Improving accuracy.

[MikeMason]

the intervals studies section of any arban's book.slurred and tougued.my corners are burning just talking about it...for high register,just keep going up by half step at the end...

[tubeast]

Since you mentioned INTERVALS: make sure you can solidly SING them, so the accurate intervals are in your mind for a start. In case that´s your problem, this might help with accurately slotting notes.

[UDELBR]

First ten pages of Arbans, played slowly. Don't let yourself get away with ANYthing though. This is harder than it sounds.

[WoodSheddin]

What are some good ways to improve your accuracy

Slow down the tune. Even if it means playing it at 1/3 tempo with a metronome and down 1 octave. Play it in whatever state it takes to play perfectly and easily. Practice it at the unbelievably easy tempo for several days/weeks. Then kick up the metronome 1 or two clicks and begin practicing it there.

The point is to never practice how to miss notes. Practice perfection. If that means making the goal easier then so be it. If you kick up the metronome 2 clicks and you start to have slight difficulty then go back down to the slower speed and continue for a few more days.

If you follow this routine, then you will be able to work up ANY tune given enough time and patience.

Those who may hear you play a tune which they believe to be technically challenging will have no idea that you may have spent a year playing the tune at 1/3 tempo.

This type of practice on very demanding literature takes a long time. Don't be tempted to practice the tune at full speed after only 1 week of this practice. You will miss notes again and be training yourself to miss notes.

Just like the saying "You are what you eat", in music "You play how you practice".

[smurphius]

Turn to page 127 of the Arban's for Tuba. Begin here, slowly. Continue through the rest of these excercises. For added fun, take them up or down an octave! Wash, rinse, and repeat, building from the first excercise onward. These things have helped my accuracy come so far, and it's helping me to go so much farther too I hope. Good luck my friend.

[Ryan_Beucke]

Along with what has already been said, my teacher showed me an excercise to help me to keep from chipping notes. You do one of the Arban interval excercises, I forget which one, but you play a scale going up while playing the 5th below between every note. However, do this very slowly, and play each note as loud, short, and sharp as possible. This forces you to become more and more accurate over time. Do it in all keys, and in all registers. And make sure noone's home.

[Dan Satterwhite]

However, do this very slowly, and play each note as loud, short, and sharp as possible.

I guess it's better to do it sharp, than out of tune!

[tubajoe]

Wow, lots of rocket science going on in here...!

The deal is to hear it before you can play it. So the end result is your musical mind (subconsciously) controlling your chops rather than your mechanical/analytical mind doing it the opposite.

(think of it in terms of how your mind controls your voice subconciously and automatically)

Sing it, buzz it, play it.

Making that automatic, organic, DIRECT connection between mind and horn, on whatever page of the Arban you like, or anything else, is the goal… for all of us.

(insert an Inner Game of Tennis quote here)

(and then a Song and Wind quote here)

[David]

Slurring. Anything a 3rd or above.

The higher you play, the greater the downward angle of the airstream the lower you play, vice versa. So, when slurring up, its general practice to angle the airstream further down. Sluring down= airstream up


0
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--- \
\ <----airstream angled down for high playing


0 /
--- /
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<----airstream angled down for high playing


I would post a better diagram (this ones terrible and probably confusing), but I don't know how to attach images....

Control of airstream brings accuracy. Not 'chop building' exercises, or trying to crunch your lips as hard as you can. Both will leave your face worn out, and if you are able to produce the notes at all, they will be very pinched and dreadful sounding.
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