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What are your thoughts on Don Haddad's Suite For Tuba?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3WMSHOKHyY" target="_blank

I am auditioning for a youth symphony with this piece and just want other opinions.

Also, any tips on hitting middle C (first ledger line above the staff)? I can hit it most of the time but it still needs some work.

Everything you need to know to play that C and even notes above it is right here:

viewtopic.php?p=29184#p29184" target="_blank

If that note is difficult for you then make it your first note of the day every day.
When you first pick up the tuba try to remember what it felt like the last time you played it successfully, and aim for that again.

If you can't get it very often in that way, then work on owning a safer note. Eventually you will hit that that note dependably, first try. That may take months, but if you practice every day you will get it. Then start working on the next one.
You only get one chance each day to do this, so don't waste it.

I came across this little video the other day (about halfway down the page) and found the concepts interesting:

http://www.4barsrest.com/default.asp

His other video on breathing is pretty good too, I think.

Andrew

The Haddad is a nice piece.

High and low range require practice to develop. There is no way around it. There is no magical "Here is how to play high notes" lesson or pill that will make it automatic.

A good way to develop these skills is scales. Yup... Rudimentary scales in multiple octaves.

There is some physicality involved as well. Younger, less experienced players cannot control their chops as well as more experienced players. There is muscle control involved. This is why not everyone can pitch like Randy Johnson (I don't know sports, is this right?)

BRSousa wrote:There is some physicality involved as well. Younger, less experienced players cannot control their chops as well as more experienced players. There is muscle control involved. This is why not everyone can pitch like Randy Johnson (I don't know sports, is this right?)

I hope that was an intentional play on "pitch"

The Haddad suite is a good challenge - Go for it !! You'll have to hit that high "C" several times throughout the piece and a couple of times at a solid forte or double forte ...follow Mr. Hoveys advise and try to hit it at the start of every day- maybe warm up first, and during the course of practice work in some octave slurs...start at C ( two line below staff ) , slur up one octave, then D , , then Eb , F , G , A , Bb , each time slurring up one full octave , then go for that C !!! Pretty soon you'll push past that C into new territory and the C will be simple....

Somebody posted a video link here a couple of years ago showing a tubist doing the Haddad with band accompaniment. I think it was the Air Force band. Very well-played, and it made the solo much more understandable (to me) than it ever was with just the piano.

Perhaps someone here can find that link?

A couple of thoughts regarding the "High C" issue:

If you want to perform the highest note of a piece and have it sound good, you'd better own not only that note, but several notes above it to the tune of at least a third up (high E-flat, high E). Only by practicing above the highest note in a piece will you ever really gain full control of it.

To go back to baseball analogies:

Hitters warm up before they step into the batter's box with either a bat with a big weight strapped to it or more than one bat. This is to make the swinging of the actual bat in a performance situation easier (or at least seem easier). Likewise, if the highest note in a piece you're performing is the highest note you typically play, it will always seem "hard" and you will struggle with it, especially when the pressure is on. Practicing (and yes, developing considerable skill at) playing above that highest note will make that note consequently easier.

Speaking of easier...

Be sure that your approach to those high notes is based on good use of air and accurate buzz, and NOT "muscle" (jamming the mouthpiece into your chops, getting all tense through the face/neck/shoulders, etc.) The hardest thing about playing high, in my opinion and experience, is learning to RELAX as you do it. Just remember: high notes on tuba are "cash register" notes on euph and trombone and "warmup/cooldown" notes on trumpet. It's all relative, and our high notes aren't actually all that high.

Good luck with the piece! I'm a big fan of the Haddad and I know you'll learn a lot from working it up.

Thank you for all the replies

Today when I practiced, I played more scales than usual. Stating with one octave, then two, then three. When I felt i was warmed up as much as possible, I whent for the middle C. This seems to be working already. I hit it a few times, then did octave slurs up to it a few times. Then I whent for a few notes above it. When I was satisfied with the sound, I moved on to some music.

I started with the intro to the Halo theme (epic and a good warm up piece BTW) then moved on to my audition music. I hit places then played the whole 1st and 3rd movement. When I got to the middle C, I noticed how much better it sounds already. I think the key to it was, warming up for a longer period of time.

I think my least favorite note of all times is the G in the top space of the staff. I find it harder to hit than middle C for some strange reason. But I assume it will come with time and practice.

Best Wishes,
Erica

DevilDog-2013 wrote:
I think my least favorite note of all times is the G in the top space of the staff. I find it harder to hit than middle C for some strange reason. But I assume it will come with time and practice.

Best Wishes,
Erica

Erica -

Sounds like you are doing well and having a lot of fun. That is the most important part...

It is no accident that you are having trouble with top space G (especially on BBb Tuba). This is a particularly "funky" note because of the weirdness of the 7th partial. It is a goofy note to land on consistently when you are learning to play up there and you will find it a bit difficult to tune if you don't have a horn where you can adjust the first slide while you are playing. You might consider using #3 to play this G instead of 1+2.

Again, it is a wonderful thing when a young player is excited and is having fun playing Tuba. Keep it up!

The Haddad Suite is nice music. I know a very well-known professor who won his job playing that piece.

BRSousa wrote: It is no accident that you are having trouble with top space G (especially on BBb Tuba). This is a particularly "funky" note because of the weirdness of the 7th partial. It is a goofy note to land on consistently when you are learning to play up there and you will find it a bit difficult to tune if you don't have a horn where you can adjust the first slide while you are playing. You might consider using #3 to play this G instead of 1+2.

Wow, I'm an airhead, I haven't even thought of using the alternative fingering
Thanks x]


Best Wishes