(Somewhat) Beginner Questions

[Felarine]

Howdy! I've been lurking around for quite some time and just made an account, ahah...
Anyways, I've been playing tuba for three years, and I'm about to join a marching band. We march contras, but I'm still VERY overwhelmed.
I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but does anyone have any suggestions for exercises to do to help keep my tone good while marching? The size isn't the problem. I can move with the horn just fine, but moving and playing kills me. I've learned exercises for just about everything else, but I can't find one to help with this!
And also, what would be a few good mouthpieces to try? I'm currently just on a Helleberg, but I've been warned to start trying different ones.
Thanks in advance, and if this is somehow the wrong board, sorry!

[Jose the tuba player]

firstly welcome,
secondly the short answer would be practice playing and marching slowly and then as you get better pick up speed a bit.
as for being warned about the helleberg (warned being an odd way to put it ) i say try out a few mouthpieces with the tuba you'll be using, though switching mouthpieces doesn't make you a better player it might help with the tendencies of the horn.

[Felarine]

firstly welcome,
secondly the short answer would be practice playing and marching slowly and then as you get better pick up speed a bit.
as for being warned about the helleberg (warned being an odd way to put it ) i say try out a few mouthpieces with the tuba you'll be using, though switching mouthpieces doesn't make you a better player it might help with the tendencies of the horn.

Alrighty, that's what I figured would work but I just wanted to check. For the mouthpieces, I'm well aware, but I was told by my upperclassmen that I'd want to switch real soon.

It's all about the roll step and keeping your upper body stationary. Is it the breathing or stamina or just uneven tone?

My tone is alright, but its the stamina part that gets me. I can get breaths in, but doing it for more than maybe 3 minutes tires me out a LOT.

[imperialbari]

Have you been checked for asthma?

Klaus

[Felarine]

Have you been checked for asthma?

Klaus

Yes, I have been. Nothing. I had it when I was REALLY young, but now its basically gone and I have no problems.

[bort]

Go all in, and do as much as you possibly can. It'll be hard and the first rehearsals will be a little painful. Don't injure yourself, but be tough on yourself. Its only when you train hard that the easy things become easy. "Working up to it," to me, always comes up short.

Don't expect to march and play well at the same time for a little while. Do your best, but it won't be that scary, and you'll get it soon enough. Actually, some people find that standing makes it easier to play, since it forces better posture and open breathing.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

[Felarine]

Go all in, and do as much as you possibly can. It'll be hard and the first rehearsals will be a little painful. Don't injure yourself, but be tough on yourself. Its only when you train hard that the easy things become easy. "Working up to it," to me, always comes up short.

Don't expect to march and play well at the same time for a little while. Do your best, but it won't be that scary, and you'll get it soon enough. Actually, some people find that standing makes it easier to play, since it forces better posture and open breathing.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Yeah. We've already held four or five practices for incoming freshmen and new members. I managed to kind of get it on the third practice. So far, marking time while playing has come easy to me (despite never tapping my feet in my starting tuba years). Thank you, and I'll be sure to after band camp!

[tubeast]

Hello Felarine,
Many experience Problems when they get out of the rehearsal room and go on the field. The main difference: You use up energy and oxygen to march and keep a good looking posture in addition to just sitting there, making Music.

So first Thing I´d try: establish a pattern of more frequent, high energy breathing. The more physically challenging the moves (or, in a parade, the terrain), the shorter the musical phrases.

Also try to work out (Jogging, cycling, swimming, free climbing...) at varying breathing rhythms, especially very slow or very quick breathing, to get Your metabolism used to varying Levels of oxigen in Your blood.

Cheers Hans