Keeping chops in shape while traveling?

[Michael Bush]

Does anybody have any advice other than mouthpiece buzzing (which is my current, minimally satisfactory solution) or taking a tuba (which is impractical for me) for minimizing the effect of not being able to practice while on the road?

I'm a development officer (fund raiser) by profession. That involves a good bit of multi-day travel. Fortunately I no longer have to be on the road constantly as a line major gifts officer, but when I do go on the road it tends to be for days at a time with no tuba. (I'm writing this in a hotel room in Minnestota, far from home, old beater Conn Helleberg in hand!)

Is there some clever device or technique that would work in this situation?

[Kory101]

Buzz Buzz Buzz. That's all I can say. I believe that buzzing is one of the single most important resources that A LOT of tuba players just don't do. It's good for sound production, flexibility, and if you can buzz it on the mouthpiece, you can play it on the horn.

Hope this helps,

Kory

[BopEuph]

http://www.warburton-usa.com/index.php/ ... s/190-PETE" target="_blank

Terry Warburton is bragging about this product all over the place. They are selling like crazy. I was at the factory last week, and he said he made 500 one day, and after they finished shipping, five were left. Costs around $40, so it's not too expensive to give it a whirl. I will probably get one real soon, but I've needed my money elsewhere lately. It seems more to be a trumpet thing, but looks too interesting to pass.

Nick

[Art Hovey]

My father used to make friends with the local high school band director when he was travelling and get them to allow him to come in and play a sousaphone for a while. Being a school music teacher himself, he could talk shop with them.