How should a tuba player sound like?

[k001k47]

A tuba player should sound like a human. A tuba player playing the tuba should sound like god farting.

[imperialbari]

Also, although it isn't a serious example of good classical tuba tone, here's my latest video;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul7Jfeosvds

Now you have that transparent tuba, why don’t you colour-code the variousmultiphonics for a great intra-tubal visual effect?

Klaus

[Jaks]

Hahahhh! Thanks guys! Currently i do not have a teacher. Will get one and ask for their opinion. But i currently like how i hear myself play and i like my sound, but certainly could improve alot more.

I'll keep in mind what everyone said and will say.

After much thought about this, i felt that a tuba play should have alot of different 'sounds' for different Mood of the pieces, a march to a sentimental or a jazz. And he (or she) should be able to control and hone those techniques and sound to what best suite the piece and the orchestra requirements. Will certainly work towards that goal and the sound i have in mind.

Thanks everyone again!

[beardguy]

Do you really WANT to sound like a tuba? Or do you want to sound like a musician.

Play so well they forget the tuba!

[TCtubaKingConn00]

I was told by another school's Head of Music that i don't sound like a tuba player, So i was just thinking and wanted to ask you tuba players, how should a tuba player sound like, why and what techniques to use to achieve that sound?

-Jaks .

maybe he is just jealous like my rival school say we sound bad when they sound like a quiet fart.

[TUBAD83]

I was told by another school's Head of Music that i don't sound like a tuba player, So i was just thinking and wanted to ask you tuba players, how should a tuba player sound like, why and what techniques to use to achieve that sound?

-Jaks .

Jaks:

In over 40 years of playing music, I have never heard a competent teacher or musician make such a statement. Two things should come to mind when anyone says something like that:

1) The person is NOT a tuba player and probably not a very good musician (was just good enough to "get by" in school)
2) The person got the "Head of Music" job based on his/her bootlicking/butt kissing skills...great skills for politicians, NOT real musicians.

When you hear such things, be polite, smile, quickly file the comment under "BS", and move on.

What should a tuba player sound like? Whatever the hell he/she wants to sound like as long as he/she is happy with it.

Its totally up to you

JJ

[Toobist]

The head of the Music guy could just be referring to your tone. I know tuba players who have a very thin sound. That could be your problem. Also it could be your lip placement. You could try getting a deeper mouthpeice a laskey 30h or a G&W is perfect for dark tuba playing.

My friend, let me give you what you might consider to be a kinder response. While your intentions were sound, your advice was ill-conceived and I'll tell you why:

The OP (who seems to have mistaken a compliment for a slight) won't be helped by suggestions pertaining to mouthpiece selection nor (and especially) mouthpiece placement/embouchure. Please, in future refrain from adding to the problem. Let me tell you why you're adding to the problem before you dismiss my own opinion.

Imagine you're a self-conscious and impressionable tubist (Oh wait, if you're like many Tubenetters, you already are.). None of us needs advice that can only add to our paranoia or insecurities. Young players especially won't benefit from shoot-from-the-hip types of guidance. The chances of your specific instructions (or suggestions) might be helpful are very slim compared to the chances of your advice adding to a players insecurity or even harming his progress.

This is an open forum, yes. Keep in mind though, if we give incorrect advice we'll be more harm than good. Don't you want to keep this forum helpful? Give second and third thoughts to any advice you're offering to anyone and in this instance, keep congecture and guesswork separate from your advice.

Looking forward to the future well-considered and helpful posts of yours DenzelRichTx.

[Toobist]

I'm dredging up this old post from a couple years back to point out that we totally scared this poor kid away!

Poor DenzelRichTx hasn't been back.

Looks like we came down on him pretty hard. Sure hope he's still out there playing and that he's paid some dues out there.

I sure remember getting verbally beat up by some older musicians at school and elsewhere. How one takes constructive criticism can decide a lot in all fields and perhaps especially music.

I would like some of the young up-and-comers to have a gander at what I'm talking about in the discussion above. Perhaps it might save somebody a similar fate!

(Maybe he's still on the forum under a new name? Hope so. Feeling a little guilty if I'd helped turn the lad off of the forum.)