THE Miraphone 188

[windshieldbug]

There are a lot of assholes around here, and I'm one of them

Oh, it's just TOO easy!

[iiipopes]

For those of you who have objectively disagreed with me and put good objective reasons behind it, thank you. I stand corrected and unreservedly yield to the collective wisdom of the forum. I apologize for getting off thread to the detriment of joshstanman trying to get advice on making some very important decisions. I appreciate and accept the offer of a beer, even if it can only be in cyber form right now. The next round is on me.

[Rick Denney]

This observation is just stupid.... Comments like that should be grounds for getting you IP Banned from this forum.

Ease up, there, Brian. It was the old chestnut I attacked not the person who repeated it. And there have been some mighty high-end performers and teachers who have themselves repeated it. That's why it's a chestnut--it gets repeated as if it were true. Were it stupid, it would not warrant so detailed a rebuttal.

As for who gets banned, well, I suggest we leave that to Sean.

Rick "who thinks lots of high-school kids should indeed stick with Bb--even music majors if they are going into education--unless they want to add C to their arsenal" Denney

[iiipopes]

joshstanman -

You have just encountered a great reason to always stay in touch with a good forum or other network of people in your chosen area. Things do change. It wasn't that long ago (was it, guys?) that trumpet players were told to "smile and press" to get high notes. We have better ways than that now there is more understanding of what embouchure muscles do. Likewise, in the grand scheme of things, the tuba is one of the youngest of the orchestra instruments. There's still a long way to go to "perfect" it, whatever that may turn out to be.

Thanks again, guys.

[LoyalTubist]

My teacher in grad school, the late Ev Gilmore (of the Dallas Symphony), did almost everything with BBb tuba. He had CC tubas and he had F and Eb tubas. He questioned why my main axe was a CC. I didn't have a good answer for him.

[iiipopes]

It is extreme. It is the one line that really was not supposed to be taken seriously. Actually, it really does not work because it can alter the intonational balance of the horn. The guy next to me in lodge band has a MW Bell CC, and I tease him about that constantly. He then teases me why don't I double on upright double bass, as in, you know, the "real" bass instrument of the orchestra.

Learning CC fingerings was not that difficult for me, since I had both several years of piano and several years of trumpet, starting in 2nd grade and 5th grade, respectively. If I had my absolute "druthers," I'd have one of each so I could be lazy and play whichever whenever I wanted to.

BTW, this very website has excellent fingering charts for the various pitched tubas, and some more helpful articles in Tips.

[Ed Jones]

Wasn't Josh asking for opinions on the 188? How did we get to another CC vs. BBb debate?

If Winston Morris recommends a 188, then get one.
If Winston Morris says to practice 26 hours a day, then do it
If Winston Morris says to stand on your head and juggle bowling balls with your feet while you practice, then do it.

Nuff said

[LoyalTubist]

True, but it was said that a CC tuba was needed. Winston Morris has students who play BBb tubas.