Plastic or Metal?

[Mark]

I will occasionally go to elementary or middle schools and do a tuba demo. As part of my presentation, I build a hose-a-phone to demonstrate the concepts of a brass instrument. I want to know the TNFJ opinion on whether I should use a plastic or metal funnel for the bell. Also, will the green hose give me a good tone or should I go for the pro-version black hose?

[hup_d_dup]

Why on earth would you play a hose o phone when you’re a tuba player ?

Because the magic of producing an overtone series comes from the physics, not the tuba. The idea of demonstrating this on a hose shows the kids that the technology is approachable by anyone. It doesn't come from a "black box" or an impressive but functionally mysterious tuba that no kid would dream of making.

I want to know the TNFJ opinion on whether I should use a plastic or metal funnel for the bell. Also, will the green hose give me a good tone or should I go for the pro-version black hose?

I have done this with 4 or 5 funnels (including a metal funnel), and I believe the size and shape is much more important than the material. And by the way, I was totally surprised how much better a tube sounds with a funnel - any funnel - than without. That's worth a demonstration not just for kids but anyone interested in learning something about sound.

Hup

[sloan]

I will occasionally go to elementary or middle schools and do a tuba demo. As part of my presentation, I build a hose-a-phone to demonstrate the concepts of a brass instrument. I want to know the TNFJ opinion on whether I should use a plastic or metal funnel for the bell. Also, will the green hose give me a good tone or should I go for the pro-version black hose?

That's not a tuba demo - you're demoing the very first version of the fabled Verdi Cimbasso.

[eupher61]

More important, what bore is the hose? .750 would allow a bigger funnel, which would then insert farther for a firmer funnel flare fit. And, a tuba shank at the other end.

[Highpitch]

All this twirling makes it sound like a Leslie hooked to a Hammond B-3.

DG

[Rick Denney]

I you are planning on twirling it while playing it, I would suggest (in case of a connection failure) plastic.

It's a hose-o-phone, not a lasso-d'amore.

Rick "and I thought you were a musicalologist" Denney

[sloan]

Rick is clearly unfamiliar with the ever popular "Doppler Vibrato" favored by P.D.Q. Bach.

[MartyNeilan]

I made one of these for my senior seminar at "pre-college." I used 8 feet of clear 1/2" ID plastic tubing, a plastic funnel I borrowed from my grandmother's kitchen, and a C4 mouthpiece in the other end. It worked surprisingly well. The bore mimicked a tenor trombone (.500) and the length was just shy of the 9' total of a trombone.

[swillafew]

A local trumpet teacher had his students perform quartets to a very fine effect using a mouthpiece connected to rubber hose, and terminating in trumpet bells from old student horns. This was in an auditorium at the Chicago Brass Festival, and it was a worthy item on the program.

I expect that embouchure integrity was taught in a wonderful manner in the process. The audience got a tremendous lesson in where the tone is produced as well.