Doing Time with the Blues: v. 2(Time Development Studies)

This book and CD presents a method for gaining an internal sense of time thereby eliminating dependence on a metronome. This book presents the basic concept for developing good time and also includes exercises that can be practiced with the CD. The CD provides eight 8 minute tracks at different tempos in which the time is delineated every 2 bars, and with an extra hit every 12 bars to outline the blues form. The student may then use the exercises presented in this book to gain control of their execution or improvise to gain control of their ideas using this bare minimum of time delineation. Muse-eek also features a FAQ section where students can direct questions that may arise as they work to the author, and which are generally answered within two days. This book is a required text at the New York University and Princeton University Music departments.The course of study presented in this book assumes that the reader has intermediate to advanced knowledge of music. With any course of study questions arise, therefore Muse-eek presents a forum where relevant questions will be answered by the author. Please visit the muse-eek website at muse-eek first and check the FAQ section for this book to see if your question has already been answered. If not, use the form on the website to e-mail your questions. This book is divided into 3 sections each corresponding to one of the enclosed CDs. Within each section different exercises will be presented to help develop your internal sense of time. You can work on a variety of different exercises at once or just concentrate on the areas you find the most challenging. Within each section the exercises are divided as follows: Introduction; Technical Exercises - Rhythm Techniques, Melodic Techniques, and Harmonic Techniques; and, Creative Exercises - Improvisation.First read through the 'Introduction' to familiarize yourself with the basic theory. Depending on your ability you can then proceed to any section of this book you find intriguing. It is recommended that you work with some of the technical exercises first to gain some control. Many of the exercises presented in this book are excerpts from other books. If you find certain exercises particularly helpful, you may wish to do a larger study by working out of the excerpted book. The methods presented in this book are only a few of the exercise possibilities. Be imaginative! Develop other exercises to use with the CDs. It can be as simple as reading through a piece of music, to practicing with a whole ensemble using the CDs. "The Big Metronome" is designed to help you develop a better internal sense of time. This is accomplished by requiring you to 'feel time' rather than having you rely on the steady click of a metronome.The idea is to slowly wean yourself away from an external device and rely on your internal/natural sense of time. The exercises presented work in conjunction with the three CDs that accompany this book. CD 1 presents the first 13 settings from a traditional metronome 40-66; the second CD contains metronome markings 69-116; and, the third CD contains metronome markings 120-208. The first CD gives you a 2 bar count off and a click every measure, the second CD gives you a 2 bar count off and a click every 2 measures, the third CD gives you a 2 bar count off and a click every 4 measures. By presenting all common metronome markings a student can use these 3 CDs as a replacement for a traditional metronome.Let's discuss the proper approach to this book and the idea of developing your own internal feel for time. This strong sense of time is not achieved by subdividing it in your head nor is it helped by tapping your foot or moving your body. It is achieved by trusting your internal clock based.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements vAbout the Author viForeword viiHow to use this book viiiIntroduction 1Rhythm Technique One 3Rhythm Technique Two 7Rhythm Technique Three 13Rhythm Technique Four 15Rhythm Technique Five 17Rhythm Technique Six 19Melodic Technique One 26Melodic Technique Two 26Melodic Technique Three 32Harmonic Technique One 34Harmonic Technique Two 34Creative Technique 36Creative Technique Chord Progressions 37

About the Author :
Bruce Arnold (born 1955 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA) is an author, composer, educator and guitarist residing in New York City. His explorations into the applications of 20th century classical theory in contemporary forms such as Rock and Jazz has created a unique compositional and improvisational sound. As a guest artist Arnold has toured Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States.His performance and recording activities include work with a wide array of styles. He has played with such diverse musicians as Stuart Hamm, Peter Erskine, Joe Pass, Joe Lovano, Lennie Pickett, Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Absolute Ensemble under the baton of Kristjan Jarvi.Bruce Arnold's recording credits include over twenty five CDs and DVDs (on Muse-eek Records, MelBay Recordings, Truefire and other labels), ranging from the standard jazz repertoire to free improvisation to the reinterpretations of classical music with the ensemble Spooky Actions. His compositions are published by Muse Eek Publishing, and MelBay Productions.Mr. Arnold's theoretical works have explored the use of Pitch Class Set Theory within a improvisational setting. He is also written more than 60 music instruction books covering Guitar Pedagogy, Ear Training and Time Studies. He is the director of guitar studies at New York University and Princeton University as well as the creator of the New York University Summer Guitar Intensive He has taught at New England Conservatory of Music, Dartmouth College, Berklee College of Music, New School University, and City College of New York.