Rhythm Work in Fanatics Guide and Other Ear Training Books

Q: I’m interested in getting back into choral music singing, and I was never anything beyond a beginner. You recommended the following to another singer: Ear Training One Note Complete, Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing and Music Theory Workbook for All Instruments. I’m guessing that those are the books you would recommend. Is there any rhythm work in the Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing or would I have to buy the Rhythm Primer to get rhythm practice?

I also wondered whether you had any plans to come out with software versions of your books. As a language student, I’ve found software drills to be really helpful – especially for generating random drills of Greek verb forms. If you aren’t planning to make one, is there a software program that you would feel comfortable recommending for a Mac User – that wouldn’t interfere with your system? Are you familiar with Ars Nova’s Practica? http://www.ars-nova.com/practica.html

A: Currently we are not developing a computer version of our ear training program. We do have plans to do this in the future though. The books you mentioned would be a good place to start with the ear training. It will get you started with the ear training on two fronts and the Music Theory Workbook for All Instruments will help you process music and ear training much faster. For rhythm studies I would start with Rhythm Primer and then proceed at least through Rhythms Volume One & Rhythms Volume Two. I do have more advanced books after that like Odd Meters but unless your going to be doing some advanced choral music you probably won’t need a book like that.

I also have a choral ear training book called Lines Volume One: Sight Reading and Sight Singing Exercises but I wouldn’t work on this book until you have worked through Ear Training One Note Complete and Key Note Recognition. You first need to understand how you hear before attempting to part sing. I also many times recommend one of my guitar books for ear training. Single String Studies for Guitar Volume One and Single String Studies for Guitar Volume Two are excellent books to use for developing your ability to sight sing. You have to do some octave adjustments but other than that it’s a real good book to help develop Key Retention Builder. I wouldn’t use these books until you have finished Ear Training One Note Complete.

I know the program Ars Nova’s Practica and I wouldn’t recommend it as a replacement or as an additional program to my method until you have completed Ear Training One Note Complete, Key Retention Builder and the Two Note Ear Training Books. By the time you have gone through these books you will realize how you can use any program in the right way to improve your ear training ability. I will say that one thing nice and useful about the CDs that go with my books is you can do them anywhere as opposed to a computer program which can only be used when you have a computer with you. A little hard to do when you are taking a walk.

It is also recommended that you read Bruce Arnold’s Blog at his artist site. It contains more discussion of the musical topics found in these FAQs as well as other subjects of interest. You will also find the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located here which shows you the historic significance of the music education products found on the Muse Eek Publishing Company Website.

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