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So here's the deal. I'm a music ed. major who happens to play the flute. For my past 6 years in marching band I played the piccolo. Now that I am in college I have been offered the opportunity to play the Sousa in marching band. I gladly accepted this offer in the hopes of gaining more experience and seeing things from the other side of band. It will also help in my endeavors with my future students. Now, since I played piccolo these years in band, I really don't know too much about marching with a huge sousaphone. I'm trying to prepare myself as much as possible for this coming season. I'm lifting weights to help my arms and shoulders, I'm working my legs (even though they're already pretty great from my past years), I'm learning fingerings and doing what I can to prepare. What I'd like to know is if anyone can give me me any tips, advice, or information that could help me prepare for playing this coming season. Thanks!

I taught 2 guys at NCSU how to play sousa while I was section leader. Both made All-District in HS on the tenor sax and both were drum majors their senior years of HS. The only thing they really struggled with was getting enough breath for good phrasing. I don't figure that's a problem for you since you play flute. The only other minor difficulty they had was getting used to playing slightly ahead of the beat while standing at the back of the marching/football field. Judging by the rest your post, you'll be in good shape come marching season. Welcome to the sousa section!

Curmudgeon wrote:Get the sousa on your shoulder and practice walking around with it. Lift weights is a good idea, but until your body get accustomed to the asymmetrical and very taxing task of actually carrying the horn around you won't be build the endurance and muscle you'll need.

I very much agree with Curmudgeon, one of the biggest challenges with Marching with the sousaphone was actually getting used to and figuring out the best way to balance and carry the instrument. I've got access to and have tried several different manufacturers horns that are owned by our fire department band and they all carry a little differently. Get out in the back yard and experiment with the horn to find the ideal carrying position for that horn. Once I found the best bell angle I took a little bit of my wife's nail polish and marked a line on the bell and bell collar so I can get it back in that same position every time.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it!!

KiltieTuba wrote:

Radar wrote:

Curmudgeon wrote:Get the sousa on your shoulder and practice walking around with it. Lift weights is a good idea, but until your body get accustomed to the asymmetrical and very taxing task of actually carrying the horn around you won't be build the endurance and muscle you'll need.

I very much agree with Curmudgeon, one of the biggest challenges with Marching with the sousaphone was actually getting used to and figuring out the best way to balance and carry the instrument. I've got access to and have tried several different manufacturers horns that are owned by our fire department band and they all carry a little differently. Get out in the back yard and experiment with the horn to find the ideal carrying position for that horn. Once I found the best bell angle I took a little bit of my wife's nail polish and marked a line on the bell and bell collar so I can get it back in that same position every time.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it!!

No, there is only one way to hold a modern sousaphone -



The left hand can hold anywhere, but the bell and body need to be set up like the above... unless you're really heavy-set... then the body goes across your body

Well although I have no problem holding our King or Conn Pretty much as shown in your picture, I've got a Holton with original neck and bits, that I have to wear more across my body for it to work right (and I've tried it like pictured). Even between the King or Conn the best angle is a little different from horn to horn. The picture you show is the ideal, but it doesn't always work the same with every body type on every horn. A little bit of experimentation is required, my experience is that not every horn is going to fit every player the same way.

Thanks everyone!