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Created by Gabriel A. Villasurda


   

CRAZY TUNES
FOR RHYTHMIC READING

  • CRAZY TUNES is a collection of twelve familiar folk tunes which have been altered rhythmically to sharpen reading skills.  Meter signatures have been changed, often from triple to duple or the reverse.  Sometimes measures have been shortened or lengthened by altering note values or inserting rests.  The melodies remain recognizable.
  • TRICKY, TRICKY!:  Alterations are deliberately whimsical so that the player may not go on "automatic pilot."   It's an exercise in concentration and alertness.
  • TEMPOS:  Marked tempos are set on the fast side.  As a temporary measure, slower settings are OK.  Metronome settings should be gradually increased to challenge the players. People who always practice slowly will become confirmed "snails" incapable of playing fast.
  • STYLE:  Several examples are laced with rests to give a "hesitation" style reminiscent of Tap-Dance music.  Use crisp staccato articulation.
  • DON'T SWEAT OCCASIONAL MISTAKES:  The objectives of these exercises are CONFIDENCE and PRECISION.  Don't stop to celebrate every mistake.  Keep going and get good at recovering.

  • HOW TO USE THESE EXERCISES:   

    • Include one or two tunes in the warm-up portion of the daily rehearsal from time to time. 

    • These exercises lose their value when practiced to death. Rote learning does not build reading skills. 

    • If a comprehensive study of rhythm has been followed, a student ensemble should be able to play these examples with very few bloopers. If mistakes are endemic, perhaps the curriculum needs revision.
    • These examples show how good a high school musician needs to be at reading rhythms.  A  professional could sightread these exercises perfectly; making mistakes would mean unemployment.
Instrument page 1 page 2 page 3 page 4
Violin
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Viola
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Cello/ Bass
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