Tuba Fads that Acutally SUCK

[windshieldbug]

Never worked for me...

[Kevin Hendrick]

Never worked for me...

"Mass"? With an "M"? Well, dang it, that explains it -- I've been using the wrong stuff! ("caveat posterior", indeed!)

[sailn2ba]

Uhmm, anyone have observations on the effect of additional mass on the valve set?

[sailn2ba]

Well, I tried to private e-mail KevinH to say:
I really am trying to get feedback on these addits. I felt that monster weights pushed the "blatt threshold" of my Cerveny to higher level, and I'm trying to find out whether that was a mental adjustment on my part, or if other folks could confirm.

but they say that he's not there. Hey, guys. . . my nutrition is just fine.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Well, I tried to private e-mail KevinH to say:
I really am trying to get feedback on these addits. I felt that monster weights pushed the "blatt threshold" of my Cerveny to higher level, and I'm trying to find out whether that was a mental adjustment on my part, or if other folks could confirm.

but they say that he's not there. Hey, guys. . . my nutrition is just fine.

Sorry 'bout the diversion -- I have no experience with them, one way or the other. My Cerveny-built Sear has done fine without them for 35 years, so I never felt the need to experiment; if they work for you (for whatever reason), stick with 'em! Do what works.

PS: glad to hear your nutrition's OK ...

[The Jackson]

Maybe one can further state that, just as with added mass to the instrument, added mass to the player will also bring about improved results?

[Kevin Hendrick]

Maybe one can further state that, just as with added mass to the instrument, added mass to the player will also bring about improved results?

Indeed one can -- it's always worked for me!

(Your Mass May Vary )

[ztuba]

There is a tuba fad that is starting that doesn't suck ... thin people being awesome tuba players... I am working on joining this new fad

[ztuba]

I vote for adding mass to the horn ... not the player... can't play tuba when you are dead from obesity.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I vote for adding mass to the horn ... not the player... can't play tuba when you are dead from obesity.

Nor the "Darwin" effect.

Very true.

[eupher61]

Full-Time Professors of Tuba. Too many of 'em, no one's quittin', and no one else can get a gig!

same with orchestras....c'mon, doesn't anyone have burnout anymore??

[TubaRay]

There is a tuba fad that is starting that doesn't suck ... thin people being awesome tuba players... I am working on joining this new fad

Same for me. First, I have to become an awesome tuba player. After that, I have some weight to lose.

[RadDad2005]

I agree with this info here, and will add that many students who deal with braces find the Kelly mouthpieces to be a lot more comfortable for them. Now, if I have an advanced student, I will guide them toward other mouthpeices (and any brass player should look around for the correct "fit" for themselves), but the Kellys have been a big hit with me, and our students.

fwiw,

I've recommended the complete line of Kelly stuff to band directors to have and use for any/all school-owned mouthpieces:

- They are extremely damage-resistant...The lack of cuts and gashes will make them much easier to clean and sterilize.

- Once I get past the distracting "feel" of lexan, I find the Kellyberg and the 18 to play like any run-of-the-mill Conn Helleberg 120 or Bach 18 (not that either of those are my personal favorites, but both are very usable mouthpieces). The 25 (just like the Bach 25) is good for the tiny little middle school kids (5th graders, etc.) who are - these days - encouraged to play the tuba.

- The cost is remarkably low, and (except for the prevalence of theft in modern times) these should never require replacement.

- Again, because of the damage resistance, the great resistance to heat transfer, the low cost, and the easy personal identifiability (particularly if colors are mixed throughout a section of players) I believe that the vast majority of (particularly student) marching band brass players should be using these.[/quote]

[tubaguy9]

Another fad that sucks: Conn-Selmer using a strip of plastic instead of wire on marching horns...

[sloan]

I've never had a bad comment on my sound or technique or anything.

Never???! I get bad comments on both of these, daily. Usually from myself.

We do tend to be our own worst critics, don't we?

Only the best players are their own worst critics.

[windshieldbug]

Hey- my mouthpiece is SO BIG, when it sits around the tuba, it sits a-r-o-u-n-d the tuba! Thank you, I'm here all night. In fact, I got this stinkin' tracking anklet on...

[imperialbari]

In fact, I got this stinkin' tracking anklet on...

I understand these are used to make people stay were they are supposed to be. Will they also keep stray players ion tempo?

K

[ztuba]

the ultimate time cop ... I smell patent pending!

[Wyvern]

What about the wide bell flare? Early tubas seem to all have little flare, but by the end of 20th century wide bell flares had become the norm (like many things starting in the USA and then spreading to Europe). Although the recent success of the Thor, seems to be slightly reversing the trend.

I have never been sure how big an effect the wide flare actually has? Can a 19" bell tuba produce a bigger sound than a 15" one (assuming they are the same otherwise), or does the larger bell just 'tubby' the sound?

[sailn2ba]

Hmm, I associate wide bell flare with the "spread out" american sound and small flare with projection. I'm really interested in our gurus' take on this one.