Scores in C or transposing?

[Anders Hedelin]

I'm ever thankful that voices aren't transposing instruments...!

Well, not supposed to be anyway.

[OCTO]

The laziness of this topic equals learning G clef only and expecting everything else outside it to be written in octave (8va).
The bass clef is visually transposed G clef, and vice versa.

Just learn damn transposition. It is as difficult as learning riding a bike.

[MichelRE]

I think I may be misunderstanding the "laziness" comment.

I read very fluently in Treble, Alto, and Bass clefs. (as a matter of fact, I sometimes find myself reading material from Treble or Bass clefs in Alto, for some reason. It's like I can't turn off "alto mode" while reading.)

[Anders Hedelin]

The laziness of this topic equals learning G clef only and expecting everything else outside it to be written in octave (8va).
The bass clef is visually transposed G clef, and vice versa.

Just learn damn transposition. It is as difficult as learning riding a bike.

Octo, why so harsh on us who haven't got your speedy uptake? I learned how to ride a bike when I was 7 or 8, but still, at 74, haven't learnt to read a transposing score as fast as a newspaper article. In the the end I get there though, if the music is worth the effort.

Do you really think that I'm lazy? If so, welcome to visit reality.

[OCTO]

I think I may be misunderstanding the "laziness" comment.

Yes, that was indeed a bit awkward.

Just learn damn transposition. It is as difficult as learning riding a bike.

Octo, why so harsh on us who haven't got your speedy uptake? I learned how to ride a bike when I was 7 or 8, but still, at 74, haven't learnt to read a transposing score as fast as a newspaper article. In the the end I get there though, if the music is worth the effort.

Do you really think that I'm lazy? If so, welcome to visit reality.

Actually, it is matter of practicing. Let us say, instead of bike, something more serious – driving a car. Well, if you drive once in a while, you will be slow, perhaps very alert, easy tired and so on. If you don't drive for a few years – it will be even more daunting.

Learning how to read transposition can be tricky. It is like learning driving car by yourself or with a teacher.

Try this (not to you Anders, but to the general audience): play on the piano chromatic scale through two octaves, up and down, until you are fluent. Now play it with one hand in minor thirds up and down, until you are fluent. Then, play it with one hand in P4, and in P5, until it is fluent too. Next, play again in the major seconds, until you are fluent. You don't need to have the best ever LangLang-Horowitz fingering, don't worry.
It sounds pretty boring, no?
Now, play again in the minor thirds, but omit the tone below. Just use the same fingering, but do not play the lower pitches. Wonderful! Now you can play clarinet in A without any effort. Just play in m3 and omit the lower tone.

And I promise, after a few months, you will play directly transposed without any extra tones!

There is more about if you want to play 3 clarinets: in Bb, in A and in Eb - together. But it will be too long for today!

[JJP]

I had to think about this for a moment, but it seems quite clever! it’s not the way I learned, but now I’m going to play around with it.

[Anders Hedelin]

Octo, we are all different, with different needs and different inclinations. I'm rather fluent in transposition up to a point, but even if it would be nice to be better at that, as with anything, there are so many other things I'd rather develop as a musician. So, for me, writing scores in C is not being lazy, but being economical with the time and energy given to me.

[OCTO]

And – yes, I agree with you Anders!