Edgy (Marching Band) Sousaphone Sound

[The Big Ben]

More to the point I'm trying to make - the sound produced on these videos aren't "gigs" that are paid, they're voluntary opportunities that are enjoyable for the players and the audience. I'm sure if you brought in a "really excellent player" to one of the HBCU bands and had them play along, they would follow the style the band was playing. Sure, the "pro" might add their own twist on things, but if the "pro" is there for a gig with a HBCU band, I'm confident he/she would emulate the band's sound, so as to not be drowned out...

I think the point that many have been trying to make is that working hard on these "edgy" sounds will preclude playing any other way. Playing loud and blatissimo as a matter of daily practice is not going to help the player play in any other style *but* blatissimo.

Pick ten of the best players here on TubeNet, give them a sousaphone (or, for that matter, something like a 20J), put them up against 30 of the best ones of these college marching bands and they will play longer and louder and, since they mostly would have a more complete sound, sonically, they would sound better. "Sound better" can be described as average people in a crowd saying, "Man, those old guys can play loud but they don't sound like mutant chainsaws like the young guys do. And there are 1/3 the number! And, damn, they keep playing like that long after the young guys die out."

There must be something to those long tone breathing studies and building control in the embouchure.... Who would have thought it...

As the videos are depicting sousaphone sections, usually in competition with another rival school's section, this style is certainly acceptable. Each side is trying to "outplay" the other, both in terms of musicality and sheer volume. Many of the videos are recorded on cellphones or bad cameras - I know of one or two people that actually have a good camera and microphone to record semi-decent audio.

Ben, until I see/hear the "best players here on TubeNet" play like that, I'm a little wary of saying that any of us could play together, as a section, like the best of the HBCU sousaphone sections. Besides, what would that accomplish? Some of our best have likely had more face-time with a tuba/sousaphone than these college kids. Heck, our best probably had more musical opportunities than some of these college kids.

Here's the point:

A group of guys who are well trained in sound musical fundamentals and practice those fundamentals will be able to outplay any group who spends their time in the practice room trying to be 'loud' or 'edgy'.

Jeff "Finished pissing into the wind" Benedict

[Tuboss2]

Well, threads obviously not dead yet. Which is good. More info to be read here.

Now. Here's something I'd like to add to this: personal experience btw.
I'm in class, we're working on a stand tune that we are going to play that night. And all the sudden one of my directors who plays tuba comes in with his sousaphone and gets next to me. I'm thinking(oh great he wants to play with us). We start off and once we get going and all, I could tell what he was trying to do. He was basically trying to teach me how to play loud correctly. How could I tell? Even though he didn't say that's what he was doing--he was 10x louder then I was. I was playing super loud but I was surely trying to put out for sure. And what kinda pissed me off was he wasn't really trying so hard. And all my band mates heard him a lot more over me. Some chick even went as far as to saying: "Dang, you should play with them, we'll actually be able to hear the tubas"!. As we know, this hurt my ego a bit and left me a bit depressed. But that was way back in November. Fast forward 8 or so months later. That experience forced me to work on my sound almost everyday. Honestly was doing it all out of pure motivation. Now I release that he is my director and has played a lot longer then I have, but darn, he made it look easy. And played with way more control then I did at the time. That ALL changes this year, though. Gonna show those suckers what's up.

That little story kinds relates to what toobist said about putting a player that works on playing edgy and blatissmo loud against a player who has been trained in proper fundamentals of sound and technique. Just like way of looking at things. Going to be different this year, I am a year more experienced. That girl--she'll find out all enough what I'm packing. So to speak.

[pwhitaker]

Nothing finer than the pungent reek of youthful testosterone in the morning.

[Tuboss2]

There wasn't any questions in my last post though. Just simply adding to the discussion.

[bigbob]

Dude, TUBOSS, START A THREAD! Quit updating us on your personal stuff...

I agree.....give it a break Kid and Practice practice practice.....get it!!???.....PRACTICE!!........................BB

[Chadtuba]

Which of the Kroger-brand coffees tastes the best?

The columbian is always a good place to start, but if it is available in your local store, I prefer the dark roast.

[Untersatz]

Going to be different this year, I am a year more experienced. That girl--she'll find out all enough what I'm packing. So to speak.

Yeah, but the only problem with that is if you come in playing with that blatty, blasting, edgy sound...........
she's likely to say STFU or learn how to play first!

The point you seem to be missing IS: Learn how to play properly with a good tone FIRST.
Then after many, many hours of practicing & a few years under your belt playing properly,
you can start playing louder & louder as your embouchure gets stronger & you can do so
with control (just like your director was) when he played with you. That blasting, blatty
sound isn't going to get you anywhere

[Tuboss2]

Lol. Well, she actually does tell me to shut up when I play cuz it's blat blat blat when I play. I am working on progressing past that stage of always blatting. I feel that I am making progress, now if I knew what too much is, I will be golden. I am going to always think open Jaw and open teeth and lots of air while playing. As I find that helps me out the most into staying away from the blat blat. Just have to keep improving. My main problem is knowing what too much is. I need help with that.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

I think that the biggest problem that you may be having, is that your #1 priority seems to be all about playing LOUDLY, above all of the other aspects of the music.
Once you stop worrying about playing louder than is humanly possible, the quality of all the other aspects of your playing will likely improve! You can gradually add volume, as the rest of your playing improves.

[Tuboss2]

I think that the biggest problem that you may be having, is that your #1 priority seems to be all about playing LOUDLY, above all of the other aspects of the music.
Once you stop worrying about playing louder than is humanly possible, the quality of all the other aspects of your playing will likely improve! You can gradually add volume, as the rest of your playing improves.

That might be the case man. I do put a lot of importance on playing loud. I don't really worry so much about soft, even, tounging, all that because I feel like that I'm good enough at that already.

[dsfinley]

I think that the biggest problem that you may be having, is that your #1 priority seems to be all about playing LOUDLY, above all of the other aspects of the music.
Once you stop worrying about playing louder than is humanly possible, the quality of all the other aspects of your playing will likely improve! You can gradually add volume, as the rest of your playing improves.

That might be the case man. I do put a lot of importance on playing loud. I don't really worry so much about soft, even, tounging, all that because I feel like that I'm good enough at that already.

You're NOT good enough at that already

[Jason Roamer]

The difference between passable and perfect is attention to detail. There is not a single professional in any field that is "good enough," and also expects to keep a job. If you get too comfortable in your job, you lose it. Professionals constantly learn, adapt and grow.

[Tuboss2]

I think that the biggest problem that you may be having, is that your #1 priority seems to be all about playing LOUDLY, above all of the other aspects of the music.
Once you stop worrying about playing louder than is humanly possible, the quality of all the other aspects of your playing will likely improve! You can gradually add volume, as the rest of your playing improves.

That might be the case man. I do put a lot of importance on playing loud. I don't really worry so much about soft, even, tounging, all that because I feel like that I'm good enough at that already.

You're NOT good enough at that already

I know. I am just saying that sometimes I overlook different aspects of my playing because I feel like I excel in them when I in fact am not 100% amazing at em. It's a everyday process.

[bigbob]

[That might be the case man. I do put a lot of importance on playing loud. I don't really worry so much about soft, even, tounging, all that because I feel like that I'm good enough at that already.[/quote]
You feel you are good enough??????????????? Man you have only started to learn!!...and what I heard from your recording of your self makes me laugh at you saying your good enough hahahYour just a inexperienced kid that thinks He knows everything!!.. by the way you talked about this on the first thread.....GOOD ENOUGH HA!!..ask any of these guys if there Good enough??They want to be the best and that takes practice ...

[Tuboss2]

[That might be the case man. I do put a lot of importance on playing loud. I don't really worry so much about soft, even, tounging, all that because I feel like that I'm good enough at that already.

You feel you are good enough??????????????? Man you have only started to learn!!...and what I heard from your recording of your self makes me laugh at you saying your good enough hahahYour just a inexperienced kid that thinks He knows everything!!.. by the way you talked about this on the first thread.....GOOD ENOUGH HA!!..ask any of these guys if there Good enough??They want to be the best and that takes practice ...[/quote]
I'm not trying to Say I'm good enough at one skill or something because I know darn well I'm not. Believe me man I know. It's what we all practice for--to get better. Weather that's playing loud with a good sound(like me ATM) or playing elegant. Always something to get better at, otherwise I...well none of us wouldn't be practicing and playing as much as we do.

[ppalan]

Finally, .... I found a good reason for developing an "edgy sousaphone sound"....



Pete