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How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 3:28 am
by Jaks
I was told by another school's Head of Music that i don't sound like a tuba player, So i was just thinking and wanted to ask you tuba players, how should a tuba player sound like, why and what techniques to use to achieve that sound?
-Jaks .

Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:41 am
by peter birch
what were you doing at the time?
here is a great example of what a tuba player sounds like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3fDuxAlxkM
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:55 am
by Michael Bush
Jaks wrote:I was told by another school's Head of Music that i don't sound like a tuba player, So i was just thinking and wanted to ask you tuba players, how should a tuba player sound like, why and what techniques to use to achieve that sound?
-Jaks .

To me, it would make sense to make a mental note that this person is "at another school." If you and your own teacher are happy with your sound, forget it.
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:09 am
by imperialbari
talleyrand wrote:Jaks wrote:I was told by another school's Head of Music that i don't sound like a tuba player, So i was just thinking and wanted to ask you tuba players, how should a tuba player sound like, why and what techniques to use to achieve that sound?
-Jaks .

To me, it would make sense to make a mental note that this person is "at another school." If you and your own teacher are happy with your sound, forget it.
And it is never right for a person in any pedagogical function to tell a student, whether his own or not, wrong without indicating a workable road towards improvement.
You may very well have been the unwittingly victim of a fight between schools and/or directors. The right, but not advisable, reply from you would have been: And you, Sir, sound like an idiot!
Klaus
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:45 am
by Ben
Jaks- politics aside... Do you currently take lessons? As noted above, your instructor should be the person to help guide you to your own sound. Not all tuba players sound alike, and diversity is wonderful.
As for the politic side: The comment could be a compliment, I in reference to jazz styles, or plucked bass lines. It is an opinion. If you are happy with your sound, or can see a path forward, just move on. Lots of people will give you unwanted advise in your life.
Best regards,
Ben
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:47 am
by Kevin Hendrick
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:39 am
by DenzelRichTx
The head of the Music guy could just be referring to your tone. I know tuba players who have a very thin sound. That could be your problem. Also it could be your lip placement. You could try getting a deeper mouthpeice a laskey 30h or a G&W is perfect for dark tuba playing.
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:39 am
by TexTuba
DenzelRichTx wrote:The head of the Music guy could just be referring to your tone. I know tuba players who have a very thin sound. That could be your problem. Also it could be your lip placement. You could try getting a deeper mouthpeice a laskey 30h or a G&W is perfect for dark tuba playing.
Winner!
To the OP:
I wouldn't worry about the comment. Apart from this nugget of "knowledge" I've quoted, there is some good info. already on this post. Have fun!
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:56 am
by DenzelRichTx
Winner!
To the OP:
I wouldn't worry about the comment. Apart from this nugget of "knowledge" I've quoted, there is some good info. already on this post. Have fun![/quote]
Rude,Much
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:29 pm
by Jaks
Thanks guys! I'll keep all of those in mind!
Appreciate your advises.

Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:52 pm
by TexTuba
DenzelRichTx wrote:Rude,Much
Yes, I am.
Seriously, the OP asks a question that, IMO, he/she should have asked the individual what he/she meant. However, you post about lip placement and tone as if you know the OP. Do you know the OP? Are you sure that a 30H will get him this darker sound you speak of? Which G&W? Bayamo? Churada?
If you're going to spout nonsense, please be prepared for someone to call you out on it.

Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:16 pm
by tbn.al
TexTuba wrote:DenzelRichTx wrote:Rude,Much
Yes, I am.
Rude, Maybe
Honest, Absolutely
Accurate, Without a doubt
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 3:47 pm
by ginnboonmiller
Jaks, aside from what everyone else is saying:
I see you only have 17 posts here. Have you been lurking long? Until you get to know the folks that post here, you're just asking a bunch of strangers about your playing. Which is a problem for two reasons: none of us knows what you want to sound like so we can't answer your question, and I suspect you don't know yet which posts are worth reading and which are full of crap. I'll give you a hint: they're all full of crap. Even I am.
The guy that made a comment without telling you why is being a jerk. You'll get used to jerks as you get older. There are lots of them. Everyone that posts in this thread is a jerk, too. Because there's no non-jerky way to respond to your question. You want to know what a tuba should sound like? Listen to a lot of tuba players playing the tuba. But don't listen to their words, unless you're paying them to be your private teacher. If they're not professionals, they don't know what they're talking about. If they are, they aren't getting paid to write well, and they usually don't.
In fact, don't even take my advice seriously. Go get a teacher, and let the guy that told you that you sound wrong without giving you advice on sounding better go to hell. Don't hate him, just don't give him another thought, because he can't help you.
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:19 pm
by jhickmott
~
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:29 pm
by bort
Hrmm... we should kind of sound like "BWWAAAAHHHH"...?

Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:15 pm
by David Zerkel
Every time my teacher tells me, "Now THAT sounds like a tuba!", I find myself having fun and enjoying the excitement.
Ha! Every time my undergrad teacher, Dave Bragunier, wanted to get my attention he'd say "You sound just like a tuba player. Now try to sound like a musician!"
To the OP, the comment that was made to you very well may have been a compliment. One of the best compliments many of us get is "I didn't know that the tuba could sound like that!" Play with your sound, as long as you like your sound, and strive to say something interesting every time that you play!
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:43 pm
by DenzelRichTx
TexTuba wrote:DenzelRichTx wrote:Rude,Much
Yes, I am.
Seriously, the OP asks a question that, IMO, he/she should have asked the individual what he/she meant. However, you post about lip placement and tone as if you know the OP. Do you know the OP? Are you sure that a 30H will get him this darker sound you speak of? Which G&W? Bayamo? Churada?
If you're going to spout nonsense, please be prepared for someone to call you out on it.

I'm giving my opinion it's an open forum who are you. You didn't have to be rude about it I mean be the bigger person. It's not nonsense. Its a valid statement.

Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:11 am
by Biggs
DenzelRichTx wrote: Its a valid statement.

Nope.
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:47 am
by Todd S. Malicoate
DenzelRichTx wrote: Its a valid statement.

No, it's really not. Recommending a mouthpiece or possible embouchure problem to someone you've never met to solve a particular problem is, well, nonsense.
Re: How should a tuba player sound like?
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:51 am
by The Jackson