Klarinet Archive - Posting 000782.txt from 2004/10

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] learning to transpose on the fly
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 00:10:58 -0400

At 11:45 PM 10/25/2004 -0400, Ejahls@-----.com wrote:
>I want to learn how to transpose on the fly -- how to look at written
>music and transpose (into any key) as I play. I know many musicians have
>an innate talent here. Not me. I'm going to have to develop the
>skill. Suggestions on how to go about this, please?

I don't think there is any secret or innate talent involved in learning how
to transpose on the fly. The more you practice it the better you get. I'd
recommend starting with C transposition (both for ease and most immediate
usability). Find some easier music from your past and practice playing it
up a whole-step. Make sure the music is easy enough such that you only have
to worry about the transposition and gradually increase the difficulty of
the music until you've reached your goal. There is no reason not to use
this method for any other key.

Some people use moveable clefs, I learned how to transpose before I knew
about moveable clefs and hence transpose by a combination of intervals and
key signatures. Some people use both methods depending on the situation. I
don't really think either is necessarily better, use whichever works best
for you.

-Adam

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