TubeNet

Hey Guys
I picked up tuba without any musical experience around mid February, so that roughly 2 months of playing. I taught myself to read and count music in a few weeks, was a lot easier than I thought, though I still have some trouble counting 6/8 and swing style music.

I am pretty happy with my progress, my director is very happy with my progress. I can play certain parts in most songs, and play a few chorales out of a technique book. I can play my Bflat scale (Bflat scale no problem) and Eflat scale (Eflat scale with some struggling).

What is making me very unhappy with my playing right now, is that I pretty much pinch anything above a mid Bflat (the one in the staff). Everyone tells me to keep my teeth apart, and they are. Then I am told to "open my throat," which to be honest is kind of confusing. They basically kind of demonstrate it like someone would breathe on a window to fog it up.

I was wondering if anyone can explain that, or give me tips for high note registry.

Thanks in advanced guys.

Telling someone to "open their throat" inevitably leads them to immediately tense the muscles in their throat, producing the opposite from the desired effect.

A better pedagogical device is to tell the student to breath deeply and normally and to exhale with as little tension as possible (again, normally). Tuba playing is all about a large (huge) volume of air at slow speeds...there doesn't need to be any tension in the throat, neck, or shoulder muscles at all.

Euphenstien also gives great advice...high register playing is almost always a function of embouchure strength which doesn't happen overnight. Be patient, but consistent, and try not to get frustrated that the progress is slow and steady. Welcome to the brother(sister)hood of the tuba!

So far, the responses are right on the money. Relaxing and not trying to move too quickly (it takes time to develop the muscles).

In addition to all this, heres a tip that can be helpful:
With pinching and "relaxing the throat" this is one suggestion I received from an OBOE player

When playing and you get to a rest (or any breaks you take) fully relax. Treat the rest as just that, a physical rest. Relax your muscles in your jaw, neck, FOREHEAD. Anything that is used in your playing. Doing this consistantly will help you not overwork yourself and it was also help keep your throat open and not tense (which you need to do with higher register playing).

Welcome! You've made a fabulous instrument choice..

I agree with all of the above, and welcome!

another practice thing to do is to listen and feel how notes in the register you are comfortable and has a good sound are. What are you doing with your various body parts, notice how you hold them. It takes your entire body to play, even though it seems like lips, breath, and three or for fingers.

strength, flexibility, and muscle tone in the embouchure will come with time, and there is no substitute for regluar practice.

Good Luck!

Funcoot wrote: They basically kind of demonstrate it like someone would breathe on a window to fog it up.

Another explanation of the open throat is: the inner yawn. A yawn covered by the lips rather than a hand.

A teacher would be better than any replies here.

Klaus

All these suggestions are great, but the most important thing to remember is that stuff like this takes time. If you try to force yourself into playing better right now, bad habits could be formed, and frustration will set in. I say don't worry too much about issues like an open throat right now. Don't get me wrong, I would do exercises to improve it, but even the greatest tuba players still struggle with opening their throat completely.

Getzeng50s wrote:

OK, low fat is good, but aren’t you overdoing that aspect?

I appreciate all the help so far guys. Great suggestions, keeping them in mind.

Hi, Funcoot. Like others already have written, it's a bit early in your development for you to get too worried about your range yet. If you get the opportunity, the best advice I can offer is to get some lessons with a private teacher who can be there in person to watch you and see if there's anything you're doing that could hinder your progress down the line.

Funcoot wrote:Everyone tells me to keep my teeth apart, and they are. Then I am told to "open my throat," which to be honest is kind of confusing. They basically kind of demonstrate it like someone would breathe on a window to fog it up.

Us teachers like to use analogies like fogging up the window to get our students aiming towards proper technique, but sometimes it doesn't quite works as expected. It could be that your teeth are too far apart. Some players feel that as they play higher that the air is less like fogging up a window and is more like cold, fast air. Again, without being there to watch you in person it's hard to say. Based on what you've accomplished already in such a short time, I suspect that you should concentrate on having fun and give things more time.

goodgigs wrote:Don't worry about the BS about "upstream" and "ownsteram" just watch and learn!
This is the best I've ever seen on this subject!

Thanks for posting the link to my video! I'm curious about the "BS" part, though. The ratio of upper to lower lip inside the mouthpiece (different for different players, who have different faces) can have a very profound effect on a player's technique. Here's a link to another video I've posted that might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9RAMDYy ... annel_page" target="_blank"


Dave

A teacher one on one is best of course but we netters do so love to give advice.
Based on our several lifetimes of training, practice and experience, A portion of tubenet advice is actually good.
The question is, which portion?
I'm gonna stroll over to my tuba and blow a big fat round long tone and think, "opera singer".

tubatooter1940 wrote:A teacher one on one is best of course but we netters do so love to give advice.
Based on our several lifetimes of training, practice and experience, A portion of tubenet advice is actually good.
The question is, which portion?

The portion whose name isn't bloke?

I really appreciate all the help, especially the video. My tone has improved since yesterday, my director even recognized it.

Thanks again guys.

As others have said, don't worry too much about your range. It might take a while for you to be able to play effectively above the mid-level Bb, but that's ok. Most mid to low-level band music doesn't call for much more than that. If it's ok with your director, you could (just for now) take some things down the octave. That's what I did for my first 6 months or so of tuba playing in high school. Congrats on the tone improvement, though! Tone (at least for me) is one of the hardest things to get smoothed out on tuba. Best of luck in your continued tuba education!

There are a few ways to have an unpleasant sound. One of those is pinching. Another is keeping your tongue too high. Another is a closed throat. Etc.

If your problem is really a pinched sound, that means your lips are pressing together vertically too hard. Try this little experiment. First, imagine the muscle motion you would make if you had pencil held between your lips and you wanted to keep someone from pulling it out, using just your lips muscles, no teeth. Now play a note that usually sounds bad, and while playing it make that same effort with your lips. That should cause your sound to get more pinched. Now reverse that chop motion to get your usual sound back. Do this a couple times, and as you do try to relax a little further than "normal" for you. You might find you can undo some of the excessive tightness.

Just remember the cautions already issued - chops take time to develop the strength to do everything right.