Activities

• Transposition Practice

  • • Worksheet (PDF): Transpose melodies for different orchestral instruments. (From Stephen Emmons, A Survey of Music Theory for the College Classroom)

• Arranging for Transposing Instruments: Arrange a score in C for transposing instruments. Select one of the scores from the anthology and read the following directions. A link to this unit's anthology page is provided below. Navigate to the section: "Transposing Instruments."

  • • Kondo's "Overworld Theme" from Super Mario Bros: A piano score is provided in the anthology. Rewrite mm. 1–14 so that it can be played by a flute, clarinet, and bassoon trio. The flute and bassoon parts are already provided. Transpose the middle voice for B-flat clarinet. Add the appropriate clef, key signature, and time signature at the beginning of the staff. A worksheet is provided in the anthology. 

    • Samual Coleridge-Taylor, "Oh, The Summer": A score for two voices and piano is provided in the anthology. Arrange the score so that the voice parts can be played on an alto and tenor saxophone. Be sure to check the instruments' ranges before you begin. Add an appropriate clef, key signature, and time signature at the beginning. Remove the lyrics and re-beam the rhythms so that they're appropriate for 3/8 time. A worksheet is provided in the anthology. 

• Analysis with Transposing Instruments: A brass quintet arrangement of W. C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" and worksheets for practice are provided in the anthology. Complete one or both activities below: 

  • • Activity 1: Rewrite the Trumpet and Horn parts at concert pitch on the worksheet provided. 

    • Activity 2: The second Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone all play the same rhythms, but they don't play in unison throughout. In the space between the staves, notate the sounding interval between the Trombone and Horn part, and also between the Horn and Trumpet 2 part. You may find it helpful to rewrite the parts at concert pitch first, completing Activity 1 above.