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What's the expected range of euphers of different levels:middle school,high school,undergrad?

A good high schooler should be able to play all of this :

http://www.musicked.com/musicked/pages/ ... erings.htm

Here's the range of a college student :

http://homepage.mac.com/yutakatuba/Comp ... gering.pdf

As I speak, i am playing the Norteast Tuba and Euphonium Workshop. The Tuba-Euph quartet parts go as low is C above pedal Bb at FF (chromatically so they all have to be there and solid) and as high as C above high Bb. The solo parts go to C or Db above high Bb with optional to Eb or F. If you want to play solo work at the highest level, you need pedal Bb to F above high Bb. OTOH, a solid Db above pedal Bb to Db above is great. On most compensating horns, the D above high Bb is a HORRIBLE note with no good alternate fingerings. Db or Eb slot much nicer and more Euphonium solos will use the flats than sharp keys. Thus, you can have an iffy-D with a solid Eb and still be ok.

Doug Ruby (kinda pro Eupher - good for pedal F to high Eb - not quite 4 octaves).

here is how i approach this as a teacher and what i know is expected in my area for solos, region and their band music.

for my beginners in 6th grade i try to end the year w them playing at least from a pedal Bb or lower to G or F (if they can, which i use for tone and air control, opening their teeth) and at least to F or G above the staff. you hardly ever play an E or D below the staff in music at this age, but the pedal range really opens up the sound, is a great warm up and really makes them learn how to control their breath and getting a mature sound. the pedal range also helps me teach them not to use pressure against the mpc as well in all ranges.

for my 7th and 8th graders i then try to end their 8th grade w their low range the same just improved in tone. i have 7th and 8th graders that can play to the C below pedal Bb with a nice open mature sound.
i try to get their upper range to at least a Bb or C an octave above the staff. alot of the region music down here will have a Bb or C octave above in at least one or 2 of the 3 pieces and some band music as well.

in high school i work to get them to at least a F or G 1.5 octaves above the staff. i do this just to work to try to get them to learn how to play the upper register w as lil pressure as possible and not pinched and to play in that range as relaxed and comfortable as they can. very few kids go to college as a music major but if they do, then we work on range so that they can play the music required to get them in w the audition. i have had 3 kids go to college in the last 4 years as euph players, 2 to be band directors and 1 is doing a ed/performance/jazz major and is doing well. at this stage most of what we work on is the solos and etudes needed for playing for college auditions.

to me at undergrad it is all about what you are trying to do in college, performance, education or both. when i send them to college the range is usually good enough a great start either way

hope this helps

Bolcolm wrote a new piece recently titled Song that requires an Ab below the staff. He also requires a melodic section at FF (or at least F) that is primarily around C and Bb below. Why? That's another question entirely, I'm biased though, I don't really like the piece.

I hit my first double high Bb like, two days ago.
I haven't been able to do it since.
(i needed to tell somebody)

tuben wrote:

MikeMason wrote:What's the expected range of euphers of different levels:middle school,high school,undergrad?

middle = 10 feet
high = 15 feet
undergrad = 20 feet, depending upon level of drunkedness....

RC

RC, your standards are WAY too low, I think even an amateur should be able to toss it at least 25 feet . . . tubas are more challenging, both in terms of weight and aerodynamics . . .

jbaylies wrote:I hit my first double high Bb like, two days ago.
I haven't been able to do it since.
(i needed to tell somebody)

I once heard Clark Terry say that the top of your range is not the highest note you can squeak out in a practice room. He said it was the highest note you were sure you could hit at the end of a three hour gig.

May your double high Bb be the first of many.