Transposing

[windshieldbug]

I'm well-rounded, but it has nothing to do with transposition!

(the tuba and I were born for each other... )

[djwesp]

I was good at it until I had to do it

Yeah, I probably should have prefaced my statement by stating I am not that great at it. Even though I work on it.


(this edit, provided by a lesson/rehearsal today where I bitched the entire time about having to transpose a part that should have been easy)

[corbasse]

Being drilled in solfege with moveable and fixed "do" should help someone become good at this.

bloke "I think you have to practice doing it and keep it up."

A) I don't know. All musical education around here starts with a separate solfege course where the kids have to jump through many musical hoops. (Exams at amateur level with sightreading in seven clefs and all keys were only abolished a decade or so ago)
Most twelve year olds here have solfege skills I didn't achieve until my final years conservatory in Holland, but still the baritone sax sitting next to me in band this weekend who didn't have the part to an easy march couldn't sight-read my part. (Transposed Bb Bass clef, to be read one tone down for bari)
so
B) yes, you definately need practice and keep it up. As a (former) french horn player I've noticed my skills in transposing especially Bb, C and B nat. parts is going down fast...

[eupher61]

one knowledgeable and dependable source tells me the Db piccolo is a creature of "Stars and Stripes" for orchestra. Putting the solo into G made it a bear to play, so an instrument was made 1/2 step higher.