Study books for tenor / alto clefs

[NotATrumpet]

Suggestions, please, for books of studies that will help me develop my tenor and alto clef reading.

[hyperbolica]

Lafosse sight reading and style books cover clefs. Blazevitch of course. Brad Edwards has a tenor and alto book. The later Rochut. Ralph Sauer wrote at least one clef studies book. A lot of people complain about clef studies that change clefs in the middle of a measure, but that's the kind of thing that you have to be able do to really know clefs. I had teachers that made me use Top Tones for Trumpet book to read tenor (trumpet music). I also have several Real Books in treble clef, which is one of those things that some trombone players overlook. Switching between tenor/treble/alto can be tough because treble is right in between tenor and alto (if you ignore the octave). Also, for some reason, some people get through without being able to switch octaves easily, and just read up or down an octave or two is an important skill. I never learned but wish I would have learned french horn transposition (mezzo-soprano clef, add 1 flat). Eb instruments are easy - just read in bass clef and add 3 flats. Some transpositions can be handled with clefs, so there are few things you can learn that are as valuable as clefs. Not to mention that a lot of classical tenor parts are written in tenor. Alto is more rare, but when you need it.it's nice to have it in your toolbox.

[fsgazda]

With my students I have used the Brad Edwards book, which is very systematic. I have also used the Reginald Fink books "Introducing the Tenor Clef" and "Introducing the Alto Clef". They are good, but then you have to buy 2.

The Ralph Sauer clef studies book is very good, but it is just music, no exercises or guidelines. It is good for students who might pick these things up faster.

After the student hets comfortable with tenor and alto, I think that Blazevich for clef switching is still the go to.

[JohnL]

Suggestions, please, for books of studies that will help me develop my tenor and alto clef reading.

Just to be clear, you're not learning to read alto and tenor clef, you're looking to hone your reading skills?

There's some alto and tenor clef material in Mantia's The Trombone Virtuoso. The first edition is in the public domain and can be downloaded from IMSLP.
https://imslp.org/wiki/The_Trombone_Vir ... a,_Simone)

Based on my impression of your musical skill, I expect you'll work through it pretty quickly and move on to other books, but it has the virtues of being free and being on your music stand in the time it takes to download and print it.

[Mamaposaune]

David Uber wrote etude books for tenor and alto clef, 2 separate books, one for each. Each etude appears in bass clef alongside the one in the respective C clef. (A requirement from the publisher that I know he was not happy with!) I think they are still available.
I learned the clefs from the Simone Mantia method, so am partial to using that with my private students. And there is so much more in his book, much more enjoyable to play, IMO, than scale-based books such as the Arban method.
I get the need to be able to switch clefs quickly on the fly, which the Blazevitch book gives you plenty of practice at. I just don't think it's the best place to start.

[Jimprindle]

A million years ago my college trombone teacher made me learn alto clef first (even though I was a bass trombone player). I think Blazevich. After that tenor clef, Bb trumpet, and c treble clef was easy. Eb transposition is related to bass clef with accidental adjustments. F French horn some people use mezzo soprano clef, I prefer interval transposition, easy once you do it a few times. All the previous books mentioned are excellent

[Gfunk]

I’ll also add that playing Bordogni, Arbans, or other etudes you’re familiar with in tenor clef can be very beneficial. It’s important to use something you’re familiar with. Because you already know how it goes, you can course correct pretty quick. Tenor clef you add one sharp/natural (Bb major becomes F major, G major becomes D major). If you want to go even simpler, Cimera etudes work well too.

Alto clef transposition usually ends up too high for Bordogni and Arbans (up a major seventh. Bb becomes A but up an octave, not down a half step). If you use any low studies they can work really well if transposed to alto clef. The Richard Fote edition of the Kopprasch studies is a perfect example of this. There’s also the Fink bass trombone studies and Gregoriev etudes that work okay. You want to pick the ones that are mostly in the staff. Though this is more of a later idea if you become bored with the above dedicated clef books or are already doing work out of these low studies. Stick to simple stuff at first.

[Kdanielsen]

My favorites are

Uber: 23 Virtuoso Clef Studies and Symphonic Studies in Alto Clef. Both are great.
Kahila: Advanced Studies

I also like reading the Getchel First and Second Book of Practical Studies for Trumpet and Colins Mini Etudes for Trumpet in various clefs. I do these in treble, tenor, alto, mezzo soprano, and bass, and also in various clefs on alto trombone. The Getchel isn't very complicated so they are perfect for clef practice.

[NordicTrombone]

I really enjoyed the Blazevich Sequences when I worked on my clef reading. Each sequence has a passage that moves up within the key and switches clef when needed. It can be found here: https://clara.imslp.org/work/484249?imslpIndex=298930

I prefer the Mulcahy version: https://www.juneemersonwindmusic.com/SE ... 767ffNUAvQ

[BrassSection]

My Sunday horn lineup: trumpet, trombone, euphonium on the ready always. French horn occasionally. Music…chord sheet, concert pitch. Gave leader transpose chart so he can also include proper transposed chord sheets for trumpet only brass players. Bass clef reader 60+ years. Treble clef, played trumpet regularly and French horn occasionally 50+ years. Bb horns no problem with chord sheet, play trumpet thinking in bass clef. Comfortable reading treble, have occasionally played a trumpet part on trombone, and occasionally get treble clef baritone parts for euph. No sweat. Occasionally run some practice on tenor clef, primarily to cover cello part on euph. Never actually needed, one time I did cover cello part, it was in bass clef. Not sure even where I got it, but have scales in tenor clef for trombone. Transposition for my F only French horn…forget it. Easiest way for me was drill correct fingerings into my head so I can see Ab (or whatever note) on the sheet and play a true Ab. Many times I have played French horn for a song in anything but F. Tomorrow something new…gonna play a song in F on french horn. My tuba, yeah, it’s BBb. Bottom line, only put in my head what I really need for my church, occasional ensemble, or community band playing.

[CalgaryTbone]

For the OP - I generally suggest books like the Fink studies that were suggested as a good starting point. If you already have some experience with alto and tenor clef, then some more difficult etudes like Blazevich - Clef Studies, or the Uber and Kahila studies are good. Best to start with easier material, and play it well for getting started rather than playing material that has you starting and stopping a lot.

I also like to use the Arbans Trumpet Book (not the trombone version) and have my students read it in various clefs and keys. It's a way to get much more out of the Arbans - wider range, more difficult keys by using adjacent key signatures (something in B flat can be read in B). You can also work on getting a more consistent tone and articulation through the registers by reading the same short etude as if it's in Bass Clef, Tenor Clef and Alto Clef. Also, this is good for intonation - students start discovering inconsistencies when they play the same material in sharps vs. flats, or low range vs. high range.

Jim Scott

[NotATrumpet]

My favorites are

Uber: 23 Virtuoso Clef Studies and Symphonic Studies in Alto Clef. Both are great.
Kahila: Advanced Studies

I also like reading the Getchel First and Second Book of Practical Studies for Trumpet and Colins Mini Etudes for Trumpet in various clefs. I do these in treble, tenor, alto, mezzo soprano, and bass, and also in various clefs on alto trombone. The Getchel isn't very complicated so they are perfect for clef practice.

Sorry, but imagine I'm not that bright and you're having to explain to me how to use a trumpet study book to help me read different clefs. I can read treble clef from my brass band days, just can't see how that translates to different clefs. Thanks

[NotATrumpet]

For the OP - I generally suggest books like the Fink studies that were suggested as a good starting point. If you already have some experience with alto and tenor clef, then some more difficult etudes like Blazevich - Clef Studies, or the Uber and Kahila studies are good. Best to start with easier material, and play it well for getting started rather than playing material that has you starting and stopping a lot.

I also like to use the Arbans Trumpet Book (not the trombone version) and have my students read it in various clefs and keys. It's a way to get much more out of the Arbans - wider range, more difficult keys by using adjacent key signatures (something in B flat can be read in B). You can also work on getting a more consistent tone and articulation through the registers by reading the same short etude as if it's in Bass Clef, Tenor Clef and Alto Clef. Also, this is good for intonation - students start discovering inconsistencies when they play the same material in sharps vs. flats, or low range vs. high range.

Jim Scott

You're another person who has suggested using trumpet studies. I must be missing something. Would you mind telling me how that works in simple terms? I can read treble clef already. Do I just read the study as is but merely change the clef? Thanks.

[hyperbolica]

You're another person who has suggested using trumpet studies. I must be missing something. Would you mind telling me how that works in simple terms? I can read treble clef already. Do I just read the study as is but merely change the clef? Thanks.

Trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, all that Bb transposed music can be read in Tenor clef. Just forget the treble clef and replace it with a tenor clef in your mind. So the 4th line from the bottom is a middle C. = And you have to add 2 flats (or remove 2 sharps) to the key signature. So What looks like a D in treble clef would play like middle C in tenor clef. It comes out sounding the same as if a trumpet player were reading it, but an octave lower.

Another common clef transposition is reading Eb parts, like alto or bari sax that are notated in treble clef can be read by making it bass clef and adding 3 flats.

[NotATrumpet]

You're another person who has suggested using trumpet studies. I must be missing something. Would you mind telling me how that works in simple terms? I can read treble clef already. Do I just read the study as is but merely change the clef? Thanks.

Trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, all that Bb transposed music can be read in Tenor clef. Just forget the treble clef and replace it with a tenor clef in your mind. So the 4th line from the bottom is a middle C. = And you have to add 2 flats (or remove 2 sharps) to the key signature. So What looks like a D in treble clef would play like middle C in tenor clef. It comes out sounding the same as if a trumpet player were reading it, but an octave lower.

Another common clef transposition is reading Eb parts, like alto or bari sax that are notated in treble clef can be read by making it bass clef and adding 3 flats.

Got it. Thanks

[CalgaryTbone]

Alto clef is essentially like a D transposition. The other thing that can be done is do a 1/2 step transposition in whatever clef you are in by changing the key signature. You can play something that is in B flat major in tenor clef, in B major (you do have to adjust any accidentals - not a big deal once you get the hang of it). I think this is an important thing to do with Arbans, which is too centred around the flat keys.
The reason that I suggest doing this with the Trumpet version of Arbans is that the notes are written in the staff with minimal ledger lines, so when you "transpose" to other clefs, you are playing in the center of that clef. You can do the same process to the bass clef Arbans, but the ranges are less user-friendly. If you want to work some of that material in more extreme registers, you can always add in an octave change, and the key signature change can be done to any etude that uses key signatures.

Jim Scott

[Kdanielsen]

You can read anything in any clef, you just need to change the key signature. They are just lines. Decide they mean something else. Some work better than others for the accidentals. I don't transpose, but I do read clefs. I can't think about both transposing and clefs at the same time while playing or I get pretty confused so I just think about clefs.

[CalgaryTbone]

You can read anything in any clef, you just need to change the key signature. They are just lines. Decide they mean something else. Some work better than others for the accidentals. I don't transpose, but I do read clefs. I can't think about both transposing and clefs at the same time while playing or I get pretty confused so I just think about clefs.

I agree wholeheartedly - I did use the word "transpose" in italics because when we do this, we are moving the music to another key, range, etc.

By the way, many people who have to transpose some of their music in the orchestra use other clefs as a tool to facilitate that. I know a lot of conductors use them rather than thinking in intervals when they are looking at a score. When I was in school, most of the trombone players were using the treble clef Arbans in the way I've shown in previous posts, but the trumpet players were using the trombone book because learning the bass clef made the common E flat, E, and F transpositions easier. I get why we are specific in our language about the difference, but no matter what, we are just teaching our brain to be able to read familiar notes in a less familiar location on the staff. I will say that I am glad the trombone almost always uses clefs for this purpose. Not too long ago, we were playing an opera where the French Horns had 7 different transpositions in their parts!

Jim Scott