10th grader tuba auditioning help

[Art Hovey]

Bloke is correct about the King sousaphone. It has one of the best open low E-flats that you can find in the world of tubas. That note is not so good on the Besson 2-20, but it can be done. Practice it on the King, then transfer the skill to the Besson or whatever horn is available. You will find it a lot easier (and better-sounding) if your mouthpiece is something like a Bach (or Kelly or Blessing) 18, rather than a 24AW.

If you are going to buy a tuba I would suggest looking for a Conn 12J or an Olds O-99, or a front-action King. The Conn and Olds are bigger than the Besson 2-20 but still small enough to carry around easily. The Kings are bigger and more cumbersome, but good horns. They are all 3-valve instruments with good false pedal notes and generally good intonation. Some day you will want a four-valve tuba, but you should get a good one that is comfortable for you, not just any student model.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

So, is everyone saying that if he plays everything else on the audition really well and better than anyone else, then...

he'll "lose" the audition simply for taking the low Eb up an octave?

I really don't think so. Prokofiev won't start spinning in his grave or anything.

[1895King]

I think there is something about King horns and the low end; I have a 3 valve upright from around 1900 and I can hit any note below low F and it sounds fantastic.

[swillafew]

Just play your part as well as you can, on the instrument you play the most and are the most comfortable.

I auditioned for an orchestra on a sousaphone in the 9th grade, and was permitted to bring it to rehearsals, but was asked to bring something else to the concert. The other instrument available to me was a 3 valve horn with a recording bell, so I don't know how much that accomplished.

I didn't get an instrument of my own for another 6 years.

[Singalongconflict]

I tried the tubas at my school today.

The King Sousa worked great (and is mighty pretty too) and I can hit the Eb pretty nicely. There's a Boosey & Hawkes tuba aswell, and I would say it's about even with the Besson 2-20 in terms of hitting the Eb, which is harder than the sousa. The main problem with using concert tubas is that it is the school tubas, and other people use them. I can use the tubas, but I would have to walk from home to school (and vice versa) everyday. Nobody uses the King.

At this point, I am leaning to audition with the King sousa as I have free reign (and extra cred at school as I'm the only one who actually marched before (at my previous high school). If I don't make auditions, oh well, I still have a few more years to audition. I am going to feel rather silly though.

I might still try the Besson or B&H. They're good instruments, but it's gonna take some practice. But since when was practice a bad thing?

[Art Hovey]

My experience has been that most people (including musicians and conductors) don't see the difference between sousaphones and other tubas. For example: the first time I played my black helicon in public there was a good jazz saxophonist in the band with whom I had played a lot of gigs on upright tuba. He didn't ask "what the hell is that thing", but rather, "why did you paint your tuba black?".