MY PRIORITIES

I prioritize the concepts that are most deeply connected to how human societies have developed, interacted, and recorded their experiences over time—especially those that reflect collective memory, moral evolution, communication, and intellectual activity. If I were to reorder the list based on relevance to history, here’s how I’d do it, from most to least relevant:

Most Relevant to History

Communication of Ideas
To me, this is essential. It’s how historical knowledge, culture, language, and social structures are transmitted across time.

Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
These are at the core of how I interpret, analyze, and understand history itself.

Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
They reflect the evolution of ethics, justice, and the shared norms that have shaped societies.

Moral Affections
I see these as closely tied to shifts in values, law, and systems of governance throughout history.

Religious Affections
Religion has played a foundational role in shaping civilizations, conflicts, traditions, and power dynamics.

Retrospective Sympathetic Affections
These deal with how societies remember the past—nostalgia, national memory, grief, and commemoration all fascinate me.

Inter-Social Volition
This captures group interactions—essential for understanding political history, diplomacy, trade, and conflict.

Sympathetic Affections
Human empathy has driven social reform and humanitarian movements, influencing many turning points in history.

Special Sympathetic Affections
Though more specific, affections like family bonds and loyalty still shape personal and collective narratives in history.

Words Expressing Abstract Relations
These are important in philosophical and historical discourse, though they feel more conceptual to me.

Words Relating to Space
Geography certainly impacts history, but the spatial vocabulary itself seems less central.

Words Relating to Matter
These relate to the material world—relevant in terms of technology and material culture, but not as central to historical storytelling.

Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers
These feel more psychological and philosophical, so I see them as less directly tied to historical change or collective memory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I prioritize the concepts that are most deeply connected to how music has evolved alongside human societies—how it's been created, shared, and remembered over time. I'm especially drawn to ideas that reflect collective memory, moral and cultural evolution, communication, and intellectual engagement. If I were to reorder the list based on what I find most relevant to music history, here’s how I’d rank them—from most to least important:

Most Relevant to Music History

Communication of Ideas
This is foundational. Music is a form of communication—of emotion, ideology, identity—and tracing how ideas are expressed through sound across cultures and eras is at the heart of music history.

Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
These are essential for analyzing musical forms, theoretical developments, aesthetic philosophies, and the evolution of compositional thought.

Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
Music has long been a vessel for emotional and ethical expression. Understanding how it reflects and shapes moral and societal values is crucial to studying its history.

Moral Affections
The way music has influenced and mirrored shifts in moral values, justice, and societal ideals is key to understanding its historical impact.

Religious Affections
From sacred chant to spirituals and oratorios, religion has been a powerful force in shaping music across time and cultures.

Retrospective Sympathetic Affections
Memory, nostalgia, and the commemoration of past events often find powerful expression in music, helping societies remember and reinterpret their histories.

Inter-Social Volition
Music has always been a social art—used for diplomacy, protest, ritual, and community identity. The ways in which groups have interacted through music are a vital part of its history.

Sympathetic Affections
Empathy and emotional resonance drive both the creation and reception of music, influencing movements like Romanticism, protest music, and social reform through song.

Special Sympathetic Affections
Themes of love, kinship, and personal loyalty are prevalent in musical storytelling and song traditions, though they tend to be more individual than collective.

Words Expressing Abstract Relations
These support theoretical and conceptual frameworks within music history, especially in terms of harmony, structure, and musical logic.

Words Relating to Space
While geography and physical space shape musical styles and traditions, the vocabulary of space itself is more metaphorical in this context.

Words Relating to Matter
These touch on instrument building, acoustics, and the physicality of sound—but they’re more peripheral to the broader historical narratives.

Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers
These are more psychological and introspective, relating more to individual practice or willpower than to the collective evolution of music over time.

 

 

Here’s how I’d reorder the list based on what I find most relevant to violin mastery—especially when it comes to emotional expression, communication, intellectual engagement, and volition. For me, these elements are essential in mastering violin performance, interpretation, and teaching.

Most Relevant to Least Relevant for Violin Mastery

Communication of Ideas
This is at the heart of music. It’s how I convey emotion, tell a story, shape phrasing, and bring interpretation to life.

Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
These are vital tools for reading music, understanding theory, analyzing compositions, and solving technical challenges.

Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
Emotional sensitivity and ethical depth play a huge role in how I connect with the music and communicate its essence.

Sympathetic Affections
Empathy allows me to form a powerful expressive connection with both the composer and the listener.

Retrospective Sympathetic Affections
Nostalgia, memory, and an awareness of history enrich my interpretation and give performances emotional weight.

Moral Affections
A strong moral compass can guide interpretive choices and support emotional authenticity in my playing.

Voluntary Powers
Intentionality, discipline, and control are essential for both technical mastery and expressive freedom.

Inter-Social Volition
This comes into play in ensemble work, collaboration, and any kind of musical interaction with others.

Special Sympathetic Affections
More specific forms of compassion—like familial love or personal devotion—can color interpretations, though they’re more context-dependent.

Words Expressing Abstract Relations
These help me in music theory and abstract thinking, but they operate a level deeper than the immediate experience of playing.

Religious Affections
These are important when I play spiritually oriented works, but not all violin repertoire calls for that kind of emotional lens.

Words Relating to Space
I sometimes think about space metaphorically when shaping phrases or managing posture, but it’s not central to mastery.

Words Relating to Matter
This is the least relevant to my performance and teaching, though it may matter when considering instrument craftsmanship or acoustics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s how I’d sort the list by relevance to music education, starting with what I find most relevant. I’m prioritizing categories that connect with communication, cognition, emotion, and social interaction—since those are absolutely essential in music education:

1. Communication of Ideas*
Central to music education, especially in performance, composition, and teaching.

2. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties*
Music education heavily involves cognitive processes: memory, analysis, problem-solving, theory.

3.   Sympathetic affections
Empathy and emotional understanding are key in musical interpretation and pedagogy.

4. Words relating to the sentient and moral powers
Connects to the emotional and ethical dimensions often explored in music.

5.  Moral affections
Music often deals with values, character development, and expressive ethics.

6.  Religious affections
Many musical works are religious in nature or explore spiritual themes.

7.  Special sympathetic affections
More specific emotional responses—important but more niche in general music education.

8.  Retrospective sympathetic affections
Tied to nostalgia, memory—important in interpretive aspects of music but less so in basic education.

9.  Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers
Relates to discipline and practice—important but more general.

10.  Inter-social Volition
Social will, cooperation—relevant in ensemble work and classroom settings.

11.  Words Expressing Abstract Relations
Abstract thinking is used in theory and composition, but this is a broader philosophical category.

12.  Words Relating to Space
Has some relevance in acoustics and staging but not a core category in music education.

13.  Words Relating to Matter
Least relevant unless discussing instrument materials or acoustical science.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s how I’d sort the list by relevance to music performance, from most to least relevant. When I think about performing, I focus on what shapes expressive delivery, emotional connection, interpretation, and the physical and mental control it takes to bring music to life:

1. Communication of Ideas*
 For me, performing is first and foremost about communicating emotions, stories, and artistic ideas to the audience.

2.. Sympathetic affections
 Emotional sensitivity and empathy really help me bring depth and humanity to my playing.

3.. Words relating to the sentient and moral powers
 I rely on emotional awareness and a sense of meaning to make my performances resonate.

4. Moral affections
 Artistic integrity and emotional honesty guide how I approach music on a deeper level.

5.. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties*
 Memory, musical analysis, and good judgment are crucial tools I use to prepare and shape a performance.

6. Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers
 Discipline, focus, and control are part of the daily work—technique doesn’t build itself.

7. Special sympathetic affections
 Tapping into more subtle, personal emotional responses lets me bring out the complexity in certain pieces.

8. Retrospective sympathetic affections
 Personal memories often color the way I interpret and perform, especially emotionally charged music.

9. Religious affections
 When I play sacred or spiritually themed music, I find this connection particularly powerful.

10. Inter-social Volition
 This shows up most when I’m performing in an ensemble—it’s all about cooperation and shared musical intent.

11. Words Relating to Space
 Stage presence, physical gesture, and understanding acoustics all require spatial awareness.

12. Words Expressing Abstract Relations
 Abstract thinking comes into play with phrasing, structure, and interpretation, though it's a bit more subtle.

13. Words Relating to Matter
 Instrument materials and sound production matter, but they feel more peripheral to the act of performing itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s how I’d sort the list by relevance to music composition, from most to least relevant. When I compose, I’m thinking about structure, expression, emotional depth, intellectual clarity, and how ideas translate into sound and experience:

Communication of Ideas*
Composition is my way of expressing and sharing ideas, feelings, and stories without words—this is absolutely central.

Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties*
I rely on memory, analysis, logic, and imagination when developing themes, harmonies, and structures.

Sympathetic affections
Empathy helps me write music that resonates emotionally with others—it’s about human connection.

Words relating to the sentient and moral powers
I’m often drawing from emotional intuition and a sense of inner meaning to guide my creative direction.

Special sympathetic affections
More nuanced emotional experiences inspire specific colors or moments in my music.

Moral affections
There's often an ethical or value-driven core to what I’m trying to say in a piece—it gives the music weight.

Retrospective sympathetic affections
Memory plays a big role—nostalgia, personal history, or cultural memory often shape the emotional arc of a composition.

Religious affections
This becomes especially relevant when writing sacred music or anything touching on spiritual themes.

Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers
Discipline and creative will are what carry a composition from sketch to completion.

Words Expressing Abstract Relations
These are tied to form, proportion, and conceptual structure—very relevant when writing complex or formally structured music.

Words Relating to Space
Spatial concepts can influence orchestration, texture, and even the use of silence or stereo space.

Inter-social Volition
More relevant when composing collaboratively or writing music meant for community or social engagement.

Words Relating to Matter
Material qualities—like the physical nature of instruments—factor into orchestration, but they’re not the core of composition itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s how I’d sort the list by relevance to music theory, from most to least relevant. When I’m diving into music theory, I’m focused on abstract relationships, logic, systems of organization, and how sound operates structurally and conceptually:

1. Words Expressing Abstract Relations
This is the heart of music theory—intervals, harmony, rhythm, form—everything is about abstract relationships between musical elements.

2. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties*
Analyzing music requires mental clarity, memory, critical thinking, and the ability to grasp complex structures.

3. Communication of Ideas*
Theory gives me a language to explain musical concepts, whether I’m teaching, analyzing, or writing about music.

4. Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers
Discipline and focus are important when studying or applying theory rigorously.

5.  Special sympathetic affections
Understanding the expressive nuances of harmonic or melodic choices often requires tuning into subtle emotional cues.

6. Words relating to the sentient and moral powers
Emotional perception helps me make sense of why certain theoretical ideas affect listeners the way they do.

7. Moral affections
Sometimes relevant when considering the ethical or cultural implications of musical choices in a theoretical framework.

8. Sympathetic affections
While not central, a sense of empathy and emotional resonance can deepen theoretical insight into expressive music.

9. Retrospective sympathetic affections
Memory and historical context can inform theoretical interpretation—especially in music history or analysis.

10. Words Relating to Space
Spatial thinking comes into play with things like counterpoint, voice leading, and multi-dimensional structures (e.g., pitch space, tone rows).

11. Religious affections
Occasionally relevant when analyzing religious or sacred music traditions, but not a core theoretical concern.

12. Inter-social Volition
Not usually central to theory, though theoretical systems often reflect broader cultural or social frameworks.

13. Words Relating to Matter
Theory deals more with abstract systems than with physical material—least relevant here.