Blackout

[Tabor]

There is a good section in the "Song and Wind" book about breathing through the horn to retain Co2. Also remember that the volume of air that you use and the speed of your airstream are two different things.

Wow, that passing out sounds kind of scary. That has never happened to me. I hope that it was just an O2 and Co2 issue.

Tabor

[dtemp]

I don't know if this is the case, but you might want to make sure you've put food in your belly a reasonable amount of time before playing. Low blood sugar along with excersise (and we all know playing tuba is excersise) will cause you to feel light headed. Take precautions, next time you might injure yourself (or worse, the horn!.... kidding).

[Uncle Buck]

If you have passed out, and you don't know why, you ABSOLUTELY need to talk to a doctor about it. It was probably induced by something related to your tuba playing, but it might be something that could happen other times as well. Passing out is serious, and depending on the circumstances when it happens, can be extremely dangerous.

I don't want to give medical advice, but I agree with Rick that this could be a blood, rather than an air, issue. When you were playing high, were your shoulders and neck tense? Tense enough to slow or block blood flow?

Don't risk injuring yourself next time - go talk to a doctor.