Ijoinedup

While reading around the forums I notice people mention the study of scores and transcribing them. So as a newbie I wondered what is they are looking at when they are studying these scores and transcribing them? So far Ive checked out a few scores and to be honest felt overwhelmed. I checked out which instruments were involved which was simple enough and then tried to work out the opening chord and looked at the rhythms of the parts. What I was wondering was what are some tips or ideas if what a newbie should be looking at on scores ? Also if there are any simple scores you'd recommend that'd be great. I had got a midi file and then loaded it into the demo version of finale. I did start to wonder how accurate the midi transcription was but knew none the better to question it. On the subject of transcription, what do people do when doing this?? do they just write out the scores and make mental notes as they go along ? or do they play the parts as they go along and write them, ? I serached the net but didnt really find much info on writing scores out by yourself. to those that offer help and advice thanks in advance

I've been looking at the free online ear training programmes as I see them as being superficial. I realise I was never really 'listeing' to music , rather just hearing it. So I have been working on intervals, mainly Major 3rd, Perfect 4th and 5th and Octave. I have trouble with the Maj 3rd and Perf 4th . Do many people use these ear programmes ? If yes how did you go about it? As in did you study intervals for along time then move onto chords ? I have tried listening to songs on the radio to see if I could recognise any intervals Ive been studying but the songs go by so fast.

So I'm teaching myself in small steps as I go along and so far have come up with the following exercise for myself. 1. Choose a simple song (something like Mary had a little lamb) 2. Harmonise the melody 3. Then move onto arranging and orchestrating the harmonised piece. This is all from a newbie/beginner perspective so Im leraning/fumbling as I go. Any advice or constructive criticism of this approach would be appreciated. I'd read that harmonising simple songs is a good activity for beginners so have decided to try it and now want to exapnd it into a arranging exercise. I'm using software to do this as I cant play an instrument and have been teaching myself theory as I go along. Is this a good way for a newbie to appraoch composing and arranging ? thanks for any help