New tuba - old guy question

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MaryAnn
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by MaryAnn »

Yeah my comment, late of course, would be does any player currently up to snuff have insurmountable problems with that note? I'm not as competent on tuba as I am on horn, and I can make any horn go whether it wants to or not, even now in my dotage (older than you and poor health to boot.) So....patience, my friend, and it will come. Just remember to blow, and keep that sense of humor that works so well for you.
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jperry1466
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Thanks, Maryann and Bloke. Good comments. I know I just need time and practice. I have had this horn all of 4 days now after a 40 layoff from CC. I taught and played the BBb horns all these years of band directing, but the flexibility and range were never there like they are on CC.

I did find a way to make the note speak - 4th valve with a slight pull on the 4th slide, so if I ever really have to play that note in the real world, I can. I have tried 5 mouthpieces and found one that works best (out of my collection) for this instrument, and the horn plays so well. It seems to have a better low range than my old Meinl Weston, and perhaps a little more struggle with the upper range, but it is way to early to tell. Also, where my lips used to be quite supple, they feel like lumber trying to vibrate now. Maybe another 40 years of daily practice will reverse this process. :lol:
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Yes, everyone would probably be highly entertained by a recording of a bunch of cracked notes. :lol:

The chops are starting to come back, although 67-year-old lips seem to be a bit stiffer than 22-year-old lips. I played something tonight that called for the high E, and it came out nicely played 4th valve. I still cannot duplicate it played either open or 1-2, interestingly enough.

The upper range above the staff still needs a lot of work, but I was pleasantly surprised at my progress after the 40 year layoff. In other news, now that I have my own horn and am practicing again, my non-musician wife of 48 years seems to roll her eyes a lot. :roll:
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

You shouldn't be scared after hearing some of the crap I've posted. :shock:

No one is required to post anything, but tuba audio is like crack for a few of us addicts around here. Post when you are comfortable, or not at all. Just don't give up playing and practicing.
Thanks, Doc.
The Mrs. has been putting up with my practicing, teaching private lessons in the house, etc. for 48 years now. She has beennothing but supportive of this new horn. I did good marrying that farmer's daughter. I have every intention of keeping up my practice; right now it is about 2 hours a day, and I got a good tip from an old college friend. When I get comfortable, I will post some audio. Maybe I'll cheat and post my stuff from 44 years ago, which is now digitized. The before and after recordings may generate some laughs. I will try to find those audio posts you mentioned. Where can I find them?
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by Worth »

She has been nothing but supportive of this new horn.
As many of us can attest to, that's a fortunate situation to have. She and the horn both sound like keepers!
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2014 Wisemann 900 with Laskey 30H
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Thanks, Doc!
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Doc wrote:
jperry1466 wrote:Thanks, Doc!
You should probably listen first before you thank me. :shock: :lol:
I added some Rudy files, btw.

Looking forward to hearing about your fun and progress!
I did listen, and I was impressed by the seemingly (to me) effortless performances. I am not ready to post yet (it's only been a week). Between the cracked notes in the upper register (lower and mid are getting better), the occasional reverting to BBb fingerings due to long years of school teaching, and the fact that I have to take off my bifocals to struggle to see the music better, I am still struggling. The sound and range are coming. Just have to cement the CC fingerings again. It's getting better by the day, though. I will go back and check the Rudy files.
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Doc wrote:
I don't need bifocals for reading. I need glasses for distance, but I can no longer overcome the distance correction to read. So... I must remove the glasses. When reading music, the distance from me to the stand determines glasses on or off. I personally don't need any yet, but if need be, you can have glasses made specifically for reading music. .. there are lots of options. If this becomes necessary for you, take a stand and sheet of music to mimic the actual positioning, angles, and distance. There would be slight, but important differences between the guy who plays guitar stands up and reads and the tubist who sits and reads. That's a whole lot about nothing just to say that there are options out there when/if we need help.
That's good advice. I do have a local optometrist who will work with me on this. For now, I may go get some $3 Walmart full size reading glasses and see if that gives me what I need, then go see the Doc. The range is finally getting better. I switched to a Warburton TG25 mouthpiece, which is a little smaller cup than I like, but with my thin lips, it gives me the best compromise for now. The sound isn't as big as I like, but I get around the horn a lot easier. The high E still refuses to budge, but I have learned to play it comfortably with 4th valve. Just a quirk of this horn I guess. I'm practicing 2 hours a day and getting closer to being comfortable with recording but not there yet.
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by BrassedOn »

Doc wrote:you may need to simply spend time playing it to get acclimated to that tuba. Good luck, and keep us informed about your journey.
Ditto to Doc's comments. I've had euphs that were squirrelly on that partial, on Bb the open high D. But after a while, i could get it with 1 and 2 or 3 or just about any combination with 4. Probably back to the basics you mastered in the past, with some high buzzing and such will bring it in. But if it persists, it could just be bad luck with some node or sound wave hitting right at a joint or spit key. If you had a mouthpiece with a longer or shorter shank, that might be enough to move the node off the sour spot.
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Alex C
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by Alex C »

IMHO, if you are "a whole lot rusty," the problem is probably behind the mouthpiece. Age makes things happen differently on the tuba as well, from personal experience. Give yourself time to knock the rust off without judging like you did in undergrad school.
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"Holding the Bordognian Fabric of the Universe together through better pitch, one note at a time."

Practicing results in increased atmospheric CO2 thus causing global warming.
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jperry1466
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Thanks, I'm finding that out for sure.
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by bearphonium »

A couple people I play in groups with have gotten "musician's glasses" which correct vision to the stand distance in a larger, bottom part of the lens, with a smaller distance correction it the top part of the lens. Not sure if these are "progressive" or "bifocal" styles, but they both really like them. I am still at the point where I can wear magnifiers for stand reading and have decent enough vision to see the director either over the top of the magnifiers or through them (although that's more of a challenge).

Glad you're taking time for you and getting back into music. It's been a godsend for me.
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jperry1466
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Re: New tuba - old guy question

Post by jperry1466 »

Thanks, bearphonium. Great advice. Since I read your reply, I did some research online. The two best choices seem to be the lenses you described and/or single vision lenses optimized to read at about 24-28". I will be seeing my ophthamologist next month anyway, and I know he will work with me on this.

I'm both enjoying and being frustrated with my return to practice. I never left music, but left performing for a very long time due to teaching music. The old knowledge is in my head but doesn't always transfer to my lips and lungs. I'm just ready for the community band rehearsals to start.
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