LOW audition music for texas tech band camp

[Chuck Jackson]

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music/ttuboc/d ... vanced.pdf

This advanced bass trombone one is a bit of a blow too. I'd like to see some 5'4" high schooler play that on a single valve bass....


I think I'll practice both of these, but on opposite instruments!


My ledger line reading ain't that hot; I've rarely had anything below low F that didn't have a higher octave option. So naturally, I play the upper one down an octave.

Tyrell Etude for Tuba, one of my favorites, bass trombone players been doing them for years. And Bob, most high school bass bone players, 5'4" nonwithstanding, will probably eat this for lunch.

Chuck

[sloan]

This is indeed far tougher than the material my collegiate colleagues and I routinely play for placement auditions. I think a purchase of Mr. Snedecor's book is in order!

The toughest part of this etude for me was not being in-tune, but rather in-tone. That is to say, while I generally had no trouble landing the needle in the middle of the tuner, my tone quality kept changing in character, even over small intervals. It probably would sound pretty cool when played by somebody who really is "advanced."

Stop looking at the tuner! Play the music.

[MartyNeilan]

Not as hard as it looks. Practice the individual notes until solid. Use fingerings that are in tune, which will probably be different from a fingering chart. Practice the runs slowly as eighth notes until solid. Speed it up. I have my private students work this one up on occasion. It says advanced. Are you advanced?

Wade, what do you think of this one on a 4 valve CC?

[MartyNeilan]

Ironically, this etude would actually be easier for me to play on the 6 valve F I just sold (to you) than on a 4 valve CC - no "tromboning" would be necessary. I have always setup the slides to play down to low Eb with minimal pulling on the 4 valve CC's that I have owned; for me DD requires a dramatically different setup typically for the occasional exposed note. I suppose I could reconfigure for an etude like that - it would be a good practice routine; I already use a different configuration for the end of the Gregson 1st movement where it goes down to DD. I don't think it would be too bad on a 4 valve BBb, 234 low DD is usually pretty much in tune without any pulling on most of them.
I really used to enjoy practicing things like Tocatta Marziale (bottom octave) and other low range pieces on that F; really helps to open the bottom end up and make it play like a big horn. Maybe when you buy your two unnamed "dream horns" some time from now I will be in the position to reacquire it, unless you decide to keep it as well.

[Biggs]

Not as hard as it looks. Practice the individual notes until solid. Use fingerings that are in tune, which will probably be different from a fingering chart. Practice the runs slowly as eighth notes until solid. Speed it up. I have my private students work this one up on occasion. It says advanced. Are you advanced?

Wade, what do you think of this one on a 4 valve CC?

I'm no intonation whiz, but I played it on a 4 valve CC without too much trouble. I think it just comes down to knowing the tendencies of your instrument more than anything.

[adam0408]

Not as hard as it looks. Practice the individual notes until solid. Use fingerings that are in tune, which will probably be different from a fingering chart. Practice the runs slowly as eighth notes until solid. Speed it up. I have my private students work this one up on occasion. It says advanced. Are you advanced?

BTW – Unless they got permission (which is easy to get for the mot part) isn't this copyright infringement? That is the fourth etude (I think) from Low Etudes for Tuba by Phil Snedecor. Changing/hiding the title and credits has to be BS on TTs part, since one of the main ways to get permission (beyond payment of the fee) is that the author get complete credit.

Texas Tech Band Camp, this is lame if you have done this without permission of the composer and the publisher AND tried to hide it!

Oh I never said I couldn't play it! I think it's fun personally but I thought it was strange that it's lower than any etude I've played before.

EDIT: I might be advanced. feelin lucky punk?

In my opinion, it is as hard as it looks. Snedecor etudes are a pain in the butt. Centering those notes and getting a good sound is difficult to say the least.

EVERYONE should play out of that book. I will give every single student I ever have that advice because of the pain this book has put me through this year (its good and much needed pain though)

[djwesp]

id love to see HS players on school horns play a note that doesnt exist on their horn

It doesn't exist on their horn?

[djwesp]

Also, pedal B on a BBb tuba can be played as a false tone (quite well on some horns) as either 12 with 1 out about halfway, or 23 lipped up some.

On BBb:
I play it open, just like my pedal Bb, but can play it as B by thinking it really sharp and not loosening my embouchure as much. It works really well for some reason with me. It isn't a false tone, like my E, it is the sharp version of my Bb pedal.


As for what you are saying. The Shaman, is referring to TCU not TTU. Different band camp etudes. The Texas Christian University etudes are posted on their band camp website.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

http://www.band.tcu.edu/band%20camp%20a ... mpTuba.pdf

Ridiculous...TTU's is bad enough for an evaluation etude for high school players...this one really takes the cake!

It's one thing to use these low etudes for low range extension and dexterity, but quite another to evaluate students at a camp with these...not exactly the cash register for high school band tuba parts.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Seriously, I would love to hear how these auditions go. I wonder how many students will come in and nail these pieces?

I guess we'd have to ask someone who was there...the TCU camp was last month.

Back to the topic of the thread...the TTU auditions were Saturday. Was anyone there to here these high school players fight the Snedecor? Would have been interesting to be a fly on that wall.

Oh, and did anybody catch this page?

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music/ttuboc/d ... entary.pdf

It would appear if you want to be in the top two bands (about 8-10 players?) you had better be willing to at least attempt the advanced etude. I have a hard time believing that Lubbock can attract 8-10 high school players to their camp that can reasonably play the audition music.

It would be very interesting to hear a review of the audition process at either of these camps, if any Tubenetters participated.

[sc_curtis]

if you go to the TCU camp info...

Where, exactly (please provide a link) do you see what you are describing?

http://www.band.tcu.edu/bandcamp.htm

He is not talking about the same band camp with the previously mentioned etude. He said TCU, not Texas Tech.

Low BB in this context would be extremely difficult to pull off as a high school student. Whoever was in charge of audition music for the TCU band camp has no business educating youth in music. Period.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

http://www.band.tcu.edu/bandcamp.htm

The best part of this page is reviewing the same etude for the higher woodwinds, particularly flute and Bb clarinet. Incredibly easy...not at all technically challenging. What was the point of an audition etude, again?

And check the bari sax high school etude...slightly modified to correct for octaves in case the player has no low B key...nice. It would have been nice to see the same consideration for the tuba etude.

[MartyNeilan]

http://www.band.tcu.edu/band%20camp%20a ... mpTuba.pdf

Ridiculous...TTU's is bad enough for an evaluation etude for high school players...this one really takes the cake!

It's one thing to use these low etudes for low range extension and dexterity, but quite another to evaluate students at a camp with these...not exactly the cash register for high school band tuba parts.

They basically don't want anyone showing up with a 3 valve horn, but on a 4 valve BBb 186 (the quintessential high school band tuba) that low B natural is going to pose quite a challenge. Even if you had a horn like some MW's or a Kanstul with a 2 foot fourth valve pull, there really isn't the opportunity to set up for that B natural. So, they must expect everyone to show up with 5 valve CC tubas?? I would much rather see something climb to the top of the staff; that is found much more often in Grade 5-6 band music than "pedal" C / B.

[Chase]

I did the camp in 2004 (back when the advanced audition material was a lame Concone etude...lame!) But Dr. Wass did mention that he was planning on using the Snedecor book after that.

But....let me tell you there were more than 8-10 fine players. I was lucky enough to sit principal in the top band and orchestra, I seem to remember thinking that almost all of the tubists there could have been fine in that chair.

If anyone wants to hear a smokin' recording of Shosty's Festive Overture from TTU Band/Orchestra Camp 2004, hit me up...when I said smokin' I mean, most of the band's playing was smokin' and the bass trombone was smokin' crack or something.

While you're there make sure to take a lesson or two with Dr. Wass...he's a monster.

[Mark]

I have a hard time believing that Lubbock can attract 8-10 high school players to their camp that can reasonably play the audition music.

I'll bet there are at least a couple of dozen tubists who would do anything to get out of Oklahoma for a week or two.

[djwesp]

The copyright thing really bothers me, however. Anyone check? (Or happen to KNOW?)

If you write the email, I'll send it.


I'm not afraid to put my name with something like that. As much money as Universities throw at everything, they should at least have the common decency to put that money in the hands of composers and publishing companies. The instrumental music business is a version of robin hood where the poor give to the poor, and in this situation the rich could be putting money in--- and they aren't.

[MartyNeilan]

I have always setup the slides to play down to low Eb with minimal pulling on the 4 valve CC's that I have owned; for me DD requires a dramatically different setup typically for the occasional exposed note. I suppose I could reconfigure for an etude like that - it would be a good practice routine; I already use a different configuration for the end of the Gregson 1st movement where it goes down to DD.

Interesting!!
care to elaborate?

Basically, I normally use this configuration with everything pushed within 1/2" to 3/4" of the way in:
G: 4 (most of the way in)
F# 2-4 (only low note requiring 4th valve pull in this setup)
F: 1-2-4 (1 pushed completely in, 4 same as for G)
E: 2-3-4 (no slide changes, 4 same as for G)
Eb: 1-2-3-4 (1 pushed completely in same as for low F, 4 same as for G, 3 normal or pushed depending on the horn)

This system allows me to quickly and easily play down to low Eb (aka pedal Eb on an Eb tuba) with very minimal slide pulling, so I can easily skip around registers. In virtually all real world playing, notes below this Eb are few and far between.

The setup to facilitate an easy low D with minimal lipping is:
G: 1-3 (1 or 3 pulled a lot or both pulled some, depending on context)
F#: 2-4 (4th pulled)
F: 1-4 (keep 4th pulled, pull 1 slightly if not already pulled)
E: 3-4 (keep 4th pulled, pull 3 a lot)
Eb: 1-3-4 (keep all pulls)
D: 1-2-3-4 (pull all to the max)

As you can see, this is very workable when staying in the basement BUT makes skipping around awkward with having to push 1,3, and 4 way back in.

This is what has I use, others may differ. I much prefer using the first setup, and just yank all the slides for a pedal D at a cadence when (rarely) necessary. False tones for the D and Db are there, but the timbre is just too different and the slots waay too wide on my current horn. Good thing I don't play in a high school in Texas.

[theanalogkid]

I'll bet there are at least a couple of dozen tubists who would do anything to get out of Oklahoma for a week or two.

Normally I'd try to defend Oklahoma... but you're right If I had known of this sorta thing in high school, I'd been outta OK in a heartbeat!