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I find it kind of tedious listening. I suggest the tuba solo from "When Yuba Plays The Rumba On The Tuba", ca 2:21 in the 1931 Rudy Vallee recording.

They aren't going recognize any of it, but Yuba the Tuba would change their lives, it's that good, and ... I guess this part isn't strictly relevant unless someone's going to sing the words, but it's what the tuba is all about, eh? Or maybe "Tubby" is, suit yourself.

Write down a couple of licks from "Frozen".

Per what Bloke said about kids not knowing who Tubby is, there was a tuba category on Jeopardy a few weeks ago. They had a picture of Tubby as the clue and wanted his name. None of the contestants knew it. It's good to be a tuba geek.

I'm a little grown... but nowhere near as much as some you guys. I would have gone nuts for the Veggie Tales theme back in my day. I believe that's probably still widely known by the kids these days... Then again, I would go nuts for Jabba even today. So maybe I'm not the best judge.

AKA Uncle Ruckus theme. good choice.

How 'bout the Sesame Street theme? Multi-generational recognition.

I sometimes use Teddy Bears Picnic, no-one seems to mind that it's not trendy

There are some tv themes, pop songs and video game themes on Tuba Peter.
http://www.tubapeter.com/index_files/free_pdf" target="_blank

I like to use the Adams Family theme and get the kids to provide the finger snaps.

I always use stuff from Sesame Street and anything from the original Charles Schultz XMAS Peanuts tv show. They always recognize that stuff. Having them sing along is a ton of fun. After a half an hour they all say they want to be tuba players. If we could only keep them in the fold!

I remember the very first time I did one of these things I brought an F Eb CC and BBb - and tried to explain to a kindergarten class the differences bwahaha!!! Nobody (not even 5 year olds) cares. I quickly learned to just bring the biggest horn I've got (size matters to this crowd), play some stuff they know, let them ask and answer their questions and finally just take song requests.

You cant go wrong with stirring renditions of "go fight win" or the Delaware Blue Hen fight song!!

Also, an "Old McDonald" and "Chicken Dance" medley works.

Alas, me thinks we have an individual tuba player's critique of all tuba players. I'm only a part time tuba player, but it fits. I only have half a brain. Just ask my wife.

Back when I was a band director on LI, we had a faculty brass quintet that visited all of our district's elementary schools during the first week when schools opened in Sept. We visited the schools as a recruiting tool to get kids excited about brass instruments. We played pieces together and then we demonstrated our instruments individually. I always played, The Flinstones - the entire song. I would play the theme once and turn around to walk back to my seat to applause. Then, I would spin around and play the bridge. Then, I'd start to walk back to my seat and spin around and play the ending. Everyone loved it. Well, over 30+ years, it got to the point where only the teachers would recognize, The Flinstones. I switched to playing Sesame Street for the few years remaining until I retired. I think it's important to play a melody they will recognize.

I have not done children's demos in several years now, but did quite a number of them while in school and occasionally for my orchestral employers along the way. I always played Popeye (the hornpipe thingy)...most of the time the kids recognized it right away and thought it was funny. It's also funny that Veggie Tales was mentioned: I was asked to play that many times by the kids, more than any other TV/Cartoon/Pop song, by a long shot. I did not know it and despite the best effort of the kids to "teach" me the song, I was (according to them) never able to get it right.

I recently did a "Meet the Tuba" for several elementary school classes. I played the Imperial March from Star Wars and all of the kids knew it.

When we do "music in the schools" concerts I always do the Darth Vader theme. Kids of all ages lose their **** when I play that.

Just a thought.

bloke wrote:

Mark wrote:I recently did a "Meet the Tuba" for several elementary school classes. I played the Imperial March from Star Wars and all of the kids knew it.

bububassboner wrote:When we do "music in the schools" concerts I always do the Darth Vader theme. Kids of all ages lose their **** when I play that.

Just a thought.

That one ("Imperial March") was suggested to me by a good friend, and it's an excellent suggestion.
Though not "fast", it would need to be played absolutely flawlessly, and on a contrabass tuba...methinks.
(thanks!)

Yes, and if you call it Darth Vader's theme, the kids will correct you and tell you it is the Imperial March.

I did this for some kids a couple of years ago with Chris Olka and he played it down an octave from me. That was very effective.

Bare Necessities from Jungle Book !

Three Stooges Theme Song.....