Klarinet Archive - Posting 000569.txt from 2006/03

From: "Ellis Johnson" <ellisjohnson@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Let's get real (was Transposed Parts)
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 03:24:50 -0500

I guess this is realated so hear me out.

I play primarily jazz, although I did play in the seattle youth
symphony for a while and was classically trained. As a jazz player,
you have to be able to transpose up or down or into whatever key your
rhythm section decides to do it in. I play lead alto/ clarinet in a
local big band and we were doing a couple charts with our vocalist and
the director decided that we had to adjust some of the keys the songs
were in and so we had to read some of the charts up 2 steps or down a
step, but either way, you just have to be able to do it. It is always
nice to be able to have an instrument in every key, but being able to
transpose on the fly is a very imporant skill and is something that
should be practiced. I am studying with Bill Smith right now and
usually in lessons, we will pull out a duet or two, play it through,
and then transpose into different keys and read it again. It helps a
lot.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

Ellis

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