Borrowed Divisions: Change
Goal: To perform differing borrowed subdivisions of the beat in differing rates of change (triplets in simple meter, duplets in compound meter).
Out of Tempo
All Levels
“Out of Tempo” exercises are not presented separately in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV improvisations. Should any exercise prove difficult performed in tempo, out of tempo versions of the materials in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV can be modeled on Ear Training I and Ear Training II approaches to out of tempo improvisations.
In Tempo
Teacher sets up a tempo, time signature, tonality, and rhythms.
Phrases can be four to thirty-two measures in length depending on the student’s ability.
Start with one note per measure and add different rhythms as students become more comfortable with the exercise. For more confident students, use non-repeating notes and rhythm patterns.
Students sing one, two, three, or four notes per measure.
Speaking, singing, playing.
Refer to the Rhythm Patterns/Borrowed Divisions Smorgasbord for ideas.
Beginning
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “When I say ‘change,' turn eighth notes into triplet eighth notes."
- Students do so.
Intermediate
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “When I say ‘change,' turn triplet eighth notes into eighth notes."
- Students do so.
Advanced
Six-eight
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “When I say ‘change,' turn three eighth notes in to duplet eighth notes."
- Students do so.