This is exactly what Rita’s dad was talking about way back in the beginning of their journey.

Click here to read it.

If you’ve been following along with the story since the very start, then you know that Cleftonian children need to reach the Age of Cultivation with the help of a Cleftonian mentor, usually their father, or they become Cleftonian bums, but in this case they had the lovable neurotic, Professor “B” to guide Rita.

The issue is, Professor “B” is not Cleftonian and Rita still reached the Age of Cultivation with his guidance. How so?

I guess you have to wait till’ I write the last half of the story in the far future.

As of now, I’ll still be posting stuff every so often, but “Illegal Aliens” will be concluded very soon.

Just hang tight, keep learning them tunes and go out and get in a band. Who cares if you pee in your panties in front of the ladies.

Just do it, weenie and I’ll keep you updated.

Roland of Aragon

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It’s coming down to the end.

Rita, has an enormous confidence and is going to unleash the “Super Secret Mega Metronome Technique.”

We’ll see if it’s effective and hope that her music Professor “B” isn’t a kook and knows what he’s teaching.

That’s it for now, my brain is fried and I can’t think of anything else to write.

Peace.

Roland of Aragon

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The world has brainwashed our minds to believe that an amazing life, is: Wealth, Fame, Power, Greatness, Happiness and Knowledge.

EHHH!!! Dead wrong buddy!

Schools, Hollywood, Culture has tapped into our vulnerable young minds to think this. It’s no wonder there are so many dysfunction in society and especially in families.

The key to a an amazing life is “FORGIVENESS”.

Why? It brings about: Peace, Love, Joy, and Wisdom in our lives.

You can be broke or rich and still live in hell, if an individual holds onto anger against their neighbor, partner, or cousin they’ll never endure, Love, Peace, and Joy. They look for it in the wrong places like, relationships, sex, money, food and drugs.

Only God is real love.

So, forgive your cheap ass smart phone that tends to load the webpage so slowly and don’t smash it on the ground. Just, relax and wait, it will load.

Peace.

PS: I still like money. =)

Roland of Aragon

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After you get beaten down, what do you do?

You re-strategize, come up with a different plan, because Plan “A” didn’t work.

People fail because they have fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment, fear of mistakes.

I have NO fear! None of the above. Well, maybe if someone pointing a gun at me or threatened my pet monkey. That’s pretty logical, but aside from that I have NONE!

I’ve been rejected, been called names, been turned down, been accused, but that never stopped me from pushing forward. Yes, confidence plays a critical key, but you also have got to have the, “I don’t give a flying fudge if they say Yes or No”, attitude.

Why?

Because, they are many more opportunities out their in the world. If you ask 100 times, someone is bound to say Yes. It could be 200 times or maybe even 300 times, but if you have that persistent attitude you will make it.

Virtually, nothing in life is really no big deal.

Just do it, weenie.

Roland of Aragon

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Wow!

It’s May 2020. I know I haven’t mentioned anything about COVID 19, but I just been super busy.

This story keeps going on and on like the energizer bunny and it’s almost at the end. Just hang in there.

To tell you the truth I’m not freaked out about COVID-19. Yes, I have to put on a mask when I walk in a grocery store or they’ll kick my ass out, but whatever. I need food right?

All the media hype is going insane and making my family freak out, especially my Mom. She’s kinda freaked out and that’s because she keeps watching that fake new media. It’s all a ploy to keep you afraid and under their hypnosis.

Come through the tunnel and see the light. See the light!

Stay safe, Toon Tuners.

Roland of Aragon

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“Rita returns to Professor B’s classroom looking for help, but runs into something unexpected.”

This scene is the last lesson of the book. Full of music academics and knowledge.

But…

Remember, music is a performance art, not an intellectual science.

Once you get that, then you’re on your way.

I put the academic part as a reference to knowledge to fall on. When you’re out in the world performing in front of thousands of fans, music theory will not come to mind.

I’ve performed thousands of shows and only a handful I recall reading sheet music and that was mostly in my high school band days.

Here’s my quote:

If you reading sheet music during the performance, then you’re not performing you’re referencing.

I use to be a big advocate on reading music and would get into debates about its importance, not anymore.

My reasons to learn note reading.

1. To learn songs that are not recorded.
2. For reference, just in case you forgot the notes.
3. As a lesson tool.
4. But not for performance.

I’m pretty sure if you learn a song by rote (ear) then the student will really nail it than reading it off a piece of sheet music.

Music performance beats music academics to a bloody pulp.

Keep that in mind.

Roland of Aragon (Performance Rules Supreme)

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“Drake the Dragon pulls a nasty move that destroys Rita’s confidence and hope.”

Here’s another untold story of my past.

I joined the regional gospel choir as a bass player, but there happened to be another bass player. So we swapped songs.

We were rehearsing one night for the upcoming regional district church service in Oxnard, Ca.

I took a couple of the songs and the other guy took the other half of the songs.

On the day of the show, I drove to Oxnard. Was pumped, rehearsed and ready to go. Holy Ghost right?

The choir began to sing and the other bass player started to play the first half of the tunes, while I was waiting my turn to swap the other half.

Finally, my turn came. Right in between songs I was ready with my bass to plug into the amp.

Then the lead Music director held his hand towards me in stopping motion and allowed the other bass player to continue with the other tunes.

The tunes that I rehearsed my ass off with. Now, I’m not gonna get my chance to perform. That douchebag of a music director didn’t want me to play.

What the?

That foo literally ripped the Jesus from my heart. I felt so bad. I left the church and took a walk in the city not knowing where I was going, contemplating, “What the hell just happened? “

I returned to the church service after a two-hour walk and my friends were wondering where I went. I kept it to myself.

I was young, around 21 years old and motivated and excited to get my musical feet off the ground. Then this loser music director turned me down in the middle of the performance.

What happened you asked?

One word. FAVORITISM and lack of honesty. I did not have a close relationship with the music director. The other bass player did. I wasn’t hitting the wrong notes during rehearsal, I was nailing it. 

But, because the other guy was good buddies with the music director and I was the new guy then I got the shaft.

I get it. My words may sound like I’m pissed. But I’m really not. Ii was a great learning experience on how not treat others in a leadership position.

I forgive the music director. He didn’t know, no better. 

The following 20 years of my music career was amazing and this story was just a fraction of my experience.

Amazon Best Selling Guitar Books! 

Take that music director!

Roland of Aragon (Yes, Best-Seller)

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Have you ever been forced to do something you really didn’t want to do?

I have.

So…

A few years back I was performing guitar in the church band. Then one week the lead worship singer decided to take a vacation that weekend. They needed a replacement.

The asked me.

I said, “Hell Naw!”

I can carry a tune, but I’m no lead singer. Fear drenched all over me. The pastor looked at me and did not take, “Hell, Naw!” for an answer.

The pastor said, “Find your musicians and create a setlist. You’ll be leading worship next week. “

Crap!

I took the plunge and did it. It was not bad for my first time leading church music. I’ve been a music director for over a decade but never lead the singing. I always had singers for that. It was a good experience.

Will I ever do it again? Sure, but I’ll never be pressured into ever again. I don’t care if Donald Trump asks me. If I don’t want to do it, then I won’t.

Unless there’s booku money involved. He-he.

Roland of Aragon (Booku)

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