The book covers the many musical styles that contemporary working musicians in the United States encounter: jazz, classical, rock, blues, Cuban, Brazilian, etc., and refers also to Bulgarian, Egyptian, Indonesian, Ghanaian and other styles. Examples from such styles illustrate rhythmic concepts. Co-author Julian Gerstin indicates that this is not a “how to play Brazilian music” type of book, but a clear, progressive approach to skills and concepts from basic (accurate note placement) to complex (improvisation and composition). Each chapter is followed by an extensive set of exercises.
Julian Gerstin adds: “Rhythm is still the least theorized part of music teaching, and, while MGTR focuses on practical application rather than theory, ethnomusicologists will read between the lines and discover ideas that apply more broadly. For example, the concept ethnomusicologists call “timelines” (guide patterns) is introduced not only in reference to African and Caribbean music, but jazz, funk, and Balkan music as well. The guide pattern concept becomes a key to organizing asymmetric patterns in general, part of a larger picture of rhythm built up throughout the book.”
MGTR is written by two long-time performers and music teachers, Julian Gerstin and Ken Dalluge. Julian is a long-time Society for Ethnomusicology member and a contributor to Ethnomusicology, Black Music Research Journal and other scholarly publications. He has done fieldwork in the Caribbean and with Caribbean and African immigrants in the United States, and currently teaches at Keene State College and performs in jazz, Afrocuban, and Balkan ensembles. Ken, who is based in Santa Cruz, California, was originally from Minnesota, the son and grandson of jazz trumpeters. Ken got his union card at 15 and, after music education studies in college, gigged across the country in jazz, rock, R&B, and show bands and, for six years in the 1990s, in France. Ken has also been deeply involved in Brazilian music, traveling to Sao Paulo many times and becoming a consecrated lead drummer in the Umbanda religion.
The Musician’s Guide to Rhythm is available in two versions, paperbound and wirebound.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
