Ear Training Blog by Bruce Arnold for Muse Eek Publishing Inc. Key Retention

Modulation Key Center Course

Key To Your Kingdom-Designated Degree-Moduation Sequences-melodic-modulation-by bruce-arnold-for-muse-eek-publishing-inc.-Modulation Key Center Course

Modulation Key Center Course

I thought in this blog post I would give some examples of how to use the Key to Your Kingdom which is a Modulation Key Center Course. Key to Your Kingdom really allows you to make many types of exercises but I’ll give you some simple examples so you get a feel for the course and understand it’s power to help you developed your key retention.

The Modulation Key Center Course examples I will show may sound easy but I assure you they are not. The course really makes you aware of your ability or lack there of in hearing a key center and that is where the weakness is for many students of ear training. So as you can imagine this is a must own course to really fix your ability to stay within a key center. It also points out your problems which in turn helps me to help you. Remember if you are having problems with ear training and are practicing everyday then we need to find out what is your specific problem. These courses that are currently on sale really help to find out exactly where your problems are. Once I know that I can help you much more efficiently.

Types of Modulation Key Center Course Exercises

There are two types of exercises found in the course:

  • Static MP3s which are used when you are working on just one key center.
  • Modulating MP3s when you want to modulate to multiple keys like what may happen in a jazz standard.
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Modulation Key Center Course Exercises for Beginners

For beginners to intermediate level students I would start with the Static MP3s and get so you can hear any of the 12 possible notes and sing the key center. For advanced students I would work with the Static MP3s over jazz standards that are all in one key. I’d recommend using the Practice Perfect Jazz Standards as a place to start. The advanced student can also use the Modulating MP3s

Static MP3 Exercise Example from Modulation Key Center Course

Static MP3 Exercise Example

Here is an example of how to start as a beginning student. Pick one or more of the Static examples that are diatonic notes of the key center.

Let’s say we pick two “Static” MP3s from the course:

  • 25_One_C3_Pno_DD_L2_Key_C.mp3
  • 29_3rd_E3_Pno_DD_L2_Key_C.mp3

These two files are the “one” and “3” in the key of C. Put those two files in a play list on your MP3 player in shuffle mode. Now you will hear the following depending on which of the two files that play:

  • You will hear a voice say either “one” or “3” depending on which file that plays.
  • You then hear a pitch played in this case it would either be the “one” or “3” of the key center.
  • In the final step you need to sing the “root” of the key center.
  • You then hear the key center “root” played.

I would start with diatonic notes of the key center and then work your way into the other 5 notes. There are 3 speed levels. I would start with L3 which is the slowest. More advance students can try the L1 or L2 levels. In the bundle edition there are 3 different instruments. Many times students have problems with these type of exercises when the instrument is changed so it is best to get the bundle edition.

Advanced Modulating Example from Modulation Key Center Course

The Modulating MP3s allow you to work on modulating to new key centers. The way the course has been designed you can set a series of MP3s that could have you modulate in any way you want. A good place to start is with common modulations

I would start with simple modulations to key centers that are diatonic to the original key. For example if you are in the key of “C ” work on modulations to G, F, A minor, D minor. I would start with only using the diatonic notes of both keys and I would use the level 3 MP3s.

Let’s look at an example. You put two files into a play list (not on shuffle mode) that will have you sing the root of the key of C to the root of the key F. Let’s pick the 3rd of each key. (But this could be any of the 12 notes)

This is what you will hear:

  • A voice will say “3.”
  • You hear the name of key center which would be C.
  • You will hear the pitch “E” played.
  • You need to sing “C.”
  • Now the next file plays
  • A voice will say “3.”
  • You hear the name of key center which would be F.
  • You will hear the pitch “A” played.
  • You need to sing “F.”

That’s a fairly simple example but you can make this as complex as you want.

Conclusion

There are so many more types of exercises that can be made with these static and modulating MP3s. The book with the course explains many of these more advanced exercises.

Modulation Key Center Course

You might enjoy checking out the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located on my artist’s site. You will clearly see the historic progression of pedagogy that is the basis for Muse Eek Publishing Products. Great musicians throughout history have been studying the ideas presented by Muse-eek.com which derives its content from a a lineage that stretches back to Scarlatti!

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About Muse Eek

Muse-Eek Publishing Company is a publishing house with a broad focus on music education. Muse-Eek also publishes fine art and poetry books, and has its own record label, Muse-Eek Records. Our online presence, Muse-Eek.com specializes in the publication of music workbooks, video courses and sound and video recordings that teach the foundation of good musicianship through groundbreaking and innovative methods along with traditional methods that have been taught for centuries. These historic methods date back through centuries of great musicians and educators. To see these interesting relationship please see Bruce Arnold's Music Education Genealogy Chart which tells you a lot about the where many of his educational ideas took root and some of the educational pillars that are evident throughout the books you find on this website. The Muse-Eek Records catalogue contains a diverse selection of music much of it by Bruce Arnold in collaboration with some of today's best players in classical, jazz, rock and avant-garde music. These are available in CD, DVD and mp3 formats. We believe in a working relationship with our music education customers; they are free to interact with the author after purchasing a book to help them through any material they don’t understand or which they need further clarification. We also have a member's area which contains a wealth of free information to help a student understand music at a deeper level and access additional files for our books. Many of our books offer cutting edge ideas regarding ear training, guitar technique, rhythm and time. These methods have a proven track record. Our main author Bruce Arnold has taught at some of the most prestigious music schools in the world, including Princeton, Dartmouth, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, The New School and NYU. Along with Mr. Arnold's publications on the Muse-eek.com website he has also written books and appeared in educational DVDs for MelBay and Truefire. Over the years Mr Arnold has used his experiences with his students to develop a program that can elevate a musician's ability to world class caliber. If you have questions about any of our books or recordings please send us an email. Along with general questions about either our record label or our publishing company we also welcome questions to help a student choose the proper materials to reach their goals. We have over 300 products to help you learn any style of music and to develop your musicianship to its peak. We also make recommendations for practice schedules for students who use our methods to get the most out of their study time. This, along with personal interaction with Bruce through email, nurtures the student's ability through a closely monitored situation, ensuring there is no wasted time or misunderstanding.

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