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Welcome to the EIS forum

Craig Sharmat

Craig Sharmat

Moderator
Moderator
I would like to thank Frederick for not only coming up with the idea, but implementing and hosting this EIS forum. It is my hope that as time goes by many of the EIS (Equal Interval System) Masters will start to frequent this forum and share music and experiences with EIS students. Actually all graduates are still considered students of the course so there is a common ground.

For those coming here wondering what EIS is, it is a course of music study created by Lyle "Spud" Murphy. Spud in his earlier years was considered one of the top arrangers in the world and was employed by Benny Goodman at his prime. Many greats have studied with Spud, and his students have had much success in Film, T.V., Jazz etc. The list of accomplishments of EIS students are too large to list here but a site is being developed which hopefully you can check out soon. If you wish to know more about the course, you can post here. All EIS people are encouraged to post and discuss.
Click to read more...
 
I'd like to echo the thank you to Frederick but also a thank to Craig for agreeing to moderate as well. I plan on beginning lessons for the EIS method in January since I'm quite busy at the mo'. Thanks again guys - I also hope that this part of the forums grows and that the Masters will share their music and experience too. :)

FV
 
Welcome Mr. Sharmat and good luck for the new adventure.
I'm sure you'll be a good moderator and you will accept opinions. About that I'd like to give my two cents abo [Lux user has been banned from EIS forum] [topic closed]
:shock:
 
Recent Pic: January 24, 2005
2Spud-2.jpg

EIS Founder Spud Murphy
(with EIS Graduate Craig Sharmat)
 
I can finally post !!!

Can't wait to start the course !!! Still searching my coat closet for my 'Learning Cap' :)
 
SWL said:
I can finally post !!!

Can't wait to start the course !!! Still searching my coat closet for my 'Learning Cap' :)
Click to expand...

the learning cap oddly seems to grow from within the brain outward, like a muscle that needs to be exercised. Looking forward to you starting Scott.
 
Yes. I started EIS. I heard so much about it I couldn't resist. I'm into Book 2 so I still have no clue what's going on :) Nevertheless, I'm enjoying it & find it fascinating. I have high hopes that it will be very beneficial. It reminds me somewhat of Bach's polyphonic linear approach.

Now... (at the risk of sounding blasphemous). I completed a Bachelor of Music Degree & started a Masters in Music Theory. I finally had it with PhD.'s & escaped.
I've read a lot of books relating to music. I just find myself reading Spud's instructions multiple times & it still seems unclear what he is trying to communicate. The instructor's help seems mandatory in this course.

Might I suggest that someone, eventually, consider re-writing the EIS texts? I know it would be an immense task but, for the sake of posterity, it seems desirable. Most of the important developments in the history of music survive due to their effective documentation.

I'm not criticizing the course in any way. I just think the writing in the texts could be more clear. I hope I haven't insulted anyone.

EW
 
while rewriting Spuds instructions might prove helpful to certain students there is a lack of motivation to do this. It would only be as generous giving of someone, as the course itself is owned by the Murphy's at this time. to do this as you mentioned would be a monumental task with little if any chance for reward outside of self gratification or giving of oneself. I doubt there is anyone with this kind of free time on their hands.
 
I totally agree with EW, the course books are cryptic to say the least, and Spud's methodology for getting an idea across is more akin to Mr. Miagy than your typical college professor.

Nonetheless, I also agree with Craig in his assessment that there's nothing that can really be done by anyone at this stage. It is really a shame since the course is destined to more than likely die out...such a demise is probably not entirely unappealing to the few dozens who have graduated since they will find themselves with a skillset of a very rare nature indeed, however the art-is-universal part of me would hate to see that happen.

It would be very cool if someone could purchase the rights to EIS from Spud's family, and hire a professional writer to create a series of texts which could function as self contained and self-explanatory tutorials for how to correctly implement EIS into one's work.
 
Yes. A less cryptic rewrite would be a good thing. As is often the case with music teachers, their gifts with communicating with words are not equal to their musical gift.

I would suggest that the process could be similar to translating the King James Bible into contemporary English. Perhaps a team of 12 or more EIS graduates could collaborate on the project. One person would be responsible for a single book and all the members could review each others' work and make suggestions. It would be cool if somehow the material were available to the team online as it was being created (in a loosely Wikipedia-like fashion). This would also ensure that there was a level of uniformity throughout.

I know that Michael Mitacek was at one point trying to get at least part of the course available online through Pasadena City College.

I'm actually quite experienced with building SCORM-compliant courses for online learning management systems. The courses can have audio, video, text and various attachments (.pdf, or anything else you can think of) as well as quizzes along the way. Provisions can also be made to interact with a real instructor i.e., send in assignments for grading. email, etc.

Limiting the course material solely to private study with an EIS graduate is the least efficient means of distributing the material. Publish or perish!

BTW, how does one get officially designated as an EIS grad? Just curious.
 
The publish or perish quote is probably correct but as the course was always in a state of flux it was not entirely put to paper. There is a general opinion that the course is still not finished. There are parts of the course which need to be better setup to really allow the course to be published, but I still think it could stand on its on with a little sprucing up. By Book 12 many students are going enough already I have too much info.

A graduate of the course is one who has completed all 12 of the books in the course by studying from Spud (no longer an option) or a graduate of the course. These rules were determined by Spud.
 
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