How do I practice effectively?

[cWEED]

I want to get better at the instrument in general, and I have the time to do so, but I don't know how to use my time efficiently. I want to get louder, I want to expand my range, etc., but I don't know where I put my energy or what to do with it.

[cWEED]

As you are 14 year old, I think the best thing to do is get a private teacher who can direct you by becoming familiar with your strengths and weaknesses.

The band director does have a guy come in to help me, but I can't see him often.

[cWEED]

I was trying to ask what I should do when I don't have any music to practice, and when I do have music to practice, how to stay focused and practice efficiently.

[Tom]

Learn all of your scales, if you don't already know them all. However many octaves you can play, different articulations, etc. You can always work on this on your own - even without sheet music or teacher supervision.

There is always something to work on for players of any level. Just think about what that is, and go work on it - sheet music or not. Yes, a teacher will help too - I'd recommend that to you as a young player, for sure.

[happyroman]

First, ask your private teacher or band director to recommend some method books that are appropriate for your level of development.

Then, while practicing, focus as you play on what you want to sound like. Make every note you play sound as good as you possibly can, as if you were playing in front of an audience. If you don't have the money to buy recordings, don't worry. There are lots of examples of great tuba playing posted for free on YouTube. If you go through the forum, you will find many links to such performances. This is an excellent and inexpensive way to develop a concept of what you want to sound like. You probably won't sound like you want at the beginning. But you will eventually refine the crudity of a beginner and you will develop and get better over time.

In general terms, the easiest way to improve is to start at a level where you can have the best success. That usually means in the middle register at a middle dynamic of mf or f. Develop an excellent sound there, and then gradually transfer that excellence outward to the extremes, both in terms of dynamics and range. Whatever you do, do not become enamored with trying to develop the extreme upper register before you have established a solid foundation and have developed your embouchure. That will come over time with development. But too many young players hear recordings of professional musicians who can play in the upper register and make it sing. You have to remember that they have YEARS of development that has allowed them to develop these abilities.

Also, when learning music, focus on the tricky or difficult parts and work on them slowly. Don't just start at the beginning and play through to the end every time. In order to learn a passage, you have to play it right more times than you play it wrong. It is human nature to play something several times, making a mistake each time, and then finally play it correctly one time. Then, because you played it right once, you think you have learned it. No. You have just played it wrong more times than you played it right, so you actually taught yourself to play it wrong. Have the discipline to go back and keep at it until you have played it right more times than you played it wrong.

In other words, don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong.

[cWEED]

Whatever you do, do not become enamored with trying to develop the extreme upper register before you have established a solid foundation and have developed your embouchure.

What do you consider "extreme higher register?" I'm trying to play Bb above the staff consistently. Do you mean above that?

[tubeast]

Bb above bass clef staff ?
Yeah. That´s already what Euphoniums are made for, and most of the time tubas won´t serve their bands all that well playing up there.
Between one and three octaves below is where it´s at for Tuba playing I admire.

The lower you get, the more challenging it will be to play musically.
That is, understanding one´s Job and keeping a line going.
Applying dynamic and articulational versatility.
And staying in correct rhythm in the process.

In case You don´t have access to written etudes that will adress these issues, make them up by yourself. You´ll come up with fun stuff to practise. Use metronome, tuner and recording device in the process.

[The Brute Squad]

In order to learn a passage, you have to play it right more times than you play it wrong. It is human nature to play something several times, making a mistake each time, and then finally play it correctly one time. Then, because you played it right once, you think you have learned it. No. You have just played it wrong more times than you played it right, so you actually taught yourself to play it wrong. Have the discipline to go back and keep at it until you have played it right more times than you played it wrong.

In other words, don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong.

My professor in college used the penny-nickel method. You can't move on from a line unless you play it correctly five times in a row. Correct notes, intonation, tone, and expression (dynamics, articulation, etc.). Anytime you make a mistake, even if it's on the fifth repetition, you go back to 1.

It's called penny-nickel because he used four pennies and a nickel as a visual aid. You move a penny to the other side of the stand (/table/some other surface) when you play the line correctly, and a nickel is used for the fifth to differentiate from the other repetitions, to mark that you've completed and can move on to the next.

I do all the counting internally now, but I still use it when practicing. For some harder licks, I'll do it in chunks (sometimes even adding one note at a time if it's particularly challenging) until I can do the whole thing five times correctly.

[happyroman]

Whatever you do, do not become enamored with trying to develop the extreme upper register before you have established a solid foundation and have developed your embouchure.

What do you consider "extreme higher register?" I'm trying to play Bb above the staff consistently. Do you mean above that?

I assume you mean the Bb that is sitting on top of the bass clef staff, or a whole step below middle c on a piano. So, when I talk about extreme high register, yes, I am talking about the register above that.

My teacher, Arnold Jacobs, referred to "middle register" for the tuba as the two octave range from low Bb up two octaves to the Bb just below middle c on the piano. But, this was for his college students, which were pretty well developed by the time they reached his studio.

When you say that you are "trying to play Bb above the staff consistently", I take it to mean that the Bb is about the upper limit of your usable range. A rule of thumb that Mr. Jacobs gave us was to play in the extreme registers (high and low) about 20% of the time and spend the other 80% of the time on that two octave "cash register." You should find the middle register notes that are very comfortable, for you, and spend most of your practice time there, and very gradually expand outward into the higher and lower registers.

Here is a link to the Special Studies by Arnold Jacobs that were published in the Hal Leonard Band Method. These were some of the staples that he assigned to his students and we still practice them to this day.

http://www.windsongpress.com/jacobs/wri ... METHOD.pdf" target="_blank

[Worth]

@cWEED The fact you are here shows you have the fire. You are getting feedback here from professionals trained by legends. As an amateur, I won't offer any advice except listen carefully, follow your dreams and aim for the stars. Just as important, stay grounded and never underestimate the importance of academics and good grades along your journey.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Practicing melodies (ANY melodies) will already put you ahead in the game in front of most other large-brass-instrument-blowers.

Sight read melodies. A lot.

Also, play a lot. You need embouchure strength and there are no shortcuts to getting it.

While doing these things, always try to make the most beautiful sound possible. Don’t waste your time building extreme registers where you sound awful. That will come with time and patience. Don’t worry about fast fingers or practice-room-phenom techniques.

Play melodies. Beautiful ones.

[hbcrandy]

As you are 14 year old, I think the best thing to do is get a private teacher who can direct you by becoming familiar with your strengths and weaknesses.

The above is the best advice. You are at an age when a private instructor will do you much good. Also, try to get a private instructor who is actually a tuba player.

[MackBrass]

A little background first before I add my two cents. When I was in 11th grade I couldn't play that high Bb nor was I a contender for all county (I grew up on long island) but I wanted to make all state. I barely knew 4 scales at best so I had a long way to go. My biggest hurdle was the fact there was a kid in my grade from another school that made all state the year before. He had a private teacher and even owned his own CC tuba, I didn't think I had a chance.

Here is what I did for the whole year. Worked on learning and played all my scales starting with just one octave at first then went on two two octaves with arpeggios. Used my lunch period every day to practice my piece and my scales. Progress was happening and when I felt lost or had a question I went to my band director, Mr. Katz who is 89 now, for direction. He saw my motivation and he was always there for me.

When it was time for auditions, a Mr. Howard Hovey was on the panel. He was an older gentleman and a tuba player. At the end of the day I made it by 1 point over my competition and went on to all state.

The lesson I learned when looking back was to take it slowly but have a purpose and goal in mind. Get the Arban book for tuba and start on page 1. Play what's written as written then up an Octave and then down an octave. Learn your scales, all twelve major one octave then 2 octaves. Be patient and play slowly at first. Progress will happen, but hit your teacher up for guidance when needed.

If there is a tuba player in your area, hopefully a real pro, save your money and get some private lessons.

[Renodoc]

Great post- As adult learner who got back into playing about a year ago (and am way more serious about playing and dedicated to practicing than when I was younger), some great tips in here. Thanks!