Borrowing an idea from a Bassist.

[Rochester2013]

I typically enjoy having my right leg slightly elevated when playing and I think this could help a lot. Right now I have a block of wood (which doesn't look nearly as good as this device did) to help this; it works great at home, but changing seat heights hinders the blocks usefulness.

Years ago when I subbed with some group I saw one of the bassist using a foot rest. The thing was pretty neat; it looked as though its height was fully adjustable.

I have seen plenty of foot rests, but nothing like this one. Most of the ones I see are like this: http://tinyurl.com/tubafoot;" target="_blank for both feet and only adjustable by angle.

Any help would be appreciated!

[olaness]

Looking for something like this one? http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... CF4Q8wIwAA" target="_blank

Plenty of choice of various variations of this one out there, they are designed for guitarists, but I have seen many other musicians use them as well, but it does mean that you have to put something along the lines of 'guitar foot stool' or 'guitar foot rest' into google to find them.

O

[Rochester2013]

Looking for something like this one? http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... CF4Q8wIwAA" target="_blank" target="_blank

Plenty of choice of various variations of this one out there, they are designed for guitarists, but I have seen many other musicians use them as well, but it does mean that you have to put something along the lines of 'guitar foot stool' or 'guitar foot rest' into google to find them.

O

That's the general idea! Great, thanks! I never even thought of Guitar players would use them!

[sloan]

sounds like this is motivated by back problems.

BUT...my first thought was a point made by Patrick Sheridan in master classes: to maximize your air capacity, your knees should be lower than your hips.

If you are standing, then elevating one leg is not a problem - but if you are sitting ...

[bort]

Just curious -- what part of sitting like this is appealing? Easier to breathe? Easier to hold the horn? Easier to...?

I've always been taught (and have benefited from it) to sit straight up, both feet on the floor, shoulders level... to promote good breathing and air efficiency. Sit in the chair properly first. Then bring the horn to you. As soon as you start to contort your body, you are losing potential.

If sitting like this helps you hold the horn, maybe consider a playing stand? Or is it something like the chair is too tall, and your feet don't sit flat on the ground (that's happened to me before, and to have a down-sloping lap is NO good for playing).

[tubaforce]

Hi!
I prefer a chair that allows me to sit with my thighs angled ever so slightly down, and I like my right leg angled a bit behind the seat and to the right, forming an almost 90 degree angle between my legs. The ball of my right foot stays planted, leaving the rest of that foot to move to the 1+2+... of the beat ( I NEVER tap my toes!). Ideally the inside of my right heel finds a "perch" on the leg of the chair. If I can't make my right foot comfortable, I divide the beat with my left foot, lifting that heel ever so slightly, my shoe never actually leaving the floor. For Upright Bass, I have a stool with an adjustable foot rest. I am not comfortable using the stool for a 4/4 (or larger ) Tuba. Keeping one's abdomen as un-obstructed (My belly is on a strict diet ) as possible should be any wind player's top concern, and feet flat or elevated impedes my breathing even when I'm NOT overweight.
Al

[Kory101]

....to maximize your air capacity, your knees should be lower than your hips.

+100

[Rochester2013]

sounds like this is motivated by back problems.

BUT...my first thought was a point made by Patrick Sheridan in master classes: to maximize your air capacity, your knees should be lower than your hips.

In my current state it is highly uncomfortable to play my tuba without my knee being slightly elevated, nearly impossible to play for more than 20 minutes. You are correct, motivated by back problems; I had surgery on my back about 6 weeks ago. I found that in my state of recovery (which will take a bit more physical therapy and time) the only way to comfortably play my tuba for a half an hour+ is to do this (never really thought it would work, but I was desperate when getting back into playing).

I think in the near (or at least I hope near) future this will be unnecessary. But right now I would rather impede my air capacity a bit to be able to play .

[bort]

Get a playing stand!!

I had to deal with back pain and a heavy tuba last year, and a BBC stand was a life saver. Let that do the "heavy lifting" for you.

[Darren]

Hmmm in this scenario physical therapy was the best treatment i have personal experience of this therapy it was quite helpful and but little bit lengthy treatment.....