Using Air Right

[luke_hollis]

After many years of tuba playing, I can honestly say I feel like I "get it" when it comes to using air properly and sound/tone production. I can play whatever notes I want to play when I want to and with the sound/volume desired.

The problem now is I just don't have enough air in my lungs to sustain notes long enough and find myself snatching breaths throughout phrases to maintain the sound.

Any thoughts. Forget that as you all have thoughts. Any relevant ones?

[Three Valves]

I used to mark my score with where to breath.

[bort]

I'm not sure of the answers, but seems like something that Arnold Jacobs would have probably known a lot about.

The other thought -- how old are you? The body changes with age, and although it's probably not impossible to maintain that level, it might take more work to keep up with it. That's the cruel joke of life -- by the time you get things figured out, you're older, and all the parameters have changed. It keeps you on your toes though, and you're never really "done."

[luke_hollis]

I am a bit older at 43 but not that old. My favorite thing to do in the community band I play in is to remind the young whippersnapper I play next to that I was playing tuba in the group when he was 3.

[bort]

Again, maybe others will be able to give better advice. The only other thing I can suggest is that if you have belly fat, try to lose it. For many people it's an uphill battle as you age.

I'm not a large person (5'11", 165lb), but even still, when I exercise regularly (especially running) within about a week I notice a significant and positive change to my core strength, followed by a loss of belly fat. My breathing and air intake/outtake both improve. My articulations and musical interpretation, are unfortunately, unchanged.

[Phil Dawson]

You might try using either or both of the Breathing Gym DVDs by Sam Pilafian and Pat Sheridan. Their exercises are based on the teachings of Arnold Jacobs and they are fun. I have found that at age 62 I don't breathe as well as I used to and these exercises have done wonders for my playing including capacity, tone phrasing and body flexibility. They also have a set of playing exercises called the Brass gym that are very good. I include the breathing exercises as par of my practice time and they really work, Phil

[Levaix]

The simple physics of the tuba dictate that you're going to take a breath more often than euphoniums and trombones, and MUCH more often than trumpets. All of the really good tuba players I've met are extremely deliberate with when and where they breathe. Other than that, breathing exercises (Breathing Gym or otherwise) can make you more efficient to a certain extent.

[ghmerrill]

The other thought -- how old are you? The body changes with age, and although it's probably not impossible to maintain that level, it might take more work to keep up with it.

I'm 67 and suddenly find myself to be the ONLY tuba in a 50+ piece community band since the other guy has some scheduling problems (and is 40 years my junior). We're playing a few pieces this year that require a lot of effort in the contra-bass range with either a lot of sustained notes (over, say, eight measures) or some loud playing in that range. Some of this would be easier on a BBb horn, but I also know that 20 years ago I wouldn't be struggling the way I am now. It's exhausting. I'm hanging in there, but by the end of a 90 minute rehearsal, I'm pretty beat.

It pretty much is impossible to maintain "that level" -- whether it's in tennis or tuba.

[Walter Webb]

If it's any consolation, there may be an instrument that hogs even more air than a contrabass tuba: Flute and/or piccolo.