community's learning traditions.

And that's just language. True representation extends far beyond linguistic translation.

Beyond Language: The True Dimensions of Personalization

Language is only one dimension of representation. A Hindi-speaking student in rural India learning Python doesn't just need Hindi—they need an instructor who understands their cultural context, their economic reality, their learning environment.

True personalization means accounting for:

• Ethnicity and cultural identity — seeing yourself reflected in your teacher

• Delivery style — academic, casual, humorous, serious, fast-paced, methodical

• Teaching approach — visual, auditory, kinesthetic, project-based, lecture-based

• Life experience — teachers who understand your context, challenges, and aspirations

• Learning pace and style — adaptive to individual cognitive preferences

Each of these dimensions multiplies the requirement. If we hyperconservatively estimate just 10 meaningful variations across these qualitative factors, then $800 billion becomes $8 trillion. With 50 variations—still far from true personalization—we're at $40 trillion for a single educational platform.

This is why educational technology has failed to deliver on its promise of personalization. The economics are impossible at traditional production costs.

The Accidental Discovery: Structure Enables, Culture Personalizes

During that pandemic crowdsourcing experiment, I stumbled onto something that would take me years to fully understand: while content needs to be personal and culturally relevant, the structure of great instruction is universal.

A well-designed music lesson and a well-designed corporate compliance training course share the same pedagogical architecture:

• Clear, measurable learning objectives

• Scaffolded activities that build understanding progressively

• Meaningful assessments that verify learning

• Engaging presentation that maintains attention

What if technology could automatically create this structure, transforming any content—textbooks, compliance documents, training manuals, video transcripts—into a comprehensive educational framework?

And then—here's where it gets revolutionary—what if thousands of different educators could teach within that framework, each bringing their unique perspective while maintaining quality and coherence?

Suddenly, the economics change completely.

From $1,500 Per Video to $0.50: The Cost Revolution

Through years of iteration and development, I discovered we could reduce video production costs from the industry standard of $1,500 per minute to approximately $5 per video using a manually-operated collaborative process.

That's a 300x cost reduction.

And we're targeting $0.50 per video through automation with our patent-pending Instructional Design Generator and patent-pending Educator Collaboration Process—a 3,000x reduction from industry standards.

This isn't about cutting corners or reducing quality. It's about fundamentally restructuring how educational content gets created, moving from centralized production to distributed collaboration.

Community-Driven Cultural Adaptation makes this possible—not by replacing human expertise with AI, but by using technology to coordinate thousands of educators who collectively provide the diversity learners actually need.

Testing Beyond Music: The Validation That Changed My Vision

As I developed these systems for music education, curiosity got the better of me. Would this framework apply to other subjects?

Our team started testing:

• History and religious studies: The pedagogical structure adapted successfully

• Corporate compliance and HR training: Complex regulatory content transformed seamlessly

• Science and mathematics curricula: STEM subjects validated perfectly

• Project management and technical skills: Professional development confirmed

• Web development and coding: Technical training proved viable

The conclusion became unavoidable: this pedagogical structure works across all educational domains.

The breakthrough I'd made in music education wasn't about music at all. It was about learning itself.

What K-12, Higher Education, Corporate Training, and Hobbyist Learning All Share

Through this journey, I've come to understand that educational personalization isn't sector-specific. The same principles apply whether you're teaching:

K-12 Students

Who need to see themselves reflected in their teachers, learn at their own pace, and experience instruction that respects their cultural context while meeting academic standards.

College and University Learners

Who require flexible, accessible instruction that accommodates work schedules, family obligations, and diverse learning preferences while maintaining academic rigor.

Corporate Employees

Who need training that respects their time, speaks to their cultural context, and delivers measurable outcomes without the one-size-fits-all approach that wastes billions annually in ineffective compliance training.

Adult Hobbyists and Lifelong Learners

Who want instruction that meets them where they are—in their language, at their pace, with teachers who understand their goals, constraints, and motivation for learning.

The Three Universal Truths I've Learned

Truth #1: Representation Matters More Than Technology

We've spent billions on adaptive algorithms and AI tutors, but what learners actually need is to see themselves in their teachers. A Black student learning calculus deserves to learn from Black mathematicians. A Spanish-speaking worker completing safety training deserves instruction from someone who understands not just the language, but the cultural context.

But here's the critical balance: while learners need cultural resonance, they also need exposure to diverse perspectives beyond their own experience. Education shouldn't create mirror echo chambers where students only encounter teachers who look, sound, and think exactly like they do. True personalization means matching learners with educators who reflect their identity and expanding their worldview through exposure to teachers from different backgrounds, teaching styles, and cultural contexts.

The goal isn't homogeneity—it's optionality. A student should be able to learn calculus from someone who shares their cultural background when that connection matters most, while also learning from educators whose different perspectives enrich understanding. The algorithm's job isn't to replace cultural resonance—it's to facilitate both connection and growth.

Truth #2: Structure Scales, Culture Personalizes

The pedagogical framework—the learning objectives, scaffolding, assessments, and sequencing—can be systematized. This is where technology creates value.

But the delivery, the examples, the cultural references, the teaching style—this is where humans create connection. Technology should handle structure so humans can focus on relationship.

Truth #3: Community Collaboration Beats Corporate Control

Those 150 educators working without coordination proved something profound: given the right framework, communities self-organize to create extraordinary value. Top-down control isn't necessary. In fact, it's often counterproductive.

The future of education isn't a single company deciding what "diversity" means. It's thousands of creators ensuring that learners worldwide can see themselves reflected in their education. This is Community-Driven Cultural Adaptation in action—where representation emerges organically from the community itself, not from corporate diversity initiatives.

What This Means for the Future of Education

The implications extend far beyond any single platform or company:

For Educational Technology

Stop building systems that replace teachers. Build systems that amplify teachers—that enable educators to reach learners they could never serve alone, while maintaining the human connection that makes learning transformative.

For Institutions

The schools, universities, and corporations that win the future will be those who embrace community-driven cultural adaptation rather than trying to impose standardized content on diverse populations.

For Policy Makers

True educational equity isn't about giving everyone the same resources. It's about ensuring everyone has access to instruction that speaks to their cultural context, learning style, and life experience. That requires rethinking how we fund and structure educational content creation.

For Learners

You deserve better than one-size-fits-all content that pretends cultural context doesn't matter. You deserve to learn from teachers who understand not just the subject matter, but understand you.

The Journey Continues

I started this journey wanting to make music lessons affordable. I discovered something far more important: a blueprint for making all education truly personalized, culturally relevant, and accessible at scale.

The technology exists. The economic model works. The community collaboration model has been proven.

What remains is the will to build systems that serve learners rather than platforms—that compensate creators fairly rather than exploiting them—that enable true representation rather than algorithmic approximation.

That's the future I'm building. Not because it's easy, but because after founding a music education platform and watching 150 strangers create something beautiful together, I've seen what's possible when we structure education around community rather than control.

The question isn't whether we can personalize education at scale. We can.

The question is whether we'll choose to build that future.

A Personal Reflection

When I was struggling with addiction fourteen years ago, music education saved my life. But it wasn't just the music—it was finding teachers who saw me, who understood my context, who met me where I was rather than where some curriculum said I should be.

Every student deserves that experience. Every adult learner. Every employee completing training. Every person pursuing knowledge.

Building the Future

We have the technology to make it happen. We have the economic model to sustain it. We have proof that Community-Driven Cultural Adaptation can achieve what corporate control never could.

A dedicated team is already building this future through ClimbHigh.AI—a creator-owned platform where educators retain 67% equity. This isn't altruism but proven competitive strategy: when Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018, they paid a 25-30x revenue multiple—nearly 5x higher than typical SaaS acquisitions—because developer loyalty created irreplaceable strategic value. Our creator ownership model delivers the same competitive moat, increasing investor ROI by attracting top-tier talent that competitors paying revenue share percentages cannot match. The technology is proven, the team is assembled, and early traction validates the model.

What we need now is capital partners with the vision to accelerate what we've already demonstrated works. If you're an investor who sees the $10 trillion global education market shifting toward ethical, creator-first platforms—and you want to be part of the solution rather than the problem—let's talk.

About This Journey: This article reflects insights from founding and scaling a music education platform that serves learners in 46 countries, producing over 7,500 educational resources through community collaboration, and discovering principles that apply across all educational sectors.

Keywords: personalized learning, educational technology, community-driven education, cultural representation in education, K-12 education innovation, corporate training solutions, adult learning, hobbyist education, educational equity, music education, scalable education, distributed content creation, EdTech innovation, lifelong learning, workforce development, technical training, educational personalization, creator economy in education

What's your experience with educational personalization? Have you encountered learning that truly reflected your cultural context and learning style? Share your thoughts in the comments.

High-Definition Words

For a list of words I deem important to define and examine at great length, visit my High-Definition Dictionary here.

Humans spend trillions of dollars annually upgrading to higher-definition audiovisual technologies such as TVs, stereos, cameras, smartphones, and computers. This enormous spending is because a higher definition visual or auditory representation provides more clarity to the person utilizing that technology than a lower definition version. In fact, most people would consider someone using a black-and-white TV or a Walkman to be absolutely crazy because the image or audio simply isn’t as clearly defined as newer technologies make possible.

This obsessive progression toward an increasingly higher definition in our technology presents a fascinating paradox in our modern world. While we constantly seek clearer, more precise ways to capture and reproduce our physical reality, we simultaneously face two opposing trends in how we define our world through language. On the one hand, our rich vocabulary offers us the tools for "high-definition thinking" – precise, nuanced ways to describe and understand our experiences. On the other hand, we're witnessing an unprecedented erosion of linguistic precision in our digital age. Let's explore these phenomena and their implications for how we understand our world.

The Power of High-Definition Language

When it comes to defining our beliefs, emotions, thoughts, and actions through language, we often settle for low-definition expressions. We use vague terms like "good," "nice," or "interesting" when our rich human experience offers us a much higher-resolution vocabulary. Just as a 4K television can render the subtle variations in a sunset's colors, precise language can capture the nuanced differences between "exhilarating," "gratifying," or "enchanting."

Consider how often we reduce complex emotional states to simple words like "happy" or "sad." This reduction is like watching a symphony orchestra perform on a smartphone with a tiny speaker – the full range and depth of the experience is compressed and diminished. When we say we're "happy," are we feeling contentment, joy, elation, or euphoria? Each of these words paints a distinct picture, offering others a clearer window into our actual experience.

The same principle applies to how we describe the world around us. A tree isn't just "big" – it might be towering, majestic, imposing, or statuesque. A meal isn't simply "good" – it could be savory, succulent, wholesome, or divine. By upgrading our linguistic resolution, we can communicate more effectively and enhance our perception and appreciation of life's subtleties.

The Sacred Power of Words

Throughout human history, every spiritual tradition has recognized the profound power of words to shape reality itself. In Christianity, the Gospel of John begins with the declaration, "In the beginning was the Word," – establishing language as the very foundation of creation. In Hindu tradition, the primordial yogi Adiyogi roared existence into being, while ancient Sanskrit mantras are believed to carry the vibrations that structure consciousness itself.

This understanding of words as vehicles of power isn't limited to any single tradition. In Jewish mysticism, the Hebrew alphabet is considered to contain the building blocks of creation, with each letter holding cosmic significance. Islamic tradition treats the words of the Quran as sacred sounds that can transform the heart of the listener. Native American traditions speak of songs and chants that can influence weather patterns and natural forces.

Even in magical traditions across cultures, we find the concept of casting "spells" – the deliberate use of words (which we must spell) to affect reality. The English word "grammar" shares its roots with "grimoire," a book of magical formulas. This is no coincidence: our ancestors understood that mastery of language was mastery of reality itself.

This universal recognition of words' power wasn't mere superstition. These traditions intuited what modern cognitive science is now discovering: that language shapes our perception, molds our thinking patterns, and quite literally constructs the reality we experience. When we lose precision in our words, we aren't just losing clarity of communication – we're losing our ability to perceive and interact with reality in its full resolution.

The Erosion of Definition in Modern Communication

Yet paradoxically, in this age of high-definition technology, we're witnessing an unprecedented erosion of linguistic precision. Social media's character limits and rapid-fire interactions have normalized abbreviations, incomplete thoughts, and deliberately vague language. "Idk" replaces thoughtful uncertainty, "lol" stands in for a spectrum of emotional responses, and the shrug emoji substitutes for nuanced ambivalence.

This linguistic downgrading extends beyond casual communication. Political discourse increasingly relies on deliberately ambiguous terms that can mean different things to different audiences. Corporate intention and communication hide behind buzzwords and passive voice, creating what George Orwell might have called "4K resolution meaninglessness." Even academic research and writing sometimes obscures rather than clarifies, using complexity to mask a lack of precise definition.

Perhaps most concerning is the growing tendency to treat definitions themselves as fluid and negotiable. Words that once had clear, agreed-upon meanings are increasingly treated as malleable, their definitions stretched or contracted to serve immediate argumentative needs. Too often, I hear people exclaim (often exasperatedly), “that’s not how I’m using the word,” or, “that’s not what I mean,” or, “you’re twisting my words.” When this happens in a conversation that I’m directly involved in and I recognize that they are incorrect rather than the other way around, I typically proceed to attempt to teach them the correct word to describe their experience. Often, rather than expand their consciousness, they insist I learn their incorrect definition. This isn't the natural evolution of language that has always occurred; it's a rapid deterioration of shared understanding, like watching a high-definition image slowly dissolve into pixels.

The Path Forward

Just as technology continues to evolve toward ever-higher definitions of sight and sound, our language too can evolve toward greater precision and clarity. The dictionary isn't just a collection of words; it's a toolkit for high-definition thinking and communication. Each synonym and nuanced definition offers us a pixel of meaning, contributing to a fuller, richer picture of human experience.

The irony shouldn't be lost on us: at the very moment when technology allows us to capture and display reality with unprecedented clarity, we're collectively choosing to make our primary tool for understanding that reality – language – increasingly fuzzy. We demand crystal-clear Netflix streams while accepting increasingly blurry definitions in our daily discourse.

In a world where we readily embrace technological upgrades, perhaps it's time we invested similar attention in upgrading our linguistic firmware. After all, language isn't just a means of communication – it's the technology through which we define, understand, and share our reality. Why settle for standard definition when we have the capacity for so much more?

For a list of words I deem important to define and examine at great length, visit my High-Definition Dictionary here.

Authority: A High-Definition Analysis

Author's Note: While I explore wisdom from various traditions in my writing, my foundation is Christian faith. I believe all truth is God's truth, and examining how different cultures have grasped aspects of divine wisdom can deepen our understanding. The Christian concept of dying to self and being born again in Christ is the lens through which I view these universal patterns.

Etymology and Evolution

Authority's etymological roots are the Latin "augere," which meant originator or creator until we adopted the common spelling of "author" in the 15th century and changed the colloquial definition to someone who writes, and the suffix "-ity", which means quality, state, or degree. In other words, an authority is someone who writes reality into existence for other people to follow. Rather than rewriting reality entirely, it is self-evident that most modern authorities build upon (generally called progressives) or uphold (generally called conservatives) the reality written into existence by past authorities, as the past authorities' time-tested writing holds truer than subsequent authors' attempts to rewrite reality from scratch.

The Dynamic Nature of Authority

The word has a deeper connotation, as an object's quality, state, or degree cannot be at rest. For example, the quality of your favorite cuisine will be different from one restaurant to another and change as the leftovers sit in your fridge; the state of an object may seem like it's at rest, but it's simply vibrating at varying rates that are often imperceptible to our normal range of human sense perception; and we easily and constantly perceive the degree of temperature change from warm to cold and back again.

The Driving Force of Objectives

An authority invariably operates with an objective, commonly referred to as an agenda, that shapes their insight and determines how their perception of reality evolves within their sphere of influence over time. This objective stems directly from the source of their authority. An easy-to-understand material example is that the source may come from self-interest or genuine concern for collective welfare. It is self-evident that an authority whose source stems from self-interest will interpret and articulate reality in ways that serve their personal agenda, while an authority whose source flows from selfless service will perceive and communicate reality in ways that benefit the greater good. As their influence grows or diminishes, these objectives often evolve, leading to shifts in how they interpret and present reality to maintain or expand their authority. This dynamic interplay between objective and influence creates a feedback loop that continuously shapes both the authority's perception and their impact on the systems they influence.

Hierarchical Systems and Influence

Multiple authorities with varying degrees of influence run every system. Authorities that increase their influence over other authorities climb their system's hierarchy. The quality, state, or degree of each authority's influence may appear to largely correlate with the author's ability to write, build upon, or uphold the reality underlying the population they serve.

The Inherent Nature of Opposition

It is crucial to understand that an authority will always have another authority opposing it. This opposition is not merely circumstantial but fundamental to the nature of authority itself. Because authority exists as a quality, state, or degree, it inherently contains within itself the seed of its opposite. Just as we cannot conceive of heat without cold, or light without darkness, we cannot fully comprehend any authority without understanding its opposition. This duality is not a flaw in the system but rather an essential feature that drives the dynamic nature of reality itself.

The Danger of Shared Incorrect Visions

It should be self-evident that many people can share an incorrect vision. The Bolshevik and Nazi authorities convinced many people to buy into their philosophy, killing tens of millions of people in the process. This stark historical reality demonstrates that the widespread acceptance of an authority's vision does not validate its truth or virtue. The number of followers an authority amasses may indicate their power to persuade, but not necessarily their alignment with truth or human welfare.

The Primacy of Individual Insight

It is of utmost importance to view authorities from the specific insight they possess, rather than accepting their entire worldview wholesale. More crucially, the highest form of authority lies within each individual, as only the individual can truly know themselves. This truth becomes self-evident when we observe how people who read religious or spiritual texts multiple times gain different insights with each reading. The text remains unchanged, but the individual's accumulated experience transforms their understanding. This phenomenon demonstrates that true authority emerges from the interaction between external wisdom and personal experience.

The Paradox of Authority

We must look deeper yet again and ask ourselves, have human authorities ever written reality into existence? Or does reality exist, and authorities are simply people whose:

• Experiences led to profound insight

• Motivation and determination led to developing the appropriate skillset to clearly and concisely articulate said insight

• Perseverance led to the adoption of their effort and hard work as the foundation for current and/or future generations

The Test of Time

The length of time an authority's insights sustain reality is a good indication of how close the author’s insight was to the truth. This is self-evident when we examine history's enduring authorities - their insights have withstood centuries or even millennia of scrutiny, debate, and attempted refutation. Those whose articulation of reality resonated with deeper truths tend to persist, while those who merely crafted compelling but superficial narratives often fade within a generation or less. It is not the eloquence of the authority's expression that determines this longevity, but rather the depth of their connection to fundamental truths. This temporal test serves as nature's own peer review system, filtering out temporary distortions of reality while preserving insights that align with deeper patterns of existence.

The Generational Evolution of Truth

While historical longevity indicates proximity to truth, we must acknowledge that the history of a modern authority's insights changes precisely because of the quality, state, or degree of truth within each generation. Each era's authorities in opposition reshape the interpretation and application of historical insights through the lens of their contemporary understanding. This perpetual reinterpretation is not a dilution of original truth, but rather a natural evolution of understanding as reality's quality, state, or degree shifts through time. Modern authorities must therefore be understood not merely as preservers of historical insight, but as translators who bridge timeless truths with present reality, their interpretations inevitably shaped by the opposing forces of their own time.

Implications for Understanding Authority

This analysis reveals several key insights:

1. Authority is inherently dynamic, never static

2. Every authority operates from an objective that shapes their perception

3. True authority emerges from insight and articulation about the nature of creation rather than mere creation

4. Every authority naturally generates its opposite

5. The widespread acceptance of an authority's vision does not guarantee its truth

6. The highest authority lies in individual self-knowledge

7. Understanding authority requires embracing both change and constancy

Conclusion

The paradox of authority mirrors the paradox of reality itself. While authorities may appear to write reality into existence, they are more accurately understood as individuals who have developed the capacity to perceive, understand, and articulate the complex interplay between change and permanence. This understanding demands that we approach authority with respect for its potential to illuminate truth, vigilance against its capacity to propagate destructive falsehoods, and recognition that the ultimate authority resides within our own evolving consciousness.

This blog is part of my High-Definition Dictionary, which you can access here. Learn why I believe High-Definition Words are important here.

Understanding: The Sacred Art and Science of Standing Under Truth

Author's Note: While I explore wisdom from various traditions in my writing, my foundation is Christian faith. I believe all truth is God's truth, and examining how different cultures have grasped aspects of divine wisdom can deepen our understanding. The Christian concept of dying to self and being born again in Christ is the lens through which I view these universal patterns.

Etymology and Evolution

Understanding's etymological roots reveal a profound truth hiding in plain sight: it combines "under" and "stand," literally meaning to stand under something. This isn't merely linguistic trivia – it's a key that unlocks the deeper meaning of the concept itself: understanding means an idea you actively stand under, an idea that becomes your master. The word has evolved from its Old English origins of "understandan" to encompass not just physical positioning but the entire process of comprehending and integrating truth.

The Dance of Integration

When we truly understand something, it permeates the entirety of our beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions. This permeation process creates movement between various states of consciousness, from surface-level recognition to deep integration. The spectrum ranges from intellectual comprehension to embodied wisdom, with each level representing a deeper degree of standing under truth. Understanding operates in opposition to both ignorance and rigid certainty, creating a dynamic tension that drives growth.

The Neural Symphony of Understanding

This process is fascinating from a cognitive psychology perspective, particularly when we examine the role of the amygdala, that tiny almond-shaped structure in our limbic system responsible for processing emotional responses. While the amygdala is traditionally associated with fight-or-flight responses to physical threats, its role in understanding goes much deeper. Studies show that the amygdala activates not just with physical threats, but with any perceived threat – including challenges to our understood ideas.

The Paradox of Identification

This neural architecture reveals why the highest forms of understanding require what spiritual traditions have long called the death of ego. When the amygdala activates in fight-or-flight mode, it triggers a cascade of physiological responses that literally impair our brain's ability to process new information. Blood flow diverts from our prefrontal cortex (responsible for higher reasoning) to prepare for survival responses. Our perception narrows, our ability to integrate complex information diminishes, and our capacity for nuanced understanding becomes severely limited.

This wisdom is embedded in spiritual and mythological traditions worldwide. Buddhists speak of "ripping suffering out by the roots" through the complete elimination of ego-based reactivity. Christians describe this same process as "crucifying the ego on the cross," sacrificing defensive self-preservation in favor of standing under ultimate truth. Hindu tradition provides particularly rich symbolism of this process: Lord Shiva wears a cobra around his neck – a profound symbol of having mastered the ego (represented by the snake) through raising his Kundalini energy, transforming a potential source of death into a crown of wisdom. This same tradition speaks of "dying before you die," recognizing that the death of ego precedes true understanding. Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs recognized this same principle, accepting their subordination to the Divine Feminine principle (represented by Isis and other goddesses) as necessary for true spiritual authority and understanding. Similarly, Sufi mystics describe "fana" or the annihilation of the false self that stands in the way of true understanding.

These traditions recognized what neuroscience now confirms: the defensive mechanisms of ego – centered in the amygdala's fear response – don't just make us emotionally reactive; they fundamentally impair our ability to understand truth. This explains why even highly intellectual people can become cognitively impaired when their deeply held beliefs are challenged. They’ve given up their intelligence of understanding, of the process of knowing mastery, for ephemeral knowledge. The amygdala's activation literally prevents the neural conditions necessary for integrating new understandings.

The Path of the Masters

The journey to deeper understanding requires a delicate balance. True understanding isn't about rigidly defending the ideas we stand under, but rather maintaining an openness to standing under new ideas when they better align with unity, truth, beauty, and goodness. Throughout history, those we call Masters achieved their wisdom precisely because they developed the capacity to stand under increasingly profound ideas, particularly those aligned with these transcendental values.

The Four Stages of Understanding

True understanding follows a precise sequence through four stages of human experience: belief, thought, emotion, and action. This order isn't arbitrary – it reflects the natural progression of how we integrate new truths into our being. The process begins with belief, the willingness to stand under a new idea and accept its possibility. This is precisely why faith-based religions place such heavy emphasis on belief – they recognize that without this foundational stage, no deeper understanding can take root. This initial openness creates the foundation for everything that follows.

From belief flows thought – the intellectual engagement with and analysis of the idea we're standing under. Only when we've thoroughly processed an understanding at the level of thought can it begin to penetrate our emotional landscape. This third stage, emotion, is where intellectual understanding transforms into felt wisdom. It's here that the amygdala either resists or embraces the new understanding, determining whether it will create lasting change.

The final stage, action, represents the full embodiment of understanding. When an idea has successfully moved through belief, thought, and emotion, it naturally expresses itself in our behavior without effort or force. This is why Masters emphasize the importance of patience in the process of understanding – attempting to act before an idea has been fully integrated at the levels of belief, thought, and emotion creates internal conflict rather than true change.

The Ascent to Peace

As we learn to stand under ideas that more closely align with fundamental truths, we naturally ascend to higher emotional states. This isn't mere coincidence – it's the direct result of reducing the cognitive dissonance between our understanding and reality itself. When we stand under ideas closer to truth, we expend less energy defending fragile beliefs and more energy experiencing the natural state of peace that emerges from alignment with reality. The process is self-reinforcing: as we experience these elevated states, our amygdala becomes less reactive, allowing us to more easily recognize and stand under even deeper truths.

The Masters throughout history discovered that emotional elevation isn't achieved through force or effort, but through the gentle practice of releasing false understandings and allowing truer ones to take their place. This creates an upward spiral: each more accurate understanding brings greater peace, and greater peace enables clearer understanding. The highest emotional states – love, joy, peace, and bliss – aren't states we need to create or achieve. Rather, they are the natural condition we experience when we've released enough false understandings to allow our consciousness to rest in truth.

Empathy: Understanding's Highest Expression

The highest form of understanding manifests as empathy – the ability to simultaneously stand under what you know to be true while acknowledging that others may not yet be ready to stand under the truth. This leads to grace, the letting go of forceful attempts to make others understand. Paradoxically, this release of force creates a positive feedback loop: when we stop defending our understandings and instead hold them with gentle awareness, our amygdala calms, allowing us to process information more clearly and understand even more deeply.

Living Understanding

Understanding manifests differently in various domains of life, but always follows the same fundamental pattern of standing under truth. In personal relationships, it expresses as the ability to hold space for others' experiences while remaining grounded in our own truth. In learning contexts, it shows up as the capacity to temporarily set aside our existing knowledge to fully receive new information. In teaching, it manifests as the wisdom to recognize where others are in their four-stage process and meet them there. In self-development, it appears as the continuous practice of examining our beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions for alignment with deeper truths.

Each of these contexts provides opportunities to practice the death of ego, to notice when our amygdala becomes activated, and to choose standing under truth rather than defending our existing understanding. This is how understanding moves from theory to embodied wisdom.

The Evolution of Understanding

As we progress along the path of understanding, we move through distinct stages of evolution. Initially, we stand under ideas unconsciously, absorbing them from our environment without examination. Then we begin to consciously choose which ideas to stand under, though we may still defend them rigidly. Eventually, we learn to hold our understandings more lightly, recognizing them as tools for navigation rather than absolute truths.

The highest evolution of understanding manifests when we can simultaneously stand under profound truth while maintaining the humility to know that even this understanding may be replaced by something truer. This is where personal liberation and collective evolution meet – in the space where we can hold both the absolute nature of truth and the relative nature of our current understanding of it.

The Journey Home

Understanding, in its essence, is the journey home to truth. Each time we choose to stand under a truer idea despite our ego's resistance, we take a step closer to our natural state of peace, joy, and clarity. The death of ego that spiritual traditions speak of isn't really a death at all, but rather a birth into a more expansive way of being.

The process never ends, but it does become easier. As we practice standing under truth in small matters, we develop the capacity to stand under larger truths. As we learn to notice and release our defensive reactions, our amygdala gradually relaxes its grip on our perception. As we move through the four stages of understanding with increasing awareness, the journey from belief to action becomes more fluid.

In the end, understanding reveals itself not just as a mental faculty, but as the very mechanism of consciousness evolution. It is through understanding that we transform ourselves, and it is through transformed individuals that we evolve collectively. The choice to stand under truth, again and again, is both the path and the destination – both the journey and the home we've been seeking all along.

This blog is part of my High-Definition Dictionary, which you can access here. Learn why I believe High-Definition Words are important here.

Jake’s High-Definition Dictionary

Learn why I deem High-Definition Words to be important here.

My High-Definition Dictionary includes an in-depth examination of carefully curated words that profoundly shape our understanding (or misunderstanding) of the world. Each entry will unpack the historical context, cultural implications, and subtle shadings of meaning that make these words particularly powerful tools for high-definition beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions. Consider this an ongoing project, a living document where I’ll regularly add new terms, examining each with the kind of precision we'd expect from our highest-resolution displays. My goal isn't just to define these words, but to restore them to their full conceptual richness, allowing us to communicate and think with greater clarity and depth.

Below are the carefully curated words. Click on a word to read my in-depth examination of their high-definitions. If the word is not a hyperlink, I am still working on its high-definition. Feel free to suggest new words in the comments. I will add the words I believe to be most important to this list and examine them as time permits. Also, please comment on each word’s page if you would like to suggest a revision or point out a mistake I’ve made in my interpretation.

A

Addiction

Archon

Authority

C

Christianity

Compassion

Confidence

Conscience

Consequence

D

Diagnosis

Disappoint

F

Formative

G

Gnosis

God

Government

H

Heaven

Hell

Hierarchy

I

Ignorance

K

Kabbalah

M

Magick

P

Persona

R

Reality

Recognize

Responsibility

S

Sin

Spiritual

U

Understanding

Universe

Y

Yoga

Jake Douglass Curriculum Vitae

Jake Douglass
Founder and CEO
Board Member
Ph.D. and Masters Lecturer

For my address and contact information, contact me here. 

EDUCATION 

• Financial Accounting Certificate

  • Harvard Business School Online - August 2024 

• Executive Development Program (Executive MBA) 

  • University of Washington Foster School of Business - May 2023 

• 200-hour Yoga Teaching Certification 

  • Yoga Alliance through Richmond Beach Yoga - August 2014

• Bachelor of Psychology 

  • Pitzer College; Claremont, California - May 2012 

WORK EXPERIENCE 

• Founding Member – Board of Directors 

  • Classical Transcription Project - July 2024-present

    • Facilitated incorporation 

    • Participate in strategic planning and fiscal oversight

    • Ensure CTP fulfills its mission and maintains financial stability 

    • Oversee development of programs and services 

    • Foster relationships with stakeholders in the classical music community 

    • Guide technological integration, including partnership with Practicing Musician 

    • Ensure compliance with non-profit legal and ethical standards 

• Founding Chairman of the Board 

  • Worshiping Musician - Jan 2023-present 

    • Facilitated incorporation 

    • Set the board's agenda in collaboration with the CEO and preside over board meetings 

    • Work with the CEO to develop and refine the company's strategic direction 

    • Ensure the company adheres to proper corporate governance practices 

    • Oversee the implementation of board decisions 

    • Act as a liaison between the board and major shareholders 

    • Represent the company in high-level meetings with partners, investors, or government officials 

    • Evaluate the CEO's performance 

    • Lead the process of hiring, compensating, and if necessary, replacing the CEO 

    • Ensure the integrity of financial reporting 

    • Review and approve annual budgets and major capital expenditures 

    • Oversee the company's risk management strategies 

    • Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations 

    • Promote ethical business practices 

    • Help shape and maintain the company's culture 

    • Regularly review the company's performance against its goals 

    • Ensure the board receives timely and accurate information 

• Founder and CEO 

• Practicing Musician - May 2017-present 

  • Designed, wrote, and produced multimedia curriculum for 20 instruments 

  • Personally beta-tested in five Seattle-area schools for an entire school year 

  • Designed and implemented business model 

  • Successfully bootstrapped the company to national adoption in just four years 

  • Hired and managed an internal team of 25 dedicated professionals and a network of over 145 contributors across various departments 

  • Designed and developed scalable technologies to support personalized learning, including a patent-pending solution that aims to revolutionize education across multiple disciplines 

  • Implemented actionable corporate strategies for global scaling, resulting in PM's reach growing to 56 countries 

  • Collaborated with industry-leading advisors to refine knowledge and skills in technology, instructional design, marketing, logistics, account management, product development, business development, professional development, and eCommerce 

  • Developed and expanded PM's offerings, including the world-class online platform for K-12 music programs and homeschoolers, mentorship programs, micro tutoring services, and an eCommerce store for instruments and accessories 

  • Spearheaded the Music Educator Online Learning Project, crowdsourcing resources for the benefit of all music educators, resulting in a growing library of over 3,500 video tutorials, 3,000 compositions, and 3,000 assignments and assessments 

  • Continuously worked towards the goal of creating truly equitable access to high quality music education, empowering every child to participate in a program that speaks to their unique, expressive needs and expands their aesthetic sensibilities 

• Columnist 

  • In Tune Partners - Sep 2021-May 2024 

    • Write the column "Your Passion, Their Success: Modern Teaching Best Practices from Practicing Musician" for the Teacher's Edition of In Tune Magazine 

    • Share expertise in modern teaching best practices, drawing from Practicing Musician's successful Music Educator Online Learning Project and extensive experience in music education technology 

    • Provide insights and strategies to help educators personalize learning experiences, leverage technology, and create equitable access to high-quality music education 

    • Collaborate with In Tune Partners to promote innovative solutions and resources that support music educators and students nationwide 

    • Contribute to the broader conversation surrounding the future of music education, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and technology integration in today's rapidly evolving landscape 

• Band Director 

  • Gateway Academy (Homeschool Co-op) - Sep 2021-May 2022 

    • Led and directed the beginning concert band program for homeschooled students, implementing Practicing Musician's comprehensive instrumental music education curriculum 

    • Provided foundational instruction across concert band instruments, including woodwinds, brass, and percussion

    • Developed and executed lesson plans following research-based teaching methodologies focused on building proper instrument technique, music theory, and ensemble skills 

    • Facilitated both individual student growth and ensemble development through structured practice techniques and performance preparation 

    • Created an engaging learning environment that fostered student musicianship while accommodating diverse skill levels and learning styles 

    • Collaborated with homeschool parents to support student practice and musical development between classes 

    • Implemented assessment strategies to track student progress and provide constructive feedback for continued growth 

    • Organized and conducted performances to showcase student achievement and ensemble progress 

• Private Instructor of Flute, Piano, Drumset and Percussion 

  • Self-employed - Jan 2013-July 2019 

    • Offered personalized private instruction to aspiring musicians of all skill levels and ages 8+ 

    • Utilized 25 years of experience to develop trust and foster student growth 

    • Developed customized lesson plans to cater to individual learning styles and goals 

    • Provided regular feedback and progress reports to students and parents 

    • Maintained a professional studio environment conducive to learning and creativity 

    • Stayed current with industry trends and pedagogical techniques through ongoing professional development 

    • Managed scheduling, billing, and administrative tasks to ensure smooth operations

    • Built a strong reputation in the local music community, attracting new students through referrals and networking 

    • Fostered a passion for lifelong learning and appreciation for music in all students 

• President 

  • Pitzer College Music Coalition - Sep 2011-May 2012 

    • Secured funding for equipment acquisition and replacement 

    • Developed, supported, and mentored new bands and performers 

    • Cultivated relationships with various departments to showcase live music events 

    • Organized and promoted concerts, workshops, and other music-related events on campus 

    • Managed the club's budget and allocated resources effectively 

    • Collaborated with other student organizations to create multidisciplinary events and initiatives 

    • Represented the Music Coalition at college-wide meetings and forums 

    • Recruited new members and encouraged student participation in music related activities 

    • Created a supportive and inclusive environment for students with diverse musical interests and backgrounds 

    • Led regular meetings and facilitated discussions to gather input and feedback from club members 

• Manager 

  • Pitzer College Sound Crew - Jan 2010-May 2012 

    • Organized and managed audio, visual components, artist relations, and equipment for diverse events 

    • Coordinated with event organizers to understand their technical requirements and expectations 

    • Set up, operated, and troubleshot sound and lighting equipment for various events 

    • Managed a team of paid student staff, assigning roles and responsibilities based on individual skills and interests 

    • Provided training and guidance to team members on the proper use and maintenance of equipment 

    • Developed and implemented safety protocols to ensure the well-being of crew members and event attendees 

    • Collaborated with other college departments, such as facilities and IT, to ensure smooth event execution 

    • Managed inventory and maintained equipment in good working condition 

    • Stayed current with industry trends and best practices in event production and management 

    • Coordinated with artists and their representatives to facilitate sound checks and address any technical concerns 

    • Provided exceptional customer service to event organizers, attendees, and performers 

    • Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think on your feet in high-pressure situations 

PRESENTATIONS 

1. The Future of Music Education (2025), Practicing Musician’s First Annual Winter Workshop Keynote

2. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V4 (2024), Practicing Musician’s Fourth Annual Summer Symposium. 

3. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V3 (2023), Practicing Musician’s Third Annual Summer Symposium. 

4. Individualized Instruction for Mastery (2023), Practicing Musician’s year-round workshops. 

5. Personalized Mentorship for Homeschooling Parents (2023), Gateway Academy Homeschool Co-op. 

6. Equity in Education (2022), Practicing Musician’s year-round workshops. 

7. Practicing Musician 101 (2022), State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education Watercooler.  

8. Utilizing Instrument Rentals as Music Program Fundraisers (2022), Dade County Music Educators Association. 

9. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V2 (2022), Practicing Musician’s Second Annual Summer Symposium. 

10. Music as a Spiritual Tool (2022), Practicing Musician’s year-round workshops. 

11. Implementing Music Technology in the Classroom (2021), Kansas Department of Education. 

12. Educational Technology of the Future (2021), Knight Foundation and Miami Foundation. 

13. Your Passion, Their Success! Keynote Speech, Practicing Musician’s First Annual Summer Symposium.  

14. Effective Use of Practicing Musician V1 (2021), Practicing Musician’s First Annual Summer Symposium. 

15. Free world-class music education that meets the needs of all students (2021), Wichita Public Schools. 

16. A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Your Time Back (2020), International Music Education Summit. 

17. Music Educator Online Learning Project Orientation (2020), Music Educator Online Learning Project Forum. 

18. Implementing Music Technology in the Classroom (2020), NAfME Northwest Division Conference. 

19. Narrowing the Achievement Gap (2019), Washington Music Educators Association Conference. 

IN SERVICES 

1. San Diego City Unified School District (2024) 

2. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2024) 

3. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2023) 

4. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2023) 

5. San Bernardino City Unified School District (2022) 

6. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2022) 

7. San Bernardino City Unified Public Schools (2021)  

8. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2021) 

9. Wichita Public Schools (2021) 

10. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (2020) 

CURRICULUM DESIGN 

• Oversaw instructional design of full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials for an online multimedia concert band method 3 (2022-23 – still in production) 

  1. Teacher manual 

  2. Flute 

  3. Oboe 

  4. Bb Clarinet 

  5. Bassoon 

  6. Alto Saxophone 

  7. Tenor Saxophone 

  8. Bb Trumpet 

  9. French Horn 

  10. Trombone 

  11. Baritone 

  12. Tuba 

  13. Percussion (glockenspiel, crash cymbal, snare drum, bass drum) 

• Oversaw instructional design of full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials for an online multimedia orchestra method 2 (2022-23 – still in production) 

  1. Teacher manual 

  2. Violin 

  3. Viola 

  4. Cello 

  5. Upright Bass  

• Oversaw instructional design of full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials for an online multimedia concert band method 2 (2021 – still in production) 

  1. Teacher manual 

  2. Flute 

  3. Oboe 

  4. Bb Clarinet 

  5. Bassoon 

  6. Alto Saxophone 

  7. Tenor Saxophone 

  8. Bb Trumpet 

  9. French Horn 

  10. Trombone 

  11. Baritone 

  12. Tuba 

  13. Percussion (glockenspiel, crash cymbal, snare drum, bass drum) 

• Oversaw instructional design of full scope and sequence, managed composers for all sheet music, and planned production of video tutorials for an online multimedia orchestra method 2 (2021 – still in production) 

  1. Teacher manual 

  2. Violin 

  3. Viola 

  4. Cello 

  5. Upright Bass 

• Personally designed of full scope and sequence, composed all sheet music, and produced all video tutorials for an online multimedia concert band method 1 (2017) 

  1. Teacher manual 

  2. Flute 

  3. Oboe 

  4. Bb Clarinet 

  5. Bassoon 

  6. Alto Saxophone 

  7. Tenor Saxophone 

  8. Bb Trumpet 

  9. French Horn 

  10. Trombone 

  11. Baritone 

  12. Tuba 

  13. Percussion (glockenspiel, crash cymbal, snare drum, bass drum) 

• Personally designed of full scope and sequence, composed all sheet music, and produced all video tutorials for an online multimedia orchestra method 1 (2017) 

  1. Teacher manual 

  2. Violin 

  3. Viola 

  4. Cello 

  5. Upright Bass 

TECHNOLOGY DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP

1. Led conceptualization and strategic development of Practicing Musician's comprehensive educational technology platform, including the learning management system, micro tutoring infrastructure, and content delivery systems

2. Architected innovative student progress tracking and assessment tools that integrate Model Cornerstone Assessments, enabling personalized learning paths within the ensemble context and mastery-based advancement

3. Spearheaded development of a scalable video tutorial system supporting over 3,500 instrument-specific lessons with synchronized sheet music and practice materials

4. Designed intuitive user interfaces and learning flows for multiple user types (K-12 educators, students, homeschool families, administrators) to ensure accessibility and engagement

5. Developed specifications for cross-platform compatibility, enabling seamless access across devices while maintaining offline learning capabilities

6. Architected integration systems for managing diverse content types including video tutorials, sheet music, assignments, and assessments within a unified learning environment

7. Led development of robust analytics and reporting tools to track student progress, practice time, and learning outcomes

8. Designed and implemented security protocols to ensure COPPA and FERPA compliance for handling student data

9. Oversaw development of administrative tools for content management, user management, and program oversight

PATENTS 

1. U.S. Patent Application No. 18/673,158: METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ONLINE ARTIFACT CREATION AND MANAGEMENT (2024) 

Trademarks

1.  Practicing Musician

2. Large Music Model - pending