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While sitting in a dress rehearsal tonight I realized something saddening... I can, with only changing one word in the following sentence, explain the pros and cons of playing tuba in a symphony setting.

Pros:
"We had a 3 hour dress rehearsal tonight and I only HAD to play for 20 minutes!"

Cons:
"we had a 3 hour dress rehearsal tonight and I only GOT to play for 20 minutes!"

I wish the tuba had been invented earlier so we could have been incorporated in more music. I often find myself only getting to play one piece a concert and unless it's Prokofiev, Mahler, Berlioz, Wagner, etc. it really isn't that great/hard of a part.

There's one BIG reason why I prefer brass band and concert band music. In those groups the tubas play most ALL of the time.

That's why you get the biggest, baddest BAT you can get your hands on: make those 20 minutes count!

I did not play the tuba because I loved blowing through a large piece of brass tubing, though, I love the sound of the tuba and the role it plays in the orchestra. I love symphonic music and the sound of the orchestra. In order to participate in orchestral music, I needed a tool. The tuba was my choice. No, I do not play all of the time. But, what I do play is very significant to the piece of great music I am performing. It is also challenging both technically and musically. I am also lucky to be learning and playing music of the great composotional masters of their time and style. In addition to making beautiful music, I am listening to live performance of beautiful music when I am not playing. For my taste, the symphony orchestra is the ultimate ensemble with all of its sonic variety and technical virtuosity incorporating all 4 families of instruments, strings, woodwinds, brass and percusion. The creative possibilities are endless for a composer with great skill. Also, as a brass player, I don't have to share my part with another player of the same instrument. The responsibility is great, but, the rewards are worth the time and effort

Think this best sums up playing the tuba

TubaTinker wrote:There's one BIG reason why I prefer brass band and concert band music. In those groups the tubas play most ALL of the time.

+1!

Great amounts of boredom punctuated by brief periods of sheer terror.

Say what you will, but when you're not playing there's no better seat in the hall than onstage!

I enjoy both orchestral and band playing. They are different, but both have their own special rewards.

In Orchestra you are only playing a small amount of the time, but when you do play it is really important - a solo voice - and it is rewarding being part of such great music.

However, there is not enough tuba playing in the Orchestra that I'd be happy to do that alone. Played in bands provides a real workout, with the tuba/s being the foundation of the whole ensemble. That is rewarding in itself.

Neptune wrote:I enjoy both orchestral and band playing. They are different, but both have their own special rewards.

In Orchestra you are only playing a small amount of the time, but when you do play it is really important - a solo voice - and it is rewarding being part of such great music.

However, there is not enough tuba playing in the Orchestra that I'd be happy to do that alone. Played in bands provides a real workout, with the tuba/s being the foundation of the whole ensemble. That is rewarding in itself.

I think I'm going to find a brass band/concert band to play in. I just started playing in the community orchestra on tuba. The concert has seven pieces in it and I have a part for one of them and it is a bass trombone part. I was handed the bass viol book and was told, "Maybe you can make something of this." Tuba in pizzicato? Hmmmm... I also play trumpet and can limp along on french horn. The group already has six trumpets and six horns.

The Big Ben wrote:

Neptune wrote:I enjoy both orchestral and band playing. They are different, but both have their own special rewards.

In Orchestra you are only playing a small amount of the time, but when you do play it is really important - a solo voice - and it is rewarding being part of such great music.

However, there is not enough tuba playing in the Orchestra that I'd be happy to do that alone. Played in bands provides a real workout, with the tuba/s being the foundation of the whole ensemble. That is rewarding in itself.

I think I'm going to find a brass band/concert band to play in. I just started playing in the community orchestra on tuba. The concert has seven pieces in it and I have a part for one of them and it is a bass trombone part. I was handed the bass viol book and was told, "Maybe you can make something of this." Tuba in pizzicato? Hmmmm... I also play trumpet and can limp along on french horn. The group already has six trumpets and six horns.

Oh, string bass parts on tuba are fun -- don't turn that down! Pizzicato on tuba is a useful technique, well worth learning.

That's the gig, by and large.

There is orchestral playing and orchestral playing. Some music is more rewarding than any other type of playing in my opinion - such as Mahler 6th Symphony (my personal favourite). However there is other music which may not be rewarding for the tubist with little to play and not very demanding. When that comes up I just concentrate on making a good sound when I do play - and even a sustained chord with the trombones can sound wonderful out front and enhance the music.

If you have little to play, take your iPad, or a good book to read in rehearsals.

TubaTinker wrote:There's one BIG reason why I prefer brass band and concert band music. In those groups the tubas play most ALL of the time.

There's one BIG reason why I prefer [s]brass band and concert band music[/s] trad jazz and blues music. In those groups the tubas play most ALL of the time.

Well that and the fact that I'm supremely unqualified to play symphonic music.

Counting rests ...

Indeed, and it isn't just time, it's quality time. Playing tuba in a band, you're likely right at the heart of what's going on.

Donn wrote:Indeed, and it isn't just time, it's quality time. Playing tuba in a band, you're likely right at the heart of what's going on.

Agreed.

(don't miss this one just because tubenet won't render a thumbnail for it):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZqJ5ogLIGk&t=3m31s

No Beethoven. Heart-breaking.

I think it is all a matter of personal temperament and what sort of music you like.

I enjoy playing in orchestra because I love classical music by the great composers,
I enjoy playing in the band because I love playing tuba

I prefer band music to orchestra. Check out this for a laugh. I think we have all uttered these at one time or another. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmPaLdeg7g8" target="_blank" target="_blank