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I'm working with my wife's middle school program and am trying to help a 6th grader switch from trumpet to tuba. He's been "playing" only since December, equipment is a weril 3/4 BBb with a bach 24 copy.Anything below second line Bb really ain't there.Worked with air speed, syllables, matching pitches, playing chromatically down from his good note( the Bb).And have asked him to listen to the cd that came with the band book. Any other ideas? Thanks for your time, Davidm

DavidJMills wrote:I'm working with my wife's middle school program and am trying to help a 6th grader switch from trumpet to tuba. He's been "playing" only since December, equipment is a weril 3/4 BBb with a bach 24 copy.Anything below second line Bb really ain't there.Worked with air speed, syllables, matching pitches, playing chromatically down from his good note( the Bb).And have asked him to listen to the cd that came with the band book. Any other ideas? Thanks for your time, Davidm

A little mouthpiece buzzing, if necessary with his little finger partly blocking the end of the shank to provide the needed resistance. That was one of the most valuable exercises for me when I was starting again, to realize what is meant by moving air.

Rick "a minute or two was all it took" Denney

Hey, I came down to souzy from trumpet in 9th grade, and for awhile, there wasn't anything below bottom of staff F. I had to learn to relax, and, most importantly, learn to slow down the velocity of air I was used to blowing through a trumpet. This was while simultaneously learning the dichotomy of keeping the corners firm to seal against air leaks and keep control, but relaxing the lips to learn to start descending in range.

I've found that long tones at the lowest pitch possible (with quality) and then, when this note is nice and clear and supported, try the next one lower. I've had a little success with that.

good luck to him!

as a trumpet to tuba switcher.....I agree with iipopes. that relaxation and slowing down the higher volume of air is the challenge to learn.

To get your student to relax and blow a wide, slow column of air, tell him to blow like he's fogging up a mirror from 2 feet away. Big breath, relax, open mouth (but not lips), open throat, and blow an enormous amount of slow, warm air. Have him open his jaw as wide as he can and still keep his lips together. Make sure he's blowing through the horn, not into it.

Also, re: embouchure...don't let him use his trumpet embouchure on tuba. 2 totally different critters. The corners need to come down and in slightly vs. trumpet. You might try a bit of pivot as well...as the notes go down, the head tilts down slightly. As the notes go up, the head goes up.

At this point in his playing life, if he isn't getting a little light-headed playing the tuba, he isn't using enough air.

Does the student WANT to play tuba? If not, then nothing will work.

well, if he got moved to tuba because he couldn't play high enough on the trumpet, have a google of Balanced Embouchure, if he really wants to play trumpet and "has been moved" despite that. It is a method that works.

MA