In my experience, Violists don�t mind treble clef so much as they mind having to change clefs often. It�s a real pain to switch one's thinking for four measures just to avoid a couple of ledger lines. Your general rule is a pretty good one. If I�m seeing four or more ledger lines for four measures, I�m pretty not happy about it, and trying to find ways to re-write so it�s easier to read. It sounds like your score would be better served using treble clef as the predominant clef with occasional forays into the alto-clef range, from my experience, a fairly common sight in solo viola music.
> From: Ryan Beard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:02:10 -0700 (PDT) > To: finale <[email protected]> > Subject: [Finale] clef changes > > Hi folks, > > I'd be interested in getting some opinions regarding > clef changes. And, if any violists are out there, I'd > love to hear how you feel about reading in treble clef > for extended periods of time. > > I'm working on a viola sonata right now, and the > composer stays pretty high in the range throughout the > whole piece. His manuscript is mostly in treble, but > that's due to his inexperience with the alto clef. In > fact, he used ledger lines down to the open C in one > passage. He told me to changes clefs as necessary to > fit the music. > > i'm inclined to leave large portions of it in treble > clef, just to give the performer's eyes a break. > > Do any of you have some rules of thumb you'd like to > share? How many ledger lines above the staff would you > go in alto clef? How many below in treble clef? 3 on > either side? > > Thanks, > > Ryan > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/ > _______________________________________________ > Finale mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale > _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
