Zen and the art of tuba playing

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:47 pm

Remember grasshopper, it is better for people to hear and remember the bass than to simply feel the bass.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:14 am

Allthumbs wrote:I have a vision of David Carradine carrying a Cronkhite gig bag across the searing desert. I cannot determine his choice of tuba. Can no one help me?

It is a tuba of Song and Wind. Now go, grasshopper, BE the wind!

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:36 am

First, there is a tuba, then there is no tuba, then there is ...

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:59 am

it's already been done. "The inner game of tennis".

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:18 pm

MikeMason wrote:it's already been done. "The inner game of tennis".

I thought it would've been "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Considering the mechanical nature of tuba, maybe a combination of those books would work.

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:03 pm

Proper breathing technique is widely misunderstood. You must not breath out more times than you breath in. This is why we recommend counting breaths. Only by counting can you be completely sure you are exhaling and inhaling the same number of times. One of my students uses golf counters for this. With her left hand she enumerates inhalations, while with her right hand she takes account of exhalations. At the end of the piece, she checks to make sure the numbers on the two counters are the same. If there is any discrepancy, she takes an extra moment to even things up, adding the indicated numbers of exhalations or inhalations. But it best to alternate, whenever possible. Breathe in once, breathe out once, and then go all the way back to the beginning of the cycle and repeat. This is the basic principle of Zen and tuba playing.

Fortunately, as a student of classical tuba you will have much time to clear your mind and count.

Jim 'Next time my favorite Tofu recipe' Wagner

Edited to eliminate dangling tag.

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:05 pm

lgb&dtuba wrote:Fortunately, as a student of classical tuba you will have much time to clear your mind and count.

WoodSheddin · Post by **WoodSheddin** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:27 pm

Have fun above all else.

DonShirer · Post by **DonShirer** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:03 pm

First: empty your mind (and your spit valve).

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:09 pm

If at the end of a gig a lay person in the audience tells you that you did great, you probably screwed up or didn't blend in the mix. If that same lay person tells you something like how great the group/ensemble/concert was, or how much they enjoyed it, then you probably did your job well.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:37 pm

windshieldbug wrote:Remember grasshopper, it is better for people to hear and remember the bass than to simply feel the bass.

Quickly as you can, snatch the mouthpiece from my hand.

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:43 pm

If at the end of a gig a lay person in the audience tells you that you did great, you probably screwed up or didn't blend in the mix. If that same lay person tells you something like how great the group/ensemble/concert was, or how much they enjoyed it, then you probably did your job well.

If that's really true,why are we all so gaga over Mr.Deck?

Steve Inman · Post by **Steve Inman** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:52 pm

Consider the sound of one lip buzzing .....

Steve Zen-R-Us Inman
(heh heh)

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:42 pm

the elephant wrote:
MikeMason wrote:it's already been done. "The inner game of tennis".
Yeah, but Kung Fu jokes do not work with that book too well.

Neither do they work with the Persig. In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Persig develops a philosophical theory of quality based on inner truth and drive rather than on meeting minimal outer standards.

Therefore, my quote would be: The music sounded like it was played by people who like music, and who like the way music that is played well sounds.

Or: The hidden inner brace on that tuba was soldered by someone who cared that the brace be soldered correctly and look as though it were out front on display.

Rick "who has actually read the book" Denney

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:03 pm

It was also, as I remember, about a guy coming back from a mental breakdown obsessing over what is "truth".

So, I guess if I was trying to make a quote that actually related to the book I'd have to say, "Don't obsess over your tuba. Get out and see some of the world."

But that's no fun. How about my favorite tofu recipe?

Jim Wagner