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I'm having trouble in marching band with a few things and was wondering if you guys had any tips!

Here are my main problems:

1. Carrying the sousaphone kills my lower back, shoulder, shoulder muscle (I don't know the technical name), and leaves lumps on my shoulder that feel like little pebbles under my skin.

2. The mouthpiece is too close to my face and I have no room to move at all even with one bit in.

3. I can't remember my positions whatsoever!

4. The sousaphone goes down to my thigh and whenever my right leg goes forward, my face is smashed by the mouthpiece (Which is made worse by #2), and when my leg goes back the mouthpiece goes 3 inches away from my face.

5. My director wants my bell forward but it ends up right in front of my face which blocks half of my vision.

I hope you guys can help!

Hi!
Is it a 'glass or brass instrument?
If 'glass, then you're just gonna have to tough it out! If brass, then obviously you need a 'glass Sousaphone, or a 3/4 brass unit, or maybe a smaller convertable. A convertable would solve your knee issue(s)! Also a neoprene pad can be bought or fashioned for either a Convertable or a Sousaphone. An EEb instrument should be smaller (and lighter!), but you have a new set of fingerings to learn...

Good luck, and hang in there!
Al

TinyTubist97 wrote:I'm having trouble in marching band with a few things and was wondering if you guys had any tips!

Here are my main problems:

1. Carrying the sousaphone kills my lower back, shoulder, shoulder muscle (I don't know the technical name), and leaves lumps on my shoulder that feel like little pebbles under my skin.

2. The mouthpiece is too close to my face and I have no room to move at all even with one bit in.

3. I can't remember my positions whatsoever!

4. The sousaphone goes down to my thigh and whenever my right leg goes forward, my face is smashed by the mouthpiece (Which is made worse by #2), and when my leg goes back the mouthpiece goes 3 inches away from my face.

5. My director wants my bell forward but it ends up right in front of my face which blocks half of my vision.

I hope you guys can help!

From my own experience:

1. You'll get used to the weight eventually, and the soreness should lessen. Is this your first season marching the sousaphone? If so then just give it some more time.

For 2 and 3 I can't particularly help. Try moving the neck around and working your way to a comfortable position with bits, maybe? As far as the positions, that's also something that will come with time, and practice. Try to remember who is around you while you move.

4. *

5. I think that may be standard. I always had partially obscured vision. So long as you know where you're going and where others are in relation to you, it should be manageable.

Hope some of this helped,
Colin

3. I can't remember my positions whatsoever!

I don't know, but one wandering musician when the rest are marching perfectly together might add a bit of whimsical fun to the show, IF you get lost sufficiently enough.

I am not a sousa player nor have ever played one, but whenever I have problems with holding the instrument, I ask older experienced players. You can try that, thats the best way you can help yourself, present your problems to someone who is playing for long time and Im sure they will help you out a bit.

I guess I might just have to wait until I grow because my arm is too short to reach the valves while supporting the sousaphone, and also I am not allowed to use a fiberglass one nor am I allowed to use one in another key because my director wants them all the same.

Fight through the soreness of wearing the Sousaphone. You will eventually get used to it and not even notice it (believe it or not, but it's true). I played in a Sousaphone section with many petite guys and gals and they all did terrific after they got used to it.

You should be able to move the tuning bits around to adjust to your face. Make sure to stand up straight and make the instrument conform to you. Also, don't support the horn with your arms, let your shoulder do the work so you can push the pistons with your right hand and hold your neck and bits with your left hand. If you are supporting the instrument with by lifting it, it is going to take a longer to develop the endurance in your shoulder.

It is important to maintain uniformity as a section, but you cannot be an effective player if you are uncomfortable or you cannot see. Make sure your band director and section leader are away of these issues and I am sure they will be more than willing to help you out.

For what it's worth, the OP PM'ed me and informed me that the horn is a Yamaha YSH-411 Sousa. These are modeled loosely after Conn 20K's and should (in my opinion) be worn ala the picture of John Kuhn posted above by Kiltie.

Just my 2 cents...

"TinyTubist"

Going by your nom de plume and a couple things you have said, I have the feeling you are "TINY" !!! Nothing wrong with that. All this advice about working through the pain is absolute stupidity. I get the distinct feeling that for you hauling a sousy around is really like expecting a miniature pony to drag a Conestoga wagon from Missouri to California.

If the thing is too big for you and causing pain - DON'T persist - it isn't worth causing painful injuries which might give you trouble for life. If your band director can't come up with some other arrangement marching band may just have to be left off the agenda.

goodgigs wrote: If your horn is in good shape it won't hurt it because they are three stems sharing the load and because your left hand and shoulder
are carring most of the weight most of the time.

You can lift the horn completely off your shoulder this way. This, by the way is the left hand position even when you're playing as you should
NEVER HOLD THE MOUTHPIECE WITH YOUR LEFT HAND.

You shouldn't have to lift the horn off of your shoulder (again, in my humble opinion).

If your shoulder is carrying the weight of the horn as a fulcrum, you should have full usage of both arms and hands to hold the instrument however you like. When I was in college, I did this with a King 2350/1250 and was able to march, play, jump around and spin in stupid circles ALL WHILE WEARING MY HORN.

Not ever holding the mouthpiece...does this include neck and bits? Why? As long as you are comfortable and you aren't compromising the look or sound of your section, who cares?

Just curious...

Thank you! It's a new horn and I use the valve section to lift it off of my shoulder but the whole thing broke off!

goodgigs wrote:

chicken7x wrote:4. You're going to want to use your right elbow to hold the sousaphone in one position so it doesn't keep bumping around. Get it under the horn. I had this problem, and this fixed it. Colin

TinyTubist97,
This is bad advice !

Didn't mean to give bad advice, that's what I used to do for my leg bumping the body, and it seemed to work, but we didn't have anyone to tell me otherwise. My b

I'd (politely) tell the band director to stuff it -- you aren't doing marching band -- and then go reclaim your free time and do some practicing on a proper instrument while sitting on a chair in the air-conditioned indoors.

Ken Herrick wrote:"TinyTubist"


If the thing is too big for you and causing pain - DON'T persist - it isn't worth causing painful injuries which might give you trouble for life. If your band director can't come up with some other arrangement marching band may just have to be left off the agenda.

I totally agree 200%. The "tough it out and play through the pain" bit turns into major medical problems later down the road. Short and sweet, if you band director can not or will not help you alleviate your physical problems with this instrument politely hand it back to him and play something you can handle comfortably or drop band. NOONE should be doing marching band in PAIN...period.

JJ

I never got to march a Sousa until I transferred into Purdue as a junior after not marching at all for two years. I had a 70s/80s vintage King horn that didn't weigh much, but on game days I got the section leader's "practice" horn which was an old BIG (possibly a King Giant...I am going to take measurements this fall at alumni band) 4-valver....that thing weighed a ton! Since I never got used to it on game days....my left arm/shoulder literally felt like it was going to fall off after each game that year. ....but you eventually get used to it. I can still pick that horn up 16 years later and it fits like a glove! ....you just have to tough it out and be glad you don't play bass drum!

Also, I always hold my mouthpiece/neck with my left hand now. it's become a habit. The old Kings were so abused that you couldn't get the neck to tighten at all....usually the bits were stuck together but wouldn't stay too snuggly in the neck as well. (tuba repair guys stop reading now)...we would use a combination of paper and black shoe-strings tied to the main loop and such to keep our mouthpiece as close to the appropriate position as possible. Hey we're enginerds at Purdue...not musicians! The horns looked a little goofy up close, but it was always interesting to see how people would set the mouthpieces up like that. Some people never could get it right and played in a very uncomfortable position...I liked my mouthpiece to be nice and solid....and I devised a way to tuck my flip-folder (yeah we carried music..,) up against the neck so I could hold onto the mouthpiece and the flip folder at the same time. Holding the mouthpiece area while keeping your left arm tightly around the horn also gave you good leverage to take out anyone who tried to cross through the parade block.... ....or do horn moves...whichever was more appropriate at the time.

Now, when I march with a sousaphone I still hold onto the mouthpiece... because I'd rather not see my $160 investment go launching off my horn and hitting pavement should I decide to do a horn move. .....but like I said...minimal shoulder pain!

jc

goodgigs wrote:

BRSousa wrote:Not ever holding the mouthpiece...does this include neck and bits? Why?

Well most people don't work at a major mid western band instrument repair shop and can't easily fix the
damage they might do to the lead pipe and braces if they hold their mouthpieces, bitts, or goosenecks.
Also to hold the mouthpiece, you give up your left hand position on the body where you'll have better leverage
if you get caught in the wind or have to turn while playing.

I wasn't going to say it, but OK, I think it looks stupid.........(I know look who's talking).........