what is good range for a high school tubist?

Anterux · Post by **Anterux** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:42 pm

as a sophmore, my range goes from pedle F to F above the staff

What do you consider a pedal F? the first F of the piano? or the F below the tuba fundamental? (F below piano range if we are not talking about an F tuba)

jaredsan · Post by **jaredsan** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:02 am

I'm a freshman in high school. My range is pedal notes to around B flat atop the staff. I want to be able to hit F before next marching season.

The highest note I have ever seen in tuba literature is that F. Of course, right now I can't hit it at all.

The highest note I've seen in concert literature is C above the staff, but usually there isn;t much above F within the staff.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:31 am

jaredsan wrote: The highest note I have ever seen in tuba literature is that F. Of course, right now I can't hit it at all.

The highest note I've seen in concert literature is C above the staff, but usually there isn;t much above F within the staff.

There are pieces out there that demand notes higher than that F (above the bass clef staff) and pieces that demand notes well into the pedal register on a contrabass tuba.

What piece goes higher than that F?!?!?!? The one that comes to mind is Encore Piece by Alec Wilder...if I'm remembering it correctly, it goes up to a Bb above that F.

jaredsan · Post by **jaredsan** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:46 am

thats an insane note. If I everyone could play it, the euphonium would become obselete.

Captain Sousie · Post by **Captain Sousie** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:13 am

jaredsan wrote:thats an insane note. If I everyone could play it, the euphonium would become obselete.

I can play it on my trumpet, my trombone, my piano and my P.O.S. Conn naked lady Eb tuba (most of the time and it is in the "mouse fart" range, a trumpeter term that I like to steal, but I can hit it).

Sousie

phoenix · Post by **phoenix** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:29 am

I know of a piece for solo tuba and piano that brings the tuba player up to an A above the bass clef staff (that would be the A in the middle space of the treble clef)

It's in the coda of Ballad and Presto Dance by Claude T. Smith

jlbreyer · Post by **jlbreyer** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:03 am

Captain Sousie wrote: I can play it on my trumpet, my trombone, my piano and my P.O.S. Conn naked lady Eb tuba (most of the time and it is in the "mouse fart" range, a trumpeter term that I like to steal, but I can hit it).

Sousie

Thanks. I'm working on the income taxes this morning and needed a good laugh. "mouse fart"

Been there, done that, got the chops.
jlb

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:25 pm

I have a seventh grade student whose playing down to pedal BBb (two Bbs below the staff) and up to high F (above the staff)! This is going chomatically up and down the staff and then by octaves.

hurricane_harry · Post by **hurricane_harry** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:32 pm

idk if i count because im a former euph player but in my jr year of high school i can hit a pedal BBb and then go as far as my valves allow me, and i can play a D 5 ledger lines up with a good sound. i thik the question should be how lound a high school player should be able to get

KarlMarx · Post by **KarlMarx** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:43 pm

Will wrote:I have a seventh grade student whose playing down to pedal BBb (two Bbs below the staff) and up to high F (above the staff)! This is going chomatically up and down the staff and then by octaves.

Sie haben you sicherlich a valides will hinterlassen!

Carolus Marxiplus

dopey · Post by **dopey** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:52 pm

to the fellow highschoolers saying u can play the F above the staff..

Are you able to play that within music? Scales? cold? how?

or can you just do the tuner game where you just squeal notes out and see what the tuner registers?

Jacob"Whos not ashamed to say his range ends around C above the staff, but he can do it confidently"Morgan

Anterux · Post by **Anterux** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:07 pm

I never studied tuba with a teacher.

My range is from pedal Ab (below piano range) to Eb above the staff. this is anytime. With warm up I can go lower and higher but frankly I dont care.

What I would like is to have a teacher to teach me play well.

I dont play well.

But I will practice more. medium range.

JB · Post by JB » Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:16 pm

what is good range for a high school tubist?

ABOUT 15 YARDS

I can't say for sure about a high school tubist, but back in the university days, at our yearly trombone toss (yes, seriously; it had to be a working & playable instrument) average was about 15 yards.

One year I actually won (about twenty yards, it was).

The "remnants" of the instrument were hung around the trombone prof's office with a little tag noting the year and the "winner." Still have a couple of the "bits" that flew off after a few tosses jammed together as a trophy sitting here on my desk.

Amazing how cathartic it felt to toss that horn; remember it well, all these years later.

(Too bad none of the orchestra violists have taken me up on the offer to assist in organizing a similar party for them!

)

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:18 pm

haltom_tuba wrote:i need to know what is a good range to be at in high school

I suppose it depends on your objectives.

I'm nearly 30 years beyond high school, and I can play music written from around a low F or E to perhaps Bb or C at the top of the staff without messing up too badly. On F tuba, I can pretty confidently play up to about Eb or F above the staff, but with less fullness of sound.

And I can play any music that has been put in front of me to play (or, if I can't, it ain't because of range).

When I was in high school, we played Carmina Burana which went up to a high E above the staff. I was able to play that. Good sound? Probably not.

Now, if you want to distinguish yourself as a high-school player, learn how to play music on and below the staff with a great sound and a beautiful musical expression, and you'll glow in the dark even if you can't play up to a Bb on the treble clef. I have this feeling that range results from the same things that produce good sound. If you can't make the good sound, then whatever high notes you squeak out won't be worth the trouble.

Every time I try to extend my range without maintaining my best sound, I use too much pressure. That's like buying range with counterfeit money.

Rick "who still can't play well in the pedal register of a BBb tuba" Denney

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:15 pm

hurricane_harry wrote:The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss

Hey, Harry. You should credit that quote, even if paraphrasing what the Guide says.

Oh, and Don't Panic

Thomas "wondering where my towel went..."

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:23 pm

I never say anything in highschool or college (marching) above the 2nd line F in the staff. Never below F (maybe E, but not Eb), aways 3 valve horns.

My range today is a little higer (C or D) , and maybe down to Db, but not comfortably. I'd like to know where someone in high school is playing tuba parts written above the staff. Has high school changed that much?

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what is good range for a high school tubist?

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