INSIDE FLAP

This book can be used it multiple ways. First, I would read each exercise. This will improve your odd meter sight reading abilities. You can read each exercise with straight eighths or with swing eighths. Some specific recommendations would be the following:

1. Read the 3/4 examples with the metronome clicking one beat per measure.

2. Read the 4/4 examples with a swing feel and have the metronome clicking on two and four.

3. Use the growing list of MP3 files as backing tracks while reading each exercise. This will help you hear how these melodic lines sound in a musical situation. You can access these MP3s on the muse-eek.com website. Please join the free member's area at muse-eek.com and look for the link called "Help Files for Time Transformation."

4. You can also take this one step further by superimposing time signatures. This can be done by using the MP3 files previously mentioned. You will find MP3 files in the "Help Files for Time Transformation" folder that give you a repeating vamp with a metronome click superimposed over the vamp. Here are a couple of examples. You might have a 4/4 vamp with a click in either 3,5,6 or 7 superimposed over the 4/4 vamp. You can use these MP3s to help you develop an ability to superimpose various time signatures to improve your rhythmic sense and give you a new avenue of expression when soloing.

I have supplied various beat configurations and would suggest you start with some of the examples where the click is slower. These examples are usually found where the click is superimposing in a two measure relationship to the original pulse. Although it is harder to conceptualize the actual time relationships in these examples you should find that your sight reading requirements will not be as difficult.

I'm sure you will quickly see that the idea of superimposing various time signatures via the MP3 files expands each exercise application substantially. I find that students who work with these various superimposed rhythms start to hear these relationships when soloing almost immediately. You will find this method will greatly expand your soloing both in ideas and rhythmic feel.