Transposition

 I first became aware of the magic of transposition at quite an early age, probably before I had learnt to properly read music. The idea that the same piece of music could be played using completely different notes (on the piano) was a revelation to me. Until then I think I must have assumed that there was one and only one way to play any particular tune.

For example I think it was my mother that taught me to play my first melody on the piano ... a little children's chorus called 'I am H-A-P-P-Y'.  (by the way its strange that it was Mum, if indeed it was, for she couldn't really play the piano ... I guess she had just been shown how to do this piece)

Now the strange thing about this, looking at the music, was that it only used 4 notes, and yet to play it in this key (F major) , needed the use of a black note. If I had been taught it in C major or G major it could have been played all on white notes, which to my mind would make it easier to teach a young child. But the way I though it had to be played was in the key of F (not that I knew the note names or anything like that at the time... I was probably about 5 or 6.

So the piece where I eventually discovered transposition was much more complex. Its a tune well loved of budding young piano players in those days which we knew as 'Chopsticks' (although it isn't the one that appears when you Google that name ... so I have no idea what the real name of this piece is!!)  I don't think it appeared in the piano primers, but rather seems to be passed around by demonstration from one child to another (those were the days when quite a lot of people had a piano).

Well I first learnt it like this .... note the strange way I twist my hand to play the Bb/E chord ... this was exactly as I first learnt it!

So my sisters and I had been playing this tune in this key for quite some time (incidentally I was very proud of the fact that we could play something using both hands, as it sounded so much more like proper piano music, 'than the one hand a time' music I was starting to learn in the piano primer at the time).

Then one day, we were visiting some children who lived across the road - I don't even recall their names, and one of them played this piece, recognisably the same piece, but almost entirely on the black notes! I was gobsmacked - didn't realise you could do that! So we switched to that key, as for this particular piece its much easier to play (from ear) on the black notes (with sheet music it would have been more difficult as there would be masses of sharps or flats to decipher). On the black notes we also learnt more of the piece .... so here again, from memory, is how it went...

So that is how I first discovered transposition. Interestingly I have no idea what key I was playing in for either of these demonstrations ... I could work it out of course, but I suppose that again illustrates my own particular musical skillset - I can play this music, by ear, that I learnt more than 50 years ago, without ever considering what key each rendition is in! I just know they are different keys.

By the way if anybody knows the name of this piece, I would be interested to find out!

About me

 About me (as far as musicality is concerned!)

I have never been able to work out if my own particular musical aptitude is in any way unusual, or just what any musically literate person can achieve. Here is a summary of my particular talents as I see them, an honest appraisal hopefully, but those who know me can judge if I am wrong!

 

1. So I can read music, but not particularly brilliantly: sight reading either for voice or instrument is unlikely to come up with a perfectly correct rendition, but will probably be about 80% accurate for a fairly straightforward piece, less so for complex rhythms or lots of accidentals
2. Learning by ear is much easier for me. In a choir piece, once I know my part, I only need the music to remind me of words, dynamics or expression (unless it is particularly tricky bit) … I sing the notes by memory.
3. Harmonising comes completely naturally. Whenever I hear a melody, once I have heard it a couple of times, I am likely to start humming my own harmonies, often without even realising I am doing so. Being forced to sing a melody all the time feels like being put in a straitjacket to me.  Especially in church. I don’t know how much this can be explained by my childhood background in the Brethren, where we sang unaccompanied, in harmony, without any music, in our morning meetings of open worship (…. My father was the ‘precentor’ in our fellowship, who led everyone in singing, by selecting an appropriate tune for whatever hymn had just been chosen by one of the congregation, and pitching it appropriately.)
4. So I can sing harmonies to songs without first planning them or writing them down. I can record parts for simple tunes 'on the fly' without knowing what  I planned to sing in any formal way …. For me it can be much more effort to notate the music than to just perform it (although I am also perfectly capable of notating, composing and arranging using formal scores)
5. This all applies to voice, but to a certain extent to instruments too. I am not a particularly accomplished instrumentalist of any sort, but can easily pick out a tune on piano, recorder or clarinet if someone mentioned a song that I knew. And can sing along with a guitar playing basic chords to many simple melodies (…. Or at least I used to be able to do so, I’ve not picked up a guitar for years so I am sure I would be a bit rusty!)
6. Some accomplished musicians say that they need the music in front of them, and are completely stumped if asked to play something, however simple, without music …. Well that’s not me! Once again I think it comes from my father, who is a very competent pianist, but plays much better without the notes in front of him.
7. Other musicians can only play by ear, never having learnt to read music, or seen the benefit in doing so. That's not me either - I am pretty fluent in the 'language of music' in its written form - I can read it, write it, sing from it, play around with it....
8. Perhaps I am the best of both worlds? Or maybe Jack of all trades, master of none? Who knows?!

 

So this is me, a summary of what I know about my musical aptitudes. What I don’t know, is if my talents are in any way special or unusual? I’ve never mixed with enough musicians to get a feel for this!

In this blog I will perhaps explore the limits of my musicality, to find out how and where I should focus to extend my capabilities. Hopefully some of my readers will offer ideas and assistance to me in this journey, and we will be perhaps able to help and support one another as we develop our musical lives.

Introduction to this blog

 Introduction

 I have created a number of blogs, for various purposes, usually as a convenient and free place to put some content online, but this is the first one that is intended to be more like a 'proper blog' in the way the term is usually understood. In other words it is a place where I will publish thoughts and ideas from time to time, for people to read and comment on. That's what a blog is supposed to be isn't it? Something a bit interactive! 

The subject of the blog is all things musical. Making music has always been an important part of my life. Here I will  discuss the creative process, look at aspects of musicality, discuss technical tools I use to help with aspects of music learning/creating/understanding, and share some of my projects. And anything else that springs to mind!