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

[David McNaughtan]

You make some excellent points Michael, let me add one to them:

when playing works written for natural trumpet or early works for valved trumpet you can get a much better view of the structure and intonation of a work when you read it in the original natural key (usually written C major).

Best Wishes

David

________________________________________________________________________
David McNaughtan · Principal Trumpet, Philharmonisches Orchester Landestheater Coburg
McNaughtan Publishing · www.mcnaughtan.com


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Michael Anderson" <manderson at okcu.edu>
To: "Rod Brawn" <r_brawn at sympatico.ca>, "Galen Tromble" <grtromble at yahoo.com>, tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Received: 16.02.2008 18:00:07
Subject: Re: [TPIN] Re: transposition - is it just just a lot of nonsensetrumpet boasters


>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

>>