Schottenbauer Publishing

Sunday, August 31, 2014

What is Flexible Instrumentation?



Flexible instrumentation refers to a set of music which includes multiple scores for each part. Usually, this involves the provision of scores transposed for all common Western orchestral and band instruments, including the following:

  • Instruments in Treble C
  • Instruments in Treble F
  • Instruments in Treble Bb
  • Instruments in Treble Eb
  • Instruments in Alto Clef
  • Instruments in Bass Clef
  • Instruments in Low Bass Clef

These transposed scores can be used in any combination, to accommodate the availability of student instrumentalists when practicing the exercises.  

Flexible instrumentation chamber music is useful for small school or community ensembles (bands or orchestras) or home ensembles, when an unconventional number and/or type of instruments are likely to be present. In such cases, the traditional repertoire is either not available, or limited. Flexible instrumentation is also useful when the number and/or type of instrumentalists might change often, such that multiple traditional scores would need to be purchased. In each of these situations, flexible instrumentation provides a solution, without purchasing more than one score package.

Flexible instrumentation music for chamber music ensembles is available from Schottenbauer Publishing on MusicaNeo, along with other contemporary and pedagogical music by composer M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D. Two of the main offerings with flexible instrumentation include Big Print Ensemble and Learning Chamber Music.


Additional Information

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Expansion of the Series "Learning Chamber Music"

The series Learning Chamber Music has been expanded, to include trios, quartets, and trios with flexible instrumentation! This allows more students to benefit from the exercises originally written for piano trio.  

The full list of current editions now includes:


  • String Ensembles
    • Trio (Violin, Viola, Cello)
    • Quartet (2 Violins, Viola, Cello)
    • Quintet (2 Violins, Viola, 2 Cellos)
  • Woodwind Ensembles
    • Flute 
      • Trio
      • Quartet
    • Clarinet 
      • Trio
      • Quartet
    • Mixed Woodwinds
      • Trio (Flute/Oboe, Clarinet, & Bassoon/Cello)
      • Trio (2 Flutes/Oboes, & Bassoon/Cello)
      • Quartet (Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon)
      • Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Basoon)
  • Brass
    • Trio (Trumpet, Horn, Trombone/Euphonium)
    • Quartet (2 Trumpets, Trombone/Euphonium, Tuba/Bass Trombone)
    • Quintet (2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, Tuba/Bass Trombone)
  • Mallet Percussion
    • Trio
    • Quartet
  • Flexible Instrumentation
    • Band & Orchestral Instruments
      • Trio
      • Quartet
      • Quintet
    • Piano with Mixed Band & Orchestral Instruments
      • Trio
      • Quartet
      • Quintet
  • Piano Ensembles
    • Piano Trio (Violin, Cello, Piano)
    • Piano Quartet (Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano)
    • Piano Quintet (2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Piano)
    • Piano with Band & Orchestral Instruments, Flexible Instrumentation
      • Trio
      • Quartet
      • Quintet

Similar to the original edition of Learning Chamber Music (Piano Trio: Violin, Cello, and Piano), these new editions are divided into 7 sections, each with a particular theme: 
  • Part I: Tuning, Dynamic Balance, and Basic Rhythmic Exercises
  • Part II: Entrance and Timing Exercises (Tempo Setting and Timing)
  • Part III: Ending Exercises (Holding Notes Full Length and Fermatas) 
  • Part IV: Tempo Change Exercises (Accel. and Rit.; Section Changes)
  • Part V: Other Common Time Signatures (22, 24, 34, 68)
  • Part VI: Advanced Rhythm (Duple vs. Triple)
  • Part VII: Articulation and Stylistic Matching Exercises

All editions are accompanied by instructions for practice. Flexible instrumentation scores include parts for all common Western band and orchestral instruments, including those in Treble Clef (C, F, Bb, Eb), plus Alto Clef, Bass Clef, and Low Bass Clef.

Learning Chamber Music is available for purchase from MusicaNeo, along with other pieces by composer M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D.


Additional Information