My first lesson....

[The Big Ben]

Yo!

Had my first tuba lesson yesterday. Delightful older gentleman named Sanford Feibus who lives about a half hour's drive from me in Sequim, WA. (I'm in Port Townsend.) He's a retired school band director and is a brass guy, mainly 'bone but plays a lot of tuba also.

The lesson went well. We spent a little time in front of a mirror looking at my embrossure and learning about buzzing, then moved to the mouthpiece for a little while and then to the horn.

Anyone care to remember my problem? (Didn't think so...) I couldn't get the low F on the bottom of the staff. I was using a tuner and, when I blew a Bb, the tuner said 'Bb'. Being a Trumpet Doofus, the main thing I knew about the tuba was that it 'played low' so, when I blew a Bb and the tuner said 'Bb', I thought I was playing the Bb, second line of the staff. At the beginning of the lesson, Sanford plunks his piano and tells me that note I was playing was the Bb below the staff. Oh. I guess I don't have the problem with the F at the bottom of the staff but, after a lot of work on my own, I can almost play the pedal-F.... Sanford prescribed some ear training exercises and wrote out a series of drills for me and we went through them for the rest of the hour. I have my next lesson next week.

Great fun with a delightful man. It was obvious that he's teaching because he loves it. The moderate fee is an extra benefit for him.

I'l go back to sitting on my little stool in the corner and put my "Trumpet Doofus" hat back on but, if you big 'tuba men' sitting at the bar start throwing popcorn at me again, I won't buy my next round.

Jeff "Give me a rag and I'll wipe the spit off that mirror" Benedict

[djwesp]

Congrats on the first lesson.



So, because of your size, do you feel more comfortable with a tuba yet? It has to be less awkward than a trumpet.

[The Big Ben]

Congrats on the first lesson.



So, because of your size, do you feel more comfortable with a tuba yet? It has to be less awkward than a trumpet.

I never felt awkward with a trumpet. I guess I'm kinda big- taller but not as round as Al Hirt but almost. I'm pretty comfortable with my tuba- 3/4 size with top loading pistons. I've found a comfortable position with the mouthpiece in the proper place. I could see how it would be nice to have an adjustable tuning bit with a bigger (Conn, Martin BAT) horn mounted on a stand or a souzy that has to fit on the proper spot on the shoulder for comfort.

When I played trumpet in a dance band, I had to stand up for three hours. With the tuba, I know I'll probably get to sit down on a chair or a tall stool.

This tuba thing is gonna be fun! I like my tone already and I don't really *have* a tone yet!

Jeff "What would "Sugar Lips" sound like on a tuba?" Benedict

[tubatooter1940]

Hi Jeff, Play Sugar lips on a tuba. Find the first note and the second and play them together. then find the third note and keep stringing them togrther until you get it all. It's slow at first but you can do it. I remember my first tuba lesson as well. My teacher was such a nice man and every minute of a lesson with him was eyeopening fun.
Your trumpet experience has already served you well. You're a horn man. A second and third instrument will progress so much more quickly than your first because you read music-not bass cleff but transposing or relearning is a passage to a good place you want to go and it won't take you long.
You sound like the kind of guy one only has to tell things to once, usually. Any enthusiastic teacher is thrilled to work with a bright, talented, well-motivated student.
Learn how to appeal to people's basser instincts.
Guys like you have the power to light 'em up.