[TPIN] Re: transposition - is it just just a lot of nonsense trumpet boasters

[Michael Anderson]

Ok... I'll take this one. :-)

Rod, you make some good points but let me counter with some others.

1. It is easier to learn to transpose than it is to re-engrave every trumpet
part on earth. It shouldn't be such a barrier and should be built into every
beginner's curriculum. The older you get the harder it is to learn.

2. Learning to transpose greatly enhances your ability to sight read music -
even that which doesn't require transposition.

3. Learning to transpose helps you to also learn to improvise.

4. Learning to transpose gives you more technical facility.

5. Learning to transpose allows you to play anything on the best horn that
works for you so that you aren't limited only to the horn the composer or
arranger thinks you should play. Its funny to watch a guy on a brass quintet
or orchestra gig with 4 or 5 different key'd horns bouncing from horn to
horn (and usually not sounding so good) simply to avoid transposition. This
guy either dogged it in college or should get some money back from his
trumpet teacher. :-)

6. Being able to change keys on the fly is a valuable skill in countless
situations where the key of the music changes for one reason or another.

7. Transposing isn't just for orchestral players!

I'm sure there are more.. But these are off the top of my head.

My question is why has learning to transpose more than a step either way
gone so out of favor in undergraduate trumpet curricula? I've noticed in
auditioning graduate students that come from respectable undergrad programs
more and more can't transpose more than a step. Even then, they aren't very
good at step transposition.

How can you get a degree in trumpet performance without being a competent
transposer? I just don't think it is being stressed or required anymore and
that doesn't seem right to me.

I have a polish student who sight reads and transposes circles around his
peers because he came from a European conservatory background where they
learn to solfege and transpose at an early age. The advantages he has over
the students who haven't had ANY ear training until they are freshmen in
college are remarkable.

Rather than avoid transposition, and therefore he music which requires it,
we should embrace it. Learn to transpose and you will be a better musician
and you'll feel more comfortable walking into unfamiliar circumstances.

MA

> From: Rod Brawn <r_brawn at sympatico.ca>
> Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:23:00 -0500
> To: Galen Tromble <grtromble at yahoo.com>, <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
> Subject: [TPIN] Re: transposition - is it just just a lot of nonsense trumpet
> boasters
> 
>     With modern electronics and music processing software, and with a group
> like our own, how long would it take to produce midi, finale, or sibelius
> files of most trumpet parts and then any player could download any part and
> play it on any instrument that he or she felt would be appropriate?

SNIP

>     As trumpet players, we need to eliminate the barriers to playing  as
> many works of the musical canon that employ trumpets so everyone can get at
> it. More performances of works with trumpets, and other real instruments
> will lead to more performances!! The transposition barrier is unecessary.
> Having clear well-set, I mean in terms of type settting and editions, will
> only lead to more performances of great music.
> ----- Original Message -----