Product Description

Fanatic's Guide differs from the myriad of other sight singing books in that it develops the ability to identify and name all twelve pitches within a key center. Through this method a student gains the ability to identify sound based on it's relationship to a key and not the relationship of one note to another i.e. interval training as commonly taught in many texts. All note groupings from one to six notes are presented giving the student a thesaurus of basic note combinations which develops sight singing and note recognition to a level unattainable before this Guide's existence.  This book is a required text at the New York University and Princeton University Music departments. Please note only the Spiral edition of this book contains a CD. With the perfect bound version you will need to purchase the CD separately. Mr. Arnold's new ear training course is a first of it's kind available. He has taken the time to give students a detailed explanation of what works and what doesn't work when it comes to ear training. This book is the sight singing part of a series of books which are meant to be used together. If you are serious about improving your aural perception and basic musicianship it is recommended that you work with this book in combination with the following: 1. EAR TRAINING: ONE NOTE This first level of ear training covers identifying single notes against a pitch center, and is divided into 3 levels Beginning: ISBN 1-890944-12-2 Intermediate: ISBN 1-890944-13-0 Advanced: ISBN 1-890944-14-9 or Ear Training One Note Complete ISBN 1890944475 This Complete edition contains all of the information in the Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced books. After completing the One Note books you would move on to the following books. 2. KEY NOTE RECOGNITION ISBN 1-890944-30-3 This ear training book covers identifying single notes against a key center which prepares the student for the two note ear training method. This course of study is recommended to all levels of students. 2a. CONTEXTUAL EAR TRAINING Memorizing Sound Through Singing. ISBN 9781594898839 Contextual Ear Training is a major expansion of the One Note exercise from the Fanatic s Guide to Sight Singing and Ear Training. Much of the material from the first few chapters of Fanatics Guide is included in this book. This is because some students may be purchasing this book and not the Fanatic s Guide. It is recommend that you first work with the Fanatic s Guide before using this book, although you can certainly work with both simultaneously, to good effect. 3. EAR TRAINING: TWO NOTES This second level of ear training covers identifying two notes against a pitch center. The following volumes are currently available: Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume One ISBN 1-890944-31-9 Volume One concentrates on 5ths. Prerequisite: a strong grasp of the One Note method. Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume Two ISBN 1-890944-32-7 Volume Two concentrates on 3rds. Prerequisite: a strong grasp of the One Note method. Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume Three ISBN 1-890944-33-5 Volume Three concentrates on 6ths. Prerequisite: a strong grasp of the One Note method. Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume Four ISBN 1-890944-34-3 Volume Four concentrates on 4ths. Prerequisite: a strong grasp of the One Note method. Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume Five ISBN 1-890944-35-1 Volume Five concentrates on 2nds. Prerequisite: a strong grasp of the One Note method. Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume Six ISBN 1-890944-36-X Volume Six concentrates on 7ths. Prerequisite: a strong grasp of the One Note method.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #289399 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-01
• Released on: 2003-07-11
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• 102 pages

From the Publisher
Mr. Arnold's new ear training course is a first of it's kind available. He has taken the time to give students a detailed explanation of what works and what doesn't work when it comes to ear training. This book is the sight singing part of a series of books which are meant to be used together. If you are serious about improving your aural perception and basic musicianship it is recommended that you work with this book in combination with the following:

1. EAR TRAINING: ONE NOTE This first level of ear training covers identifying single notes against a pitch center, and is divided into 3 levels Beginning: ISBN: 1-890944-12-2 Intermediate: ISBN: 1-890944-13-0 Advanced: ISBN: 1-890944-14-9

2. KEY NOTE RECOGNITION ISBN: 1-890944-30-3 This ear training book covers identifying single notes against a key center which prepares the student for the two note ear training method.

This course of study is recommended to all levels of students.

3. EAR TRAINING: TWO NOTES This second level of ear training covers identifying two notes against a pitch center. The following volumes are currently available:

Ear Training TWO NOTE: Beginning Level Volume One

About the Author
Guitarist Bruce Arnold has developed an extensive reputation as a composer educator and guitar virtuoso. He has created a unique signature sound that stems from his combination of jazz techniques and 20th Century compositional methods. He has played with such diverse musicians as Stuart Hamm, Peter Erskine, Joe Pass, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke, the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Arnold is also deeply devoted to music education and had written more than 60 music instruction. He heads the guitar departments at NYU and Princeton University and is the director of the New York University Summer Guitar Intensive He has taught at some of the most prestigious music schools in America, including the New England Conservatory of Music, Dartmouth College, Berklee College of Music, New School University, and City College of New York.

Customer Reviews

Great method, great book.
The Fanatic's Guide shifts the One Note emphasis from recognizing pitches to producing pitches. The accompanying CD contains 12 tracks, 1 in each key. Each track sets up a key, and then drones on that tonic chord for about 5 minutes. The book suggests a number of exercises to sing over the drone, starting with correctly being able to sing diatonic and then chromatic pitches against a key, and then moving on to singing multiple pitches against the drone. This book is both challenging and immensly rewarding. I am now able to identify almost all pitches against a key (still getting the b2 and #6 in tune), but I am much more excited about my new found ability to create melodies and really hear them internally without the aid of an instrument. In my practice sessions each Friday, I have been singing random melodies using any of the pitches I have worked on so far. I have been playing a relative minor arpeggio against a major chord for years, but it has been muscle memory and habit as much as anything. Now I'm really hearing what the 6th, root, and 3rd sound like againt the tonic. When I'm really dialed in, it almost feels like I'm high (or so I would guess).

So how does all of this transfer to the real world, you ask? I have noticed some minor improvements, but I wouldn't say I have a new set of ears just yet. I can pick some things out on the country station, and I think the sight singing exercises have been helping with vocal rehearsals in my band, but that's about it so far. On the other hand, I have been playing music in some form since I was six, and nothing in all of that time has improved my ear as much as the hour a day spent practicing these exercises for a few months. So with that in mind, I have enough faith in this path to keep at it. I just ordered the next books in the series, and look forward to seeing what I start to hear next.

THE Way Forward
I have been working with Mr Arnold's ear training methods for just over two years now and would like to share with you some of my experiences over that time.

There is no other system of ear training i know that constantly pushes the boundaries of your aural perception. Working with his is as Mr Arnold reminds us a "lifetime's journey". Over the years i have steadily gained the ability to recognise any pitch in relation to a key center and sight-sing any required pitch readily (including chromatics). That is what one note complete and the fanatic's guide seeks to achieve.

The above lays the foundation for further development. In December of 2007 I finally completed key note recognition, that helps you to learn to adapt to various modes(major and minor) and recognise the key by listening to how notes function in relation. Now I am beginning work on two note that builds recognition for multiple notes and following complex modulations.

All this is impossible without dedication and an intense commitment to practice, practice,practice. As a guage i have worked at this at least an hour a day broken up into short sessions over the last two over years. And without keeping to this and really working at it, you won't be able to really understand what this method is all about. But IF you do, this will really change the way you are involved with music.

Just to describe a few simple experiences...

- Early on i began to gain a deeper sense of the music i was listening to. Suddenly everything opened up what can only be described as a kaleidoscope of colours.

- As an active musician, people began commenting on how musical and expressive my performances were getting and always "spot on" with pitching.

- Am now coming to grips with progressively more harmonically complex melodic forms such as modern jazz and funk.

I'm now embarking on the next phase in my ear training that is two note and beyond. I know it's going to be nothing short of gruelling, but with the positive changes that I have experienced in aural perception, I really can't wait to discover what else happens along the way.

Many thanks to Mr Arnold for his fantastic work, gift to aspiring musicians and continuing commitment to music education.

No Fluff, The Right Stuff
This method is excellent! If I could give it more than five stars I would. If you're willing to put in the time it pays off. I have been working on the exercises from this book for almost a year and my ear has improved tremendously. Follow Mr. Arnolds directions in the book exactly as spelled out and you will do yourself a big favor. He has put in the time learning this material himself and knows all the pitfalls of doing it wrong and has distilled a method that works. He learned from the pros and has published what he learned. If you want a nice glossy book with lots of cool pictures this isn't for you. If you want something that works get it, do it, and you'll be amazed. The bottom line is you have to the work for the results. I have noticed some reviews that note the starkness of Mr. Arnold's books. His books are all substance and no jive! He shows his dedication to the material he presents by providing a FAQ section on the museek Website. You can submit a question and he answers it right away, sometimes in minutes, never more that 24 hours. That really surprised me!