Turning music playing a front valve tuba

[Mark Preece]

When using my BE 983, I can easily turn the page by sticking my left arm through the instrument above the valve slides, temporarily leaning the side of the bell against my arm while turning the page. This of course is easier to do with a smaller horn.

When using my VMI 5198, this is not possible unless I am sitting on a piano bench with the bottom bow resting on the bench in front of me. I cannot balance this large horn in my lap and turn the page while playing at the same time, for fear that it would slip off me. A piano bench really helps to balance the horn comfortably, and I usually use one for this horn just to eliminate the stress of holding it in my lap.

[MartyNeilan]

You may need to photocopy a single page or manually write out a line on the bottom or top of a page. Even writing a couple of notes at the end of a page may suffice. Some publishers are notorius for bad page turns. Many of David Holsinger's works have this problem; a page turn in the middle of a moving line. We would just ask Mrs. Holsinger (!) to make a photocopy of the offending page and then spread them across our stand next to the orignials, problem solved.

When I had my 2145, I was actually able to slip my left hand through the tuba and work the first three valves in some situations, allowing my right hand to turn the page while I played. I don't think a rotary tuba will let you do this.

[Tubaryan12]

I dog-ear the pages that need a quick turn. I use a drum throne as a stand for my horn and with the dog ear'd pages its not a problem.

[Dan Schultz]

Had a bunch of tunes at a 4th of July concert tonight with bad page turns. It was an outdoor concert so I took a sousaphone NO problem

Seriously.... I have been known to photocopy a page or two. On three-page stuff it's easy to clip it to the stand so it's just a matter of flipping a single page. When playing a rotary or front-action horn I find it's fairly easy to support the horn with my upper left arm while reaching around the horn to turn pages. When doing stand-up gigs with a rotary horn it gets really easy if I use my M-W harness. BOTH hands are free!

[scottw]

And as always----use your tuba rest! Makes the whole thing easier reaching around with the sure knowledge that the horn won't fall to the floor!

[Allen]

For extra fun, try page turns while playing outdoors in breezy weather. First you undo all those clothspins holding the music, then try to turn the page (optional: go chase the page that blew away while attempting a turn), then clip it in place. Oh yes, if you have a lightweight music stand, don't forget to keep your foot on the stand base to keep the stand from blowing over.

Allen Walker,
who enjoyed playing today's outdoor concert

[Dan Schultz]

For extra fun, try page turns while playing outdoors in breezy weather.

Solution!:
1. Get a three ring folder.
2. Fill it with plastic sheet protectors.
3. Insert you music into the sheet protectors.
Result:
Your page turns are much easier and the folder is much less likely to blow off of your stand than individual sheets.

Hmmmm.... Schlep, are you going to photocopy ALL or your music ... or are you going to cut the margins off the originals

[Paul S]

' no need to xerox...Just very neatly make some strategic horizontal scissors cuts on your music so that you can make "1/2" page turns...at places where you DO have rests.

If carefully done (paying particular attention to what is on the BACK side where these pages are cut), I don't feel the least bit guilty doing this to "original" copies.

This is the system I use and seems to be the one used by most string players I know as well. As "Bloke" says, take your time, do it right and cleanly.

If you are uncertain, make a front and back "Xerox" and then make the cuts on it.

[tubaribonephone]

When I play, I have a towel on my chair between my legs that I rest my tuba on because I have a long upper body and have a hard time keeping it in between my legs when I play. So when I have to make a page turn, it doesn't affect my playing what so ever I can litterally play with one arm/hand and not worry about it at all!!!

[Mark]

Tonight I was playing my new Meinl-Weston rotary valve tuba in concert band and there was a couple of pieces where there was no rest at the page turn...

Unless you are sight reading, you should plan ahead for page turns. Photo copying pages works for me.

There really are some very badly placed page turns. The one that really gets me is where the publisher, to save on one lousy piece of paper, prints a two-page part on the front and back of a single piece of paper.

[Lew]

I usually have no problem reaching the stand with my left hand while continuing to play with my right. There have been times when I have played with my left hand while reaching around with my right to turn the page, or even to hold the music before turning the page and turning the page while playing, but this only works with my front action piston valve tubas (Besson 983 and King 2341). This does not work with my rotary valve tuba, especially the big King.

[dmmorris]

[quote="TubaTinker"]Had a bunch of tunes at a 4th of July concert tonight with bad page turns. It was an outdoor concert so I took a sousaphone NO problem quote]

I've had the luxury of having a helicon to play and it is a real treat to have all of that extra mobility...not to mention page-turning ability.

I agree with the photo-copy option for multiple page turns when I'm using my tuba.

-dmm

[ThomasDodd]

No you all know that photo copies are illegal.

Most current stuff is even marked "No photo copies".
Sure, if you have a copier or scanner+printer you can do it, but you not "supposed" to.

Fair use be damned. The DMCA removed fair use for the the general public.

[ThomasDodd]

I have a 3 ring binder. And lots of sheet protectors for all my music. It's a nuisance to get in and out.

That only works well with U.S. letter (8.5"x11") sized paper. Finding sheet protectors for other sizes is very difficult. Lot's of old music is a different size (longer and wider). European's like A4 size a lot too (narrower and longer).

You just make sure their's no glare on the sheets and wa-la.

They make sheet protectors with an anti-glare finish that works well. Polarized glasses help a lot too.

[ThomasDodd]

Yeah I know there's those british sizes and such.

But i'm talking good old american paper. Not no goofy metrics paper.

hmmm...

8.5 x 14 ? aka U.S. Legal?

archA, 9" x12" (I know I've had lots of parts on this size.)
archB 12" x 18", 2 archA pages side by side (like tabloid is 2 letter pages side by side) use for 3+ page parts.

I took a 3 ring folder(with this odd paper it would stick out some). I punched the 3 holes into the sheet.

You should get 30 lashes for that.
Would you tear pages out of a book in the library? Cut holes in one? Then why damage an expensive printed part that might be difficult to even replace? Check out the costs for a complete score some time, or the cost for individual parts when available. A lot of stuff is not even published, the score is rented.

I would not suggest doing similar in the future.

And nevee mark the parts with ink. The next time it palyed the conductor might have a completely different interpretation. And the next player probably won't understand you notes anyway.

I'm guilty of the abouve mistakes. No one bothered to explain why it was bad back in high school.

[ThomasDodd]

I guess you don't understand. I don't use the score's part.

1) don't start bad habits.

2) there really are legal isues, particuraly today, with making copies.

Are you sure you have a copy? If you ever get a part that is 2 or more connected pages, you can be almost certian it's original, not a copy. I had several in high school.

Last I checked, if you buy a score that has 2 printed parts, and you need 3, youa are supposed to buy more printed parts. Making a copy is illegal. Sure it's done, but it still not legal most of the time.

[Lew]

...
Last I checked, if you buy a score that has 2 printed parts, and you need 3, youa are supposed to buy more printed parts. Making a copy is illegal. Sure it's done, but it still not legal most of the time.

Last I heard it was legal to make a copy for convenience, as long as you weren't using more than the number of printed copies. For example, if you copied a 2 sided part to avoid a page turn, it was ok as long as someone else doesn't use the original at the same time. Is that not still true?

[ThomasDodd]

...
Last I checked, if you buy a score that has 2 printed parts, and you need 3, youa are supposed to buy more printed parts. Making a copy is illegal. Sure it's done, but it still not legal most of the time.

Last I heard it was legal to make a copy for convenience, as long as you weren't using more than the number of printed copies. For example, if you copied a 2 sided part to avoid a page turn, it was ok as long as someone else doesn't use the original at the same time. Is that not still true?

I really don't know. It would make sense, but Copyright law has gotten so convoluted in the last 20 years, I'm not really sure.

Example if convoluted law. I watched "Shark Tale" last night. In a few scenes a shark hums/sings the theme from "Jaws", like 3 bars. But it's credited, and Dreamworks had to get permission(pay?) to use 3 bars (2 notes?) of music from 25 years ago that is part of pop culture now.

I know "Happy Birthday to You" has fees. So you seldom see it in a movie, and resturants use some other goofy song because of it.

[TMurphy]

But when it comes to educational use of music(in school), I guess band directors can use/copy music like that.

Nope. Still illegal. A widespread practice, to be sure, but illegal, just the same.

[windshieldbug]

Legal? Illegal?
Makes me no difference.
Flame on!

I think I was behind you the last time you made a "Legal? Illegal?" turn, at least I think it was you; had those Meinl air horns on top...