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Hello All,

My name is Philip and I am a rising college freshman from North Carolina. My family is taking a trip to Maine from June 10th - June 19th and will be flying. We don’t have the ability to purchase an extra seat, and I don’t feel comfortable checking my horn, so I was wondering if anyone had a horn I’d be able to borrow or rent for the time that I am there. I am attending a music camp soon after we get back from the trip and would like to be able to continue practicing my audition piece and just not lose my chops or breath support while I’m away. If I am unable to procure a tuba to practice on, is there any other tips on how to keep your chops and breath support for the most part when you’re away from your horn? I am planning to at least bring my mouthpiece and do some breathing exercises if nothing else works out. If there are any suggestions for places or people I could contact, please leave their information or names below. Anything is helpful.

Thank you,
Philip

Although in my case it's been years and years, I've "been there and stressed about that."

My advice to you is to just take the vacation and enjoy it for what it is - a break. It's only 10 days. You won't forget everything you know or fall hopelessly behind by taking a break for 10 days.

If you just can't bring yourself to step away completely and feel the need to engage in musical activity, skip trying to take your tuba (or trying to rent one) and just take the mouthpiece to buzz once in a while. Or perhaps take some sheet music you are learning and just study it. You can even take a small metronome with you and count or sing through your music. Or plan out some recordings to listen to on your trip.

Tom wrote:Although in my case it's been years and years, I've "been there and stressed about that."

My advice to you is to just take the vacation and enjoy it for what it is - a break. It's only 10 days. You won't forget everything you know or fall hopelessly behind by taking a break for 10 days.

If you just can't bring yourself to step away completely and feel the need to engage in musical activity, skip trying to take your tuba (or trying to rent one) and just take the mouthpiece to buzz once in a while. Or perhaps take some sheet music you are learning and just study it. You can even take a small metronome with you and count or sing through your music. Or plan out some recordings to listen to on your trip.

+1 Ace

I have been there many times. I have always found a break accompanied by listening to recordings to be as good or better than wearing out my chops and missing out on the rest of life.

BELIEVE ME. There are people on this forum who have had the same instinct as you and even ended up renting or borrowing horns. I'm one of them. But one of the great things about this forum is being able to draw on countless years of trial and error of others.

Listen to music on your trip. Listen to non-tub related music. Sing along to a Brandenburg concerto. Have an experience in Maine. It's gorgeous.

There are a lot of ways to become a better tuba player without a tuba in your hands.

I went to Maine with my wife for the first time about 15 years ago. Down here we eat crabs. If one goes to a “fancy” restaurant you may get a lobster tail. I learned how to eat a whole steamed lobster up there.

Do that.

I also went out on the rocks during low tide to see if a seal, seemingly dead, was OK. I got about ten feet away and woke it up. I slid on the moss and nearly fractured my tailbone.

Don’t do that!!

bloke wrote:As an official representative of the Tuba Gawddh of Osuzah,...

Is that you, Saint Joe??

I kayaked the Kennebec river many years ago on my only trip to Maine. We had a great time. Enjoy yourself.

Sweetwater sells a four "valve" finger exerciser for $15. Google it. Take your mouthpiece and get one of those. Although it's not the most effective alternative to actual practicing, it's cheaper and more manageable than lugging a tuba all over the country.

D'Addario Planet Waves VariGrip Hand Exerciser
Finger Exerciser with Individually Adjustable Spring-loaded Buttons


I tried to insert a screen shot of it, but the file was too big and it wouldn't let me do it.

Three Valves wrote:I also went out on the rocks during low tide to see if a seal, seemingly dead, was OK. I got about ten feet away and woke it up. I slid on the moss and nearly fractured my tailbone.

Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon: Then Bill said "Do you think that bear is dead or just asleep?".

I might have said this here before many moons ago, but years ago, we went to FL to visit Debi's parents and I had to play a solo with a concert band when I returned home to NY after 10 days. I couldn't bring my tuba. So, I brought my mouthpiece and my Korg tuner. I spent 10 - 15 minutes a day (sometimes twice a day) just playing 1 octave scales in slow quarter notes and trying to bring the pitch close, or within 10 cents. That's it. When I got home and picked up my tuba, it felt like I never stopped playing. The solo (can't remember what solo) went fine the next day. I wasn't concerned about the solo, but just the ability to physically play it.

Philip, what skill can you develop without a tuba (or any instrument)?

It is an incredibly important skill, yet neglected by most instrumental musicians.

All you need at hand to practice it is some sheet music.

SIGHT SINGING.

HUP

Thank you all for your help! I brought my mouthpiece and will just do some buzzing each day on it.