Contextual Ear Training Memorizing Sound through Singing with 4 CDs [Spiral-bound]

Bruce Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2007

Developing aural recognition skills is a two pronged process.  It consists of listening and singing.  The listening side as represent in Ear Training One Note Complete allows you to develop your skills to recognize a pitch someone else is playing.  Singing allows you to develop your ability to recognize the notes you hear in you head and to facilitate high improvisational and compositional skills. 

Contextual Ear Training takes the one note exercise found in Mr. Arnold's popular book Fanatic's Guide to Sight Singing and Ear Training and presents an exercise that can be practiced anywhere that you can listen with a CD or MP3 player. With this portable audio exercise a student can practice no matter how busy his or her schedule may be, thus accelerating progress.

Mr. Arnold states. I have found that students using Contextual Ear Training audio files along with Ear Training One Note Complete and/or Fanatic's Guide to Sight Reading and Ear Training improve at a much faster rate.

Contextual Ear Training contains four CDs that are available with this book that really help a student to focus in on this technique in a structured way. It also includes a music theory section and FAQ sections. The music theory section explains why the knowledge of music theory is integral to ear training. Please note that much of the material from the first few chapters of Fanatic's Guide is included in this book. If you already own Fanatic's Guide to Sight Singing and Ear Training, Contextual Ear Training will help you to learn the one note exercises faster.

Contextual Ear Training is also a good place to start when educating children in ear training. (recommended for children 7 years of age or older) Please read Mr. Arnold's blog entry to understand the process of teaching a child and to find out more information on how the whole ear training process works.

As with all Muse Eek Publishing Ear Training Books there are editions that contain CDs and some that don't. Please make sure to check before ordering. Most descriptions will plainly show whether the CDs come with the book. The four CDs for this book can also be found in MP3 format from various on-line vendors. Please check muse-eek for recommended vendors.

Editorial Reviews

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 100 books on music instruction. He currently teaches at Princeton University. Mr. Arnold 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 and NYU.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 55 pages
• Publisher: Muse Eek Publishing (December 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594898839
• ISBN-13: 978-1594898839
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More 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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good program for commuters--BOOK IS MUCH CHEAPER ON AUTHORS SITE, November 25, 2010

By 

bebopluvr (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contextual Ear Training Memorizing Sound through Singing with 4 CDs (Spiral-bound)

I've just received the cds and so far so good. Mr. Arnold has produced a logical and comprehensive set that can be used in your while commuting. Very well done.

Note: this book plus 4 CDs is $39.99 on muse-eek.com, Mr. Arnold's website.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Kids, My 7 year old Loves It, February 18, 2010

By 

J. Lolos - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contextual Ear Training Memorizing Sound through Singing with 4 CDs (Spiral-bound)

My 7 year old son and I really enjoy using these materials by Bruce Arnold. We have One Note Complete, Contextual Ear Training, and A Fanatic's Guide to Ear Training. We have been using One Note Intermediate and Contextual for just over one month.

My son loves to do ear training, especially "name that note!" We home school, and we do One Note and Contextual as soon as we get out of bed, and then later in the school morning. I also do both programs later in the day, especially when I am working in the kitchen. My son almost always listens in, and sings along, or names the note, even when he is playing in the next room. After just one month, my son can accurately name all 7 diatonic notes, but none of the non-diatonic yet. I can accurately name C, D,G, and B. I can sometimes get A and F, and I hardly ever get E (yet!)

For Contextual, both my son and I can sing Root (Do) for all the keys, although sometimes the minor keys do give us a bit of trouble. We can both sing 3 (Me) most of the time, but 3 still needs work. My son was able to sing 3 much sooner than me. I asked him how, and he said he "just knows what 3 sounds like." As for me, I got every single 3 wrong for over two weeks, and I was doing them at least 5 to 7 times per day! Then one day, I started getting a few of them correct! Then within a few more days, I was getting most of them correct. This system really does work. After listening to the cadence, the sound of the 3 would just form in my mind.

We have been singing 5 (So) for about a week. 5 is coming along much faster than 3. Both of us could sing some 5's right away.
I highly recommend these materials. They are fun to use and they really work!