Rob Adler Guitar

Preview Lesson: Itsy Bitsy Spider!

robadler — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 02:28:19 +0000

Here is a sample of a recent lesson I did with my NYC Guitar School student Roberta! We’ve been working on soloing with the pentatonic scales and negotiating key changes. Also, in the last two weeks we’ve been using the classic children’s tune “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to learn how to develop a solo from a motivic idea. The last half or so is us trying to get her computer set up for recording (not as riveting but still some good info in there!) Currently we’re working on recording the song into Garageband, so stay tuned!

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Prelude in C

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:37:49 +0000

I did this transcription of a nice little Bach Prelude for the guitar for MakeMusic’s release of Finale 2012, (it comes with the software, just look in the programs “Repertoire” folder if you’re curious). The purpose of the engraving was to show Finale’s capabilities when it comes to engraving pieces for guitar, which I think it does well!

Two Holiday Tunes

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:26:52 +0000

Haven’t you always said “Gee I wish someone would arrange O Tannenbaum into a tremolo study? Well now I have, and I threw in a Jazzed up version of Silent Night to boot! Never mind that it’s June, start practicing them now and they’ll be in tip top shape for all those holiday parties come this December!

In addition to Greensleeves, I also did these two arrangements for MakeMusic, which they published for the holidays this past year.

Greensleeves

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:13:48 +0000

I did this arrangement of Greensleeves for the music software company MakeMusic, which makes the engraving software Finale. They published this arrangement around the holidays this last year. Enjoy!

The Run Around

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:16:41 +0000

I wrote this piece to demonstrate how we can adapt the musical staff to better reflect a composition’s intentions. In this case the looped staff allows the composition to display a retrograde inversion without having to write out any additional music (a bit confusing but just read the “Notes” section).

Dance- Rob Adler

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Dance is a piece I composed for the guitar in the Winter of 2010, it is loosely based off the rhythm of a polka (I did live in Wisconsin for four years after all) with some jazz inspired harmonies and just a touch of Debussy. I’ve included a rough recording of the piece and the sheet music for your enjoyment!

Dance

Unmeasured Prelude

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:27:43 +0000

This is an unmeasured prelude for lute written by the Renaissance composer Ennemond Gaultier. I arranged the piece for classical guitar and tried to maintain the piece’s feel of rhythmic freedom and also maintain Gaultier’s original intentions. The signs that look like small commas next to individual noteheads indicate that the performer should play some type of embellishment (trill, mordant, etc.). The long swooping lines that look like phrase markings mean that the lowest note should be held out below the other notes connected by the line. The piece should not have an ambiguous rhythm, but instead an improvised rhythm with a definite pulse, resulting in a unique performance each time it’s played!

El Testamento d’Amelia

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:24:49 +0000

A recording I did of a beautiful Catalan folk tune arranged for guitar by Miguel Llobet…

El Testamento d’Amelia

The Grand Staff

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 02:21:37 +0000

Experimental Engraving

Another example of some experimental engraving I recently completed, this one playing with the conventional musical staff…

Wipeout Blues!

robadler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:20:28 +0000

To get everyone in the mood for summer here’s a surf tune I recorded a few years back:

Wipe Out Blues