Lying Down

[Mookiekins]

Sitting on the side of the bed playing my Alex frankentuba, got tired of sitting up and laid back for a minute. Let the horn just rest on my face and started playing in "that" range (C-Bb gross sounding area), and it just started popping. In tune, clean articulation....all good stuff.

Do any of you smart folks out there have an explanation of why this happened AND is it acceptable to play in this position with an orchestra?

[Ace]

I thought you had to be at least seven years old to post on this board.

Ace

[Mookiekins]

I thought you had to be at least seven years old to post on this board.

Ace

Learn something new every day, I suppose.
Have any relevant insight?

[Aglenntuba]

My first guess- were you playing straight into a wall in the new spot? Hearing your reflection right up close can provide some fun sounding (but deceptive) feedback.

[bone-a-phone]

I'm not one of the smart people here, but my favorite position to play euphonium is reclining in the recliner. Can't do that on trombone.

The tuba thing will resolve itself when the spit starts rolling back down the leadpipe

[Mookiekins]

My first guess- were you playing straight into a wall in the new spot? Hearing your reflection right up close can provide some fun sounding (but deceptive) feedback.

I was at first and it was amazing, then hit the floor to test that theory in the basement and was getting similar results. Seemed to solidify things. Tried on my "big horn" and got some similar results. I then began to focus on posture and mouthpiece pressure (as well as relaxed, elongated torso) and felt "decent". I think it just forced my body into a more correct position? Who knows?

[Mookiekins]

I'm not one of the smart people here, but my favorite position to play euphonium is reclining in the recliner. Can't do that on trombone.

The tuba thing will resolve itself when the spit starts rolling back down the leadpipe

That was definitely a factor in my "Ok, let's go find a chair" decision!!

[peterbas]

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[Mookiekins]

Very good video, even if I couldn't understand the language!
That all makes a lot of sense. I've developed a lot of bad habits (through laziness) over the past years. This may be a ticket to getting myself back to a good place!

[Doug Elliott]

Lying on a relatively hard surface pushes the curve in your back straighter, lets your shoulders go back, and opens your rib cage and your throat. It's more than just being relaxed, it puts things in different positions. That significantly opens up the resonance in your internal air column, which affects response and sound.

[Mookiekins]

Lying on a relatively hard surface pushes the curve in your back straighter, lets your shoulders go back, and opens your rib cage and your throat. It's more than just being relaxed, it puts things in different positions. That significantly opens up the resonance in your internal air column, which affects response and sound.

So the key is getting these positions while seated. I distinctly recall a 5th grade director saying this to me....
I've apparently gotten old and lazy.
Now for internal resonance, that's a concept I haven't thought much about. Makes a lot of sense though!!!

[MaryAnn]

You may also have inadvertently had a different angle between your chops and your mpc, that did something.

[peterbas]

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