vaughan williams concerto question

[me]

so this has probably been beaten to death already. i'm working on this piece on F tuba and i'm having a problem. i was wondering how everyone plays that first tricky lick of the piece (16th notes ascending from pedal F) i'm having trouble getting the first couple notes to speak clearly and quickly because of the low register of my F horn. i was wondering if there are any convenient alternate fingerings or anything that will make this a bit easier.

[Thomas Maurice Booth]

No there aren't...Go and practice it slowly like everyone else.

TMB

[Mark]

If you have a 6-valve f tuba, you can finger the low F 1- 6 and that makes it a little easier. It will still be hard though.

[Onebaplayer]

Anything is playable at some tempo.

[mbeastep]

Here are a couple of thoughts that have helped me in dealing with this lick.

1. Given all the changes in tube length, the big challenge is to keep the vibration going as you pass through the tongued notes. Whatever you do, don't try to play staccato in that low range. Do articulate as marked, but use a very light tongue that only dents the air stream rather than stopping it. Combine this approach with a good breath accent (again, not a hard tongue) on the downbeat notes. This suits the march style of the beginning and gives direction to the upbeat notes that helps keep the tempo going.

2. Finger coordination is also a big issue in this lick. On my PT-10 F tuba, I found it easier when I worked the fifth valve with my left hand (by pushing up on the short bit of linkage) rather than trying to do everything with my right hand.

I hope this helps.

Michael Eastep

[MartyNeilan]

When I first learned the piece (just turned 17) I would play that lick as SLOW as possible with a metronome. When it was perfect I would speed it up one click. Took a few months, but I could eventually nail it every time up to tempo, on a 5 valve (albeit a Yamaha 621).

I still can, I just wish could still play the rest of it now!!