Standing While Playing Tuba

[Steve Marcus]

Standing while playing the tuba with the horn supported by an extended tuba stand or held in place with a strap may provide more freedom of expression and an easier way to get a full breath.

Playing a solo in this fashion would not present too much of an irregularity. But in an orchestral context, there is the question of being a member of a section. Do you cut yourself off from the trombones acoustically, psychologically, or otherwise if you are conspicuously standing throughout the performance? Is it fair to say that you become part of the string bass section and, in effect, abandon the trombones? Is it still conducive to blending with the trombones, particularly in chorale-like passages?

Sumner Erickson stands when he plays in an orchestra. Does anyone else regularly do that? How well is this somewhat unorthodox position accepted by fellow players, conductor, and audience?

[tuba kitchen]

I stand and move a lot when I play with my brass band, but with an orchestra? can't really imagine, but why not??? I find i can play better in the upper register when I stand. too bad that the tuba is so heavy, like to go grocery shopping with a tuba on the back (I recently tried this, and, well, I accendentally knocked down a bunch of candy bars, and, well, it was really embarissing...) [/i]

[Dan Schultz]

Funny this subject should come up today. I don't do any orchestral playing but play with a professional oom-pah group. Last night, I decided to stand in order to prepare for a Volksfest that involves six-hour gigs for three straight days next weekend. I use a M-W harness when I stand... not a tuba rest. However, after the first two or three tunes, the drummer (I know... I know... what's a drummer know about music ) commented that I sounded a lot cleaner and fuller than normal. I think I do have much better breath and intonation control when I'm standing but that is the first time that someone else has commented.

[chevy68chv]

Didn't the last tubist for Pittsuburgh play standing up? I can't say I'm likely to jump on this bandwagon but hey, do whatever works for you.

[Bill Troiano]

I have felt this for a long time. I feel that you definitely can breathe better with less restriction standing up. It is not practical to stand in an orchestra or concert band situation or any other large ensemble where everybody else is sitting. But, in small ensemble situations or solo, I try to perform standing whenever possible because I feel I can breathe better. Most of us will agree that when we make maximum use of our air and breathing capabilites, we play better - less tension, less strain! As an example, I play regularly with a dixie style quintet. The leader is fanatical about the look of the band. I can understand the costume bit, but matching music stands, each draped with the band logo sign is pushing it. Then, the leader has us all sitting on wooden bar stools - nice look, but hard on the *** and not conducive to playing and breathing. So, last week, instead of using my 52J, I showed up with my Yammy 621 CC with a strap and told the leader I can't sit on the bar stool anymore. I told him that I can play better standing. Then, the trumpet player told him the same. The rest of the quintet followed. So, at the gig, the only one sitting on the bar stool was the leader who played trombone. I truly felt that we all played better too. Besides the breathing aspect, I think you can connect to an audience better when standing-more movement and more freedom. I wonder if the Beatles would have had the same impact if they performed sitting down!

[OldBandsman]

I surely agree that standing does wonders for good playing.

I never had any luck with straps on a tuba. Using them bent me over so I got less breath an sitting. I bot a helicon and now try to use it so I have an excuse to stand. Also lets me see conductor more easily, also allows for a little body englsh which increses the fun.

John

[Art Hovey]

Bloke is correct about the helicon. I always stand when I am using mine, but I only use it on gigs where I can double on upright bass. If I have to play several hours on tuba only then I choose to sit with an upright tuba balanced in my lap.

[tubatooter1940]

Love to play and sing standing up. I agree that breathing and control are better and movement follows naturally.
However with a cheap P.A. system on a cheap plywood stage my jumping up and down resulted in "reverb crash". Bummer!
A tuba stand that would support the entire weight of the tuba with no fear of the thing falling over would be so great. It would be possible to play tuba,standing while wearing a guitar.

[ufoneum]

Stand or sit - it doesn't really matter. If you use correct posture for both, it shouldn't make a difference what you do. I have spent some time studying w/ Pat Sheridan and his teaching is simple. You posture should be the same for both standing and sitting.

Here's how you check. First, stand up and notice the curvature of the lower back. See how it curves in? That is what you want. Now, sit down. See how it flattens out? That is because the chair that you are sitting in is too low. Just like all of those nice comfy Wenger chairs out there - they don't create the absolute best posture. So, here's how you get that posture recreated:

GET YOUR KNEES BELOW YOUR HIPS! Whatever you have to do - get your knees down. I am taller, so I have to cross my feet under the chair to obtain the correct posture - and look at Pat sometime, he does the same thing. If it works for him - it should work for you too.

When you get this better posture going, it really doesn't matter which you use, because your ability to FLOW and use correct air is not affected by your posture. Check it out - email if you want any additional information!