Klarinet Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 1994/06

From: Bernard Hunt <ega028@-----.UK>
Subj: Re: transposing?
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 06:32:21 -0400

> What tricks are there to use when transposing?

The only 'trick' I know is that bass clef concert pitch parts can be
read as treble clef parts for bari sax (+ a key change, of course).

But in general, I think the best way to transpose is to learn to see
intervals between notes, rather than just reading the plain notes. This
way, you don't have to think 'this is a written C, I must play a B' or
whatever, instead you just know that you have to pay the note a third up
from tha last one you played or whatever. This is where practicing
scales, arpeggios and patterns really comes in useful ! This ability to
see 'shapes' and scalar patterns also makes playing in funny keys, and
fast runs a lot easier. I often see band parts which are lines of black,
and can usually do a pretty good job of sightreading them by identifying
the 'key notes' within the pattern, and it's overall shape.

Bernie