Tuba punishment
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:47 pm
I have discovered a new and inexpensive way to tweak tuba inadequacies and shortcomings regarding the playability of certain instruments.
For example - say I have a certain CC instrument and it doesn't have a clear high F, or maybe a high note is impossible to hit, or maybe slurs are hard in a certain range. Solution: I put the instrument in the closet for several months as punishment. I then take up another CC and use it for a while. After several months I go to the closet and take out the misbehaving instrument. Voila! everything is hitting much better. High notes pop, slurs better than ever, and certain "funny" notes play much better! This works for mouthpieces as well.
Another related method for tubas... "crosstraining". I switch back and forth during the month from one instrument to the other. I am careful to keep both instruments in the same room and out of the case. This seems to help instruments straighten themselves out. It lets the "other" horn hear how it's supposed to play and after a while, both instruments fall into line and play better.
Tubas are like little kids. They need plenty of discipline.
TJ
For example - say I have a certain CC instrument and it doesn't have a clear high F, or maybe a high note is impossible to hit, or maybe slurs are hard in a certain range. Solution: I put the instrument in the closet for several months as punishment. I then take up another CC and use it for a while. After several months I go to the closet and take out the misbehaving instrument. Voila! everything is hitting much better. High notes pop, slurs better than ever, and certain "funny" notes play much better! This works for mouthpieces as well.
Another related method for tubas... "crosstraining". I switch back and forth during the month from one instrument to the other. I am careful to keep both instruments in the same room and out of the case. This seems to help instruments straighten themselves out. It lets the "other" horn hear how it's supposed to play and after a while, both instruments fall into line and play better.
Tubas are like little kids. They need plenty of discipline.
TJ