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Hi - I am mainly a trombone/euphonium player (but I also play quite a bit of tuba as well, but not on the same level). I have taught trombone and euphonium students about legato tonguing, but never a tuba student (actually, I have never had any tuba students, just trombone and euph - this is why I am asking the question). My question is, do the rest of you teach legato tonguing (on tuba) different than that of trombone/euphonium?

I would appreciate any suggestions/opinions you have on the subject - thanks!

I don't know how you teach legato tonguing on 'bone, but on tuba it's just "doo-doo-doo". First get the student to sing it right, then play it the same way.

Yep, that's the same on trombone/euphonium as well. I do the same thing on tuba, but since I have not had a tuba lesson in my life I want to do more research into tuba pedagogy (I've been trying to access the ITEA members only section but they aren't e-mailing me my login info - I threw away my last envelope that came with my journal). There's probably some stuff on there too.

Thanks!

ParLawGod wrote:My question is, do the rest of you teach legato tonguing (on tuba) different than that of trombone/euphonium?

Not as a teacher, but as a student, I say that the best advice I have received on legato tonguing is that the air flow must not stop. My legato improved a lot when it was taught as the application of a light articulation onto a smooth slur, rather than a softening of normal articulation.

I think I'll find that even normal articulation is still an application of harder tonguing on a smooth slur, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

Rick "a 'd' is only a 'd' because the air doesn't stop" Denney