I know this question is one that many piano plays might have a good answer to . Its about transposing songs- now i know this can be done from learning and practice but i noticed my dp piano has a transposing button to any key . So my point is why bother learing to transpose when my piano can do it for me ?

Transposing in real-time is hard. Personally it comes so far down my list of piano abilities I'd like to have I couldn't really give you an answer. Of course, if you needed to transpose and you weren't on your piano that would be a problem

Irving Berlin never learnt either and had a special transposing piano ... if it was good enough for him

However, you should know how to transpose because it's simple theory and if you don't understand that, you will probably find learning the theory will help you out. Some how ...

Well, for starters, it is important to at least understand the principles involved. For instance, let us say that you are playing with an alto saxophone, who is reading a piece in D major, and you are going to read off the same sheet. To what key are you going to set your "piano"? Then suppose you want to play the same sheet of music with a "regular" clarinet?

Stuff like that will get you going on an answer.

Ed

Why should I learn to transpose when my piano does it for me?

Why should I read a book when I could watch the movie? Why should I learn how to read a map when I have GPS? Why should I walk someplace when I can drive? Why should I learn how to cook when I can go to McDonald's?

All the same answer: You don't have to, but...

Edited to add: not picking on you, Dazzie, it's a perfectly valid question. Just my opinion that like lots of things, it's a worthwhile endeavor even if there's some gizmo that'll do it for you.

One reason is that certain voicings don't sound good when moved around by auto-transpose. On the other hand, the transpose button has saved my bacon on gigs.

Also when accompanying a vocalist the key maybe too high/low for the singers voice.

So, Bob, is that a plug FOR the transpose-to-any-key-magic-button?

Ed

LOL! no its learning to transpose on the fly!

Seems to me being able to transpose music is like being able to divide or find square roots long hand. It builds character and can be useful at times. But life is short, one must pick and choose.