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Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
my time
I get "my time" at least once a week when I go to band. It's a local community-type band that is run through the local JC. Also, "kids" that are attending the JC are in the band too. There are three "levels" of bands at the JC, and this is the best. And, if I do say so myself, I think the (symphonic) band is quite good. Anyway... I usually play trumpet. But this time around, we have 13 trumpets. So the director asked if anyone could or wanted to play something else. I am always up for trying new instruments, so I said that I didn't play anything else, but I'd be willing to try. So, I am now playing euphonium (aka baritone). Luckily, most nonprofessional music and groups provide euphonium music in both treble and bass clef. I can read both clefs, but, here is where it gets complicated. If you are not musically inclined, feel free to skip this. If I read the euphonium part in treble clef, I can just use the same fingerings as if I'm playing trumpet. But if I read bass clef, I have to transpose everything a whole step up. Well, last night we had a rehearsal for a concert we are doing next week (with the local high school band, a benefit for them), and two of the pieces I hadn't seen before because I missed the last two rehearsals (being sick and then on vacay). So, the first one we only had in bass clef. Ha... what a sight. I was sight-reading and transposing all at the same time. I think I got maybe every third note. Oh, and the key did NOT help. The next piece I hadn't seen before either, but thankfully it was in treble clef. It felt like such a breeze in comparison. The funny thing (to me) is that if I hadn't had the bass clef one first, I am sure the treble clef one would have seemed hard. But in comparison, it was easy. Oh, the tricks your mind can play.
my time
I get "my time" at least once a week when I go to band. It's a local community-type band that is run through the local JC. Also, "kids" that are attending the JC are in the band too. There are three "levels" of bands at the JC, and this is the best. And, if I do say so myself, I think the (symphonic) band is quite good. Anyway... I usually play trumpet. But this time around, we have 13 trumpets. So the director asked if anyone could or wanted to play something else. I am always up for trying new instruments, so I said that I didn't play anything else, but I'd be willing to try. So, I am now playing euphonium (aka baritone). Luckily, most nonprofessional music and groups provide euphonium music in both treble and bass clef. I can read both clefs, but, here is where it gets complicated. If you are not musically inclined, feel free to skip this. If I read the euphonium part in treble clef, I can just use the same fingerings as if I'm playing trumpet. But if I read bass clef, I have to transpose everything a whole step up. Well, last night we had a rehearsal for a concert we are doing next week (with the local high school band, a benefit for them), and two of the pieces I hadn't seen before because I missed the last two rehearsals (being sick and then on vacay). So, the first one we only had in bass clef. Ha... what a sight. I was sight-reading and transposing all at the same time. I think I got maybe every third note. Oh, and the key did NOT help. The next piece I hadn't seen before either, but thankfully it was in treble clef. It felt like such a breeze in comparison. The funny thing (to me) is that if I hadn't had the bass clef one first, I am sure the treble clef one would have seemed hard. But in comparison, it was easy. Oh, the tricks your mind can play.
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