What are /r/Tuba's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

https://smallpdf.com/shared#st=9824c600-489f-4337-9507-9e367ae0fe81&fn=C+Scales.pdf&ct=1611957601719&tl=share-document&rf=link

Here, when you're ready I'll have an explanation of instrument mechanics if you so desire

Yes he is a freelance tuba player in the greater New York area, bachelors Ithaca masters Yale, composed a piece called In the 90% which is fun to play, and he has put out a few CDs, here is one of them .

I'm a self-taught amateur composer, and while I've written for brass before (and even got performed), this is my first "serious" work for brass only. I say "only" because the percussion is basically an afterthought.

The sound I intended got so big sometimes, that I think the piece may be a bit tiring for the performers, so I may later rearrange it for concert band. I dunno, you tell me.

Here are the full score plus parts in case you wanna nitpick something :)

I'm conscious the piece's a bit over the top, I'm still thinking whether that's a good or a bad thing.

These are rotary valves, and these are piston valves. Is your tuba in Bb?

You could get some ideas from the German band at Epcot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDZ7Fn8a1_w

It might take some clever googling, but there should be a lot of footage for ideas.

Also, there is an official Christmas realbook. If you understand how to play a polka, you should have no problem faking any of the tunes as a polka. Also, not sure about the Kindle version, but if you acquired a PDF of the book, it would make using it so much more convenient...I think iGigBook has catalogued the tunes.

Gonna put out a vote here for the zoom h2n

https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2N-H2n-Handy-Recorder/dp/B005CQ2ZY6

It's an absolute trooper, perfect for field recording/a quick practice session, hooks up to a computer via usb and can act as a nice mic for lessons/whatever. Its tough, small, and batteries last for a damn long time. HIGHLY approved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaPiA83Kcn8

Here's a soundclip of me playing with one

This book is old but decent:

Rubank Elementary Method - Bass/Tuba (B.C.) (Rubank Educational Library: Elementary Method) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423445120/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ebzdFbJ5MGGGN

It covers both Eb and BBb fingerings.

Only trick i know for this would be tenor clef, but that is something learned by trombone and euphonium players. But, it is a good thing to know overall, and can be used to play all Bb treble clef parts, and helps with transposing in general.

If you are interested, https://www.amazon.com/Trombone-Vladislov-Blazhevich-University-Facsimile/dp/B016APUL2U is one of the best clef study books with some wonderful melodies / exercises. You would have to take some things down an octave though.

I've been using sunglasses hard cases. One of my gig bags has only one pocket, and a lyre I occasionally need ended up scratching the silver finish off my rim, and causing some gnarly skin issues on my lip.

I also use a Protec mouthpiece brush and wrap the mouthpiece in a sock. It's a little tricky to fit everything in the sunglass case, but it's better than the mouthpiece sitting loose in there, too. The brush protects the backbore in case of accidental dropping, and keeps the throat clean.

many things can help you. first of all, you'll obv need quite a bit of practice and you'll DEFINATELY need to toughen your chops. you lips are like a muscle. lips and air are key for cranking. you'll need to work on tone, control, and longtones before cranking. controlling your sound helps with being a good cranker on a marching tuba. mouthpiece is definately important. you'll need a mouthpiece that holds alot of air/a big cup size. https://www.amazon.com/EXCEART-Mouthpiece-Instrument-Accessory-Replacement/dp/B098F1PZ2S/ here's a good, yet cheap one. dont get a stupid fancy concert season mouthpiece or a cone shaped mouthpiece. not a smart idea, trust me. you also need to work on air. you'll also need to blow your ass off and play like you mean it. you can be standing there looking like a damn mannequin. you need blow your air out, relax, and play. work on breathing, dont smoke, work on your lips, scales, pedal notes, high notes, longtones, get a good mouthpiece, and dont be afraid to mess up during practice and rehearsals far from the actual even. dont fake it till u make it if u cant crank a part. play it normally until practice serves you right. u got this 💯

I'm never not going to call playing the oomp-ba tuba songs animal farts, so thanks for that. There are books and sheet music available out there where the tuba plays a melody. I recently received a book with tuba compositions that are all popular songs.

https://www.amazon.com/101-Hit-Songs-Tuba/dp/1705147097/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=UIHNZ13AF5C4&keywords=tuba+hit+songs+music&qid=1644326348&sprefix=tuba+hit+songs+music%2Caps%2C52&sr=8-1

I transposed the score for anyone who (like me) is used to read scores one octave higher:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=CA5856390C2F4598!3251&authkey=!AAiHE30c7QLn0vI&ithint=file%2cpdf

I always play in "Kuhlo-Notation" (Bb) at my local brass group.

So, if I understand it right I just have to transpose the score one octave higher?

-

edit: I just transposed #2 one octave higher, if anyone needs it:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=CA5856390C2F4598!3251&authkey=!AAiHE30c7QLn0vI&ithint=file%2cpdf

Sure thing! I post links to scans of the individual parts I use in my videos' "about" sections, but I can post the Finale file here in case you want to look at more of a "score." If you don't have nor want to buy a full version of Finale, you can download "Finale Notepad" for free off of their site to view files.

Smart Design Shelf Liner Classic Grip - (12 Inch x 10 Feet) - Drawer Cabinet Non Adhesive Protection - Kitchen [White] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWABX5U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_EY4965GBT52JYCW2EWH4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Would the one in this Amazon posting be good for an order? Or from where should I order one from?

https://www.amazon.com/Garibaldi-Sousaphone-Mouthpiece-609TNT-Elite/dp/B07P2CLCK1/ref=sr_1_25?dchild=1&keywords=garibaldi+609+elite+mouthpiece&qid=1628378915&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-25

Coming from someone that has played with a broken arms two different times I would suggest you get him a tuba rest because the tuba quickly becomes unwieldy.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Deg-A18MC100-Handy-Tuba-Rest/dp/B0002GNUWC

It may be a bit expensive for you but it will make his comfort infinitely better. Hope your son gets better!

You should buy the William Bell Tuba Solo collection, it has this solo and several others (from easy to very hard). It’s only $20 and comes with piano accompaniment and play-along CD. Well worth the money in my opinion.

It’s on amazon here

Save some cash and get a Blessing mouthpiece. They play as good as the "brand" names for a fraction of the price. https://www.amazon.com/Blessing-MPC24AWTB-Tuba-Mouthpiece-24AW/dp/B000A15XHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497050524&sr=8-1&keywords=blessing+tuba+mouthpiece

https://www.amazon.com/Blessing-MPC18TB-Tuba-Mouthpiece-18/dp/B0002FO8LU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497050524&sr=8-2&keywords=blessing+tuba+mouthpiece

It's dope, isn't it? Similar stuff can be done with a PS3 controller [$40] and Controllermate [$25] if you don't feel like building your own MIDI controller from scratch

http://www.amazon.com/Conn-Selmer-Inc-120S-Helleberg-Mouthpiece/dp/B0002DUPZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452531767&sr=8-1&keywords=helleburg+tuba+mouthpiece

more correctly the con-selmer helleburg 120s

I actually had to play that particular piece for my district band audition last year. It's out of the book Concert and Contest Collection by H. Voxman which has a lot of good material in it.(I've performed and auditioned on about half of the pieces in it)

Personally I can recommend Persiflage, which is much more fun and with less of a scary range than that one. The tuba part for Morceau de Concours actually has a harder range than the version of it that is in the Trumpet/Baritone books.

Almost anything on this CD is a great start. Also, I recomend picking up a copy. Zerkel is the epitome of great tuba sound!

This dude is a beast and these exercises are really helpful. Some of them are really difficult, but they all address several aspects of playing that everyone should work on.

Check out his recording of Samuel Jones' Tuba Concerto. It's awesome. It's on Spotify too.