Lyle “Spud” Murphy

A Brief Bio of Spud Murphy

When I arrived in Los Angeles I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study The Equal Interval System ® with Lyle “Spud” Murphy. Spud was a legendary arranger in the Swing Era working with Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Glenn Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra and many others.  After WWII, Spud moved to Los Angeles and became a staff composer at Columbia Pictures.  He composed music for over fifty films there working with the likes of Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, William Holden and a young starlet named Marilyn Monroe. His best known “hit” from that era was a comic take on Three Blind Mice which became the Three Stooges’ theme song.

The Equal Interval System

The final third of Spud’s life was devoted to sharing and teaching the vast knowledge of his creation, The Equal Interval System.  This method is a totally unique way of viewing, organizing and understanding harmony and musical composition.  Spud began creating his system as a young man and continued refining it throughout his 97 years.  Continually urged by his peers in the music industry to teach them his techniques, Spud wrote and taught his 12 volume course. Through a carefully crafted series of simple, logical and thorough lessons, Spud gave his students all the tools necessary to create anything they could imagine musically.  The simplest pop song to the most complex serial or polytonal orchestral works are all within the range of his system.  It is an epic musical and intellectual achievement.

As one of only 9 people authorized and accredited to teach the course, I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to pass Spud’s knowledge, know-how and genius forward.

If you are interested in studying or learning more about the EIS course feel free to contact me here.  Or…

Contact Lilith Murphy via The Equal Interval System ® website:  Equalinterval.com