Issue 17. Fall 2020:

Welcome to the World Rhythms News, an infrequent newsletter dedicated to world music education. To subscribe, use the form below. Follow instructions thereafter, and make sure to check "World Music Education" in the "Interests" section of the sign up process.

In this issue:

South Indian Vina Music
•In Western Notation with Guitar TAB
Blue Bear Masters
•Masterclasses at the Bear Online: Read Music Through Classical Guitar, World Beat Workshop, Indian Raga

South Indian Vina Music

In Western Notation with Guitar TAB

Pallavi

Ragam: Valaji (1,3,5,6,b7)
Talam: Adi (8 beats)
Arranged by Matthew Montfort

Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the steel string guitar). Montfort spent three months in intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the note-bending techniques of the South Indian vina to the guitar.

Those who wish to study South Indian gamaka (note embellishment) on guitar need not have a scalloped fretboard guitar in order to play this arrangement: an electric guitar with light gauge strings or an acoustic guitar tuned very low will work fine. It can also be sung or played on any instrument that can slide between notes.

This example from Montfort's studies with K.S. Subramanian is in a simple pentatonic raga (a melodic recipe for a mood involving ascending and descending scale patterns), which uses the root, major third, perfect fifth, major sixth, and minor seventh. The tala (rhythmic cycle) is a common 8 beat cycle known as adi tal, which is expressed with a hand clap on beat 1 (sam), a finger count with the pinkie on beat 2, a finger count with the ring finger on beat 3, a finger count with the middle finger on beat 4, a clap on beat 5, a wave on beat 6, a clap on beat 7, and a wave on beat 8.

Pallavi MIDI Files

GM Standard MIDI files of this South Indian gamaka exercise are presented here, arranged for General MIDI guitar and conga and bongo:

Pallavi MIDI File (chromatic). >play. This arrangement of the above example is offered to play along with. The file has no note bends, so it functions well as an intonation guide.
Pallavi MIDI File (with gamaka). This file will not playback properly online, so download the file first and then load it into your MIDI sequencing program. This arrangement includes all of the note bends, but since many of the bends are more than a full step, this file requires that the pitch bend function on the playback module be set to +-12 half steps. The tempo should be set at about 30 beats per minute.

Further Resources

Check out Matthew Montfort's Indian Raga for Western Musicians online class. To learn more about the rhythmic side of Indian music, check out these online exercises in Indian tala and sign up for the Got Rhythm online class. Have trouble reading music on guitar? Sign up for his Learn to Read Music Through Classical Guitar online class. Can't make the class? Schedule a private online lesson!

Blue Bear Masters

Matthew Montfort's Masterclasses Return to the Bear Online

Matthew Montfort taught music at the Blue Bear School of Music for over two decades. This fall, he returns to teach three virtual masterclasses:

1. Learn to Read Music Through Classical Guitar Technique

November 3 to December 8, 2020 (Postponed from September 29), Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, Learn to Read Music through Classical Guitar Technique, Blue Bear School of Music Online. This class by Matthew Montfort will get you started learning to read standard music notation, while at the same time introducing foundational classical guitar technique that you can also apply to other styles of playing. You'll learn simple etudes and classical pieces, great for boosting your fingerstyle skills while actually having fun learning to read music! Tuition: $160 for six weeks. Buy Tix . Facebook Event.

2. Got Rhythm?

World Beat Workshop Returns to Blue Bear Online September 30 to November 4

November 4 to December 9, 2020 (Postponed from September 30), Wednesdays from 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM, World Beat Workshop, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Matthew Montfort’s Got Rhythm World Beat Workshop is presented in an easy to follow, entertaining, yet educational format for all music lovers. African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan and Indian classical music are presented because these traditions cover the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. This training from Montfort's book, Ancient Traditions -- Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India, can help anyone with a desire to improve their rhythmic skills. Tuition: $200 for six weeks. Buy Tix . Facebook Event.

Get Rhythm!

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort.

Comb Bound Book. $46.95 SALE $33.95. Buy 1 Now.
Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Files. $74.95 SALE $53.95. Buy 1 Now.
Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download. New Best Buy! $69.95 SALE $49.95. Buy 1 Now.
Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set. New Release! $34.95 SALE 24.95. Buy 1 Now.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists. The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones.

3. Indian Raga for Western Musicians

Improve Your Improvisation Skills Through Melodic Training

November 5 to December 17, 2020 (Postponed from October 1), Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:30 PM, Indian Raga for Western Musicians, Blue Bear School of Music Online. World fusion pioneer Matthew Montfort will help you improve your soloing in any music genre from rock to jazz to free improv through melodic training. You'll learn the emotional power of each interval and how to construct meaningful melodies through the tradition of Indian raga. Open to all instruments. Tuition: $200 for six weeks. Buy Tix. Facebook Event.

Private Online Music Lessons

With Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort

Private Online Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

60 Minute Lesson- $75. (Sale $60 for new students): Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
45 Minute Lesson- $65. (Sale $50 for new students): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
30 Minute Lesson- $50. (Sale $40 for new students): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

There are many advantages to online lessons. The lessons can easily be recorded, and it is easier to evaluate a student's technique with a camera than from behind a music stand. The main drawback to online lessons is that recording software is needed to perform duets due to internet latency issues. But duets are possible online via file exchange, digital audio workstations, and a free browser-based multitrack recording platform.