depressing the valves ahead of time (?)

[barry grrr-ero]

I've noticed I have a tendency to wait to the last second to get the valves opened up. Would it be helpful on really soft notes to have the valves depressed well ahead of time? If so, does it help to blow air through first? Let's take an example . . .

In the Holst 2nd Suite for Band, no problem with the opening statement and the first subject. But when I go for that low "F" after a few bars rest, would it be helpful to have 5&4 depressed well ahead of time? I think I sometimes until I actually have to play the note to get the valves opened. Is that a bad habit (can't be a good one)?

In the second movement, I have trouble getting my notes soft enough. Ideally, I'd like to switch to a smaller horn there, but I ain't got one. Would it help to have the valves depressed and blow warm air through the tubing first (there's plenty of rest between the notes)?

Thanks in advance. Barry Guerrero.

[Matt G]

If you listen closely when you close sax pads or tuba pistons sharply/crisply, you hear the defined air column being "activated" (for lack of a better word)...so my best guess - as an answer to your question - is "No".

The bugle is acting like a band-pass filter on the ambient noise, so changing the effective length of the bugle will change the “color” of the noise being passed by the filter.

[Art Hovey]

Instead of asking for opinions and theories, why not just try it a few times and see if it works for you?
For me those notes are really easy on a big BBb tuba.

[thejester10276]

I tend to start everything I play with the valves depressed often several seconds prior to the first note. I do this so I can set the horn perfectly still and be able to set my embouchure and articulate with no extraneous movement. I do it especially for playing softer sections, but I believe it helps my stability in louder passages as well. I think most of it comes down to knowing how you play, and whether ~you~ think it helps you or not. For me it's perfect.

[windshieldbug]

If you listen closely when you close sax pads or tuba pistons sharply/crisply, you hear the defined air column being "activated" (for lack of a better word)...so my best guess - as an answer to your question - is "No".

[Ken Herrick]

Is somebody tawkinbout activatin the tubagawd?

[Tubaryan12]

I tend to start everything I play with the valves depressed often several seconds prior to the first note. I do this so I can set the horn perfectly still and be able to set my embouchure and articulate with no extraneous movement. I do it especially for playing softer sections, but I believe it helps my stability in louder passages as well. I think most of it comes down to knowing how you play, and whether ~you~ think it helps you or not. For me it's perfect.

I've done it this way for years on all instruments I play (trombone, tuba, euphonium). To my mind, there is no good reason to wait until the last moment.

[barry grrr-ero]

Thanks for the input. Indeed, I'll give it a try. Still, it's good to hear other people's experiences. I'm in busy work period right now, so I haven't been practicing. I think the last second 'thang' is a bad habit I need to break.

Barry

[JPLynd]

+1 for ahead of time.

If you've got the time (and obviously, lots of times you don't), push the buttons down, hear the note in your head, and then concentrate on producing as beautiful a sound as possible. Why give yourself more things to think about if you don't have to.

[tbonesullivan]

Depends on when in the piece it is. If you start out the piece with a note, it usually is a good idea to have that note ready to go. So, once everyone is "at the ready", the valves are where they need to be.

Also if you do not have vented valves, sometimes it's good to get them in position to equalize pressure.