Silent Brass Pain?

[quinterbourne]

Try experimenting with the angle you are holding your tuba at. Usually we play at a slight angle to the left (front action) or right (top action). If your tuba is front action then the problem is with you left shoulder, yes? Top action means trouble with your right shoulder, yes?

So, what you want to do it hold your tuba such that the bell is facing straight up. This may seem a little awkward at first, but when you do this, all the extra weight of the silent brass will be shifted to your thighs.

If that doesn't work, then you will want to get a tuba stand.

If you can't afford a stand, then you will need to just stop using the silent mute the moment you feel pain... take a break and try again later. Eventually your sholder will "beef up" and this will probably become less and less of a problem as time goes on.

[Tubaryan12]

For years I had a Silent Brass that I didn't use because it made the horn top heavy. Then I bought a Wenger Tuba Tamer and now the Silent Brass stays in the horn all the time (and I practice more often too).

[prototypedenNIS]

to find the tuba tamer search for tuba
http://www.wengercorp.com/web/main.html

I would say that you have to find somewhere where you can practice without the mute.
The silent brass mutes are for practicing in the semi infrequent-infrequent situations where you need to practice but it's too noisy otherwise, for example, in a hotel 2 hours before the gig.

You need a good spot to really hear yourself practice. Spending a little time with it (under 45 minutes) a day shouldn't be a problem but you perform without the silent brass system.

If you're stuck in that situation though, practice often, but briefly.

Oh, and if symptoms persist, see a doctor because you could do some long term harm like this.

[tubajoe]

If your remedy (in this case a SB) is changing the way you have to play, then practicing in your current situation is a waste of time.

In NYC (or anywhere with close quarters) it's always an issue -- but many tuba players have dealt...

A few players I know have actually constructed insulated practice rooms into their apts. Andy Bove (a wonderful tuba player) actually built a practice room into a large closet. I also know a saxophone player who built a large wooden box (cheap version of the wenger room), and I have heard of a few folks who have actually bought the wenger room.

I've lived in apartments in the inner city in both Chicago and NYC, and I've found that "neighbor management" is much easier than insulation or dealing with some awkward playing situation (like a SB)

Talk to your neighbors -- as the tuba is NOT a very loud instrument (sorry you jocks) compared to other axes. Practice during the day if you can, and if you practice in the eve, do it when it is not disrupting to the others.

Ask your neighbors, they will be probably be wiling to help -- and dare I say this, talk to them only AFTER they complain. Seriously.

For instance, I live on the 4th floor and I like to practice in the eves. I have found that everyone is cool with it as long as I play in my living room and quit before 11pm... and close the windows during the summer. If I stick to those guidelines, no one seems to complain. My landlord (who lives directly below me) actually likes the sound, she says the sound is soothing.

Plus, for pete's sake, IT'S NYC. IT'S LOUD and there are MUSICIANS EVERYWHERE. If someone has THAT much of an issue with you practicing, and it becomes an issue, advise them to move to jersey
(no offense to any jerseyites here... of course) or put on a concert for your neighbors. People come to NYC for the art and music... and you playing your tuba is part of that wonderful vibe.

And if all else fails, remind them that they are fortunate that you are not a coltrane/parker wannabe saxophone player -- which seems to inhabit at least every other building throughout NYC.

[Dean E]

I recently bought a Yamaha silent brass mute which is basically the only way I can practice in my New York apartment. Playing-wise I like it fine, but it makes the horn so top heavy that I am having shooting pains in my shoulder after ~ 45 minutes. Anyone else experience similar problems? Any suggestions?

I use the silent brass also. You are right. The setup is is very top-heavy and can be a pain to get ready and use. I make sure that all weight is directed straight downward to my lap, and do not have to support any sidewise forces. I use a rubber drawer liner mat to keep the horn from shifting on my lap. Also, I recommend carefully positioning everything in the playing area to avoid having to do any reaching or stretching (water, music stand, eyeglasses, silent brass console, earphones, tuner, CD player/computer). Before playing and during breaks, I like doing Yoga-type stretches for the hands, fingers, arms, shoulders, neck, and back.

[Ryan_Beucke]

Sometimes we can't all find a place where we can go to practice, or we need to fit our practice time into when we're at home. And some people aren't able to construct sound-proof rooms for various reasons (non-permanent residency, not enough room, not enough money).

Of the wind instruments, the tuba is probably one of the louder ones you will hear in another room/apartment. Why? Because of the low frequencies. Why do you think the main thing you hear from a movie theater next door is the rumbling, or you hear all low frequeny and no high end from a car blasting a stereo? It's because low frequencies travel through different solid mediums better.

Don't get me wrong, I wish we could all practice freely. My parents live in a complex, and the only reason I practice without a mute all the time is because the family upstairs is much louder than I'll ever be. But When I'm at my girlfriend's house, I try to practice whenever everyone is gone or busy doing something where the noise won't bother them.

If you have to practice with the mute, you have to. And I would recommend you try the stands suggested, and also see if you can meet with a physical therapist just once to get some better ideas about posture.

[joebob]

This is not what the original poster is asking about, but when I lived in an apartment in a large city, I researched buying a wenger practice room and putting it in my apartment. If I had purchased a condo in a place like Manhattan I would have seriously considered this. They make them now with microphones and speakers inside them to replicate the sound of various performance venues (church, large concert hall, small recital hall, etc.). I think they cost somewhere in the 12,000 to 15,000 dollar range and can be moved if you ever move to another apartment. This may sound like a lot of money, but this is only a small fraction of the cost of an apartment in NYC, and might be a great value in making a practice room in your apartment (you could teach or practice in your apartment 24/7). Also, if you make money as a musician/teacher you might be able to deduct the cost from your taxable income. Another thing is that you might be able to sell the Wenger practice room if you later decide to get rid of it (schools or churches sometimes purchase used ones or you could donate it for a tax deduction). Anyway - sorry this doesn't answer the original question but I thought it was an interesting idea for an apartment dweller.

[Chuck(G)]

Here's a really silly idea, but one that's crazy enough that it just might work.

Why not a skyhook? In other words, attach a length of shock cord to a hook in the ceiling and attach the other end to your SB. Allow it to take some of the weight off of you. Since you're going to use the SB only while practicing, why not?

[Tubaryan12]

I would quit before I used anything called a tuba tamer.

I felt the same way. I used to laugh and think to myself those things are for girls, wimps, or tired old men. Then I got one because I'm a tired middle aged man.