50 Progressive Duets in Alto Clef

There is no better way to learn a new clef than to begin with simple exercises and gradually
introduce concepts such as melodic skips, accidentals, difficult key signatures and
complicated rhythms. There are very few duet books available that are exclusively in alto
clef. As any teacher knows, playing duets in lessons or with other players can reinforce a
student’s confidence and provide a more enjoyable way to practice a new clef. Using duets
to learn the clef also effectively doubles the number of available exercises.
As was the case with my 50 Progressive Duets in Tenor Clef, the goal of this book is to provide
an enjoyable vehicle for learning and practicing in a new clef. Some of the duets are
original compositions and some are arrangements. They are all written in such a way that
although the player may not have prior knowledge of the melody, they will realize when a
mistake has been made. This prevents the possibility that a student is simply playing by ear
instead of reading the music.
Most students learning to play the alto trombone must do so by starting with standard alto
trombone literature. The difficulty of those works along with having to learn new positions
is frustrating to new players. All the duets in this book fall within the alto trombone range.
The progressive nature makes it an excellent study for learning to play alto trombone since
students can concentrate on positions and intonation while playing easy exercises in alto
clef.
Exercises one through thirty are all one-page or less in length and numbers thirty-one
through fifty are all two pages in length. No melodic skips are included in the first six
exercises and the key signatures do not go beyond three flats. More difficult key signatures,
asymmetric time signatures, fast passages in the upper register, and cadenzas are a few of
the techniques gradually introduced in later duets.
A wide variety of styles and forms are represented throughout the book. The final six duets
are arrangements of concertos and sonatas originally written for alto trombone. They
include works by Albrechtsberger, Fux, Wagenseil, and Michael Haydn. The top parts of
these duets have been constructed primarily from the original solo part and the bottom
parts come primarily from the accompaniment. In the case of the Michael Haydn
Concerto for Horn and Alto Trombone, the top voice is taken from the horn part and the
bottom voice from alto trombone part.
I hope you find these duets useful as well as enjoyable to play.
46 Babcock - 50 Progressive Duets

43
Fantasia V

Orlando de Lassus
ed. Ron Babcock

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* The eigth note remains constant. Beat value alternates between two and three
eighth notes. Note groupings dictate triple or duple division of the beat.
Dashed bar lines indicate convenient starting points.
 Babcock - 50 Progressive Duets 47

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