Search found 82 matches

by acemorgan
Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:15 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: fundamental problem(s) while playing?
Replies: 37
Views: 2841

Re: fundamental problem(s) while playing?

I suggest you start here:
http://www.rogerrocco.net/2021/

And read every post on his blog.
by acemorgan
Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:57 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: A matter of minimal importance
Replies: 3
Views: 152

A matter of minimal importance

Since we have the following singular/plural examples: datum: data phylum: phyla maximum: maxima curriculum: curricula referendum: referenda memorandum: memoranda stadium: stadia symposium: symposia medium: media bacterium: bacteria millennium: millennia colloquium: colloquia Then may I suggest: euph...
by acemorgan
Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:49 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Physical Range Limit
Replies: 25
Views: 1318

Re: Physical Range Limit

Tuba low pitches are low. Tuba high pitches not high. I was playing an instrumental arrangement of "Nessun Dorma" on my tuba and I thought I sounded heroic, but my wife said it was nothing special because it was too low. I said, "It's high for a tuba!" She replied, " Well, ...
by acemorgan
Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Why is it that..
Replies: 16
Views: 1196

Re: Why is it that..

I own the only Carl Fischer National model Eb tuba in the world. (Go ahead, prove me wrong; I double-dog dare you.) Anyway, when I bought it, I got it from a seller on Ebay who happened to live in the same city as me. Before I went to look at it, I decided to do some comparison shopping for that sam...
by acemorgan
Mon Jan 29, 2024 5:21 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: BRASS TRIOS.HORN,TROMBONE,TUBA.
Replies: 3
Views: 204

Re: BRASS TRIOS.HORN,TROMBONE,TUBA.

I have had a lot of success using the MuseScore program. They have tens of thousands of arrangements in all instrumentations. Something I do quite often is find a piece I like--literally anything--download it, then in less than 10 minutes of keystrokes, I can have it scored for tuba or euphonium or ...
by acemorgan
Sun Jan 14, 2024 11:18 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: .
Replies: 26
Views: 1119

Re: 5 Pitches of Tubas

I've played all except the F. And I am at peace with that.
by acemorgan
Fri Dec 15, 2023 12:01 am
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: C or E flat ?
Replies: 5
Views: 308

Re: C or E flat ?

A few years ago, I developed osteoarthritis in my left shoulder, and decided to downsize from my 4/4BBb to a euphonium. Smooth transition as far as fingerings went. Then, a couple years after that, I bought a small Eb tuba. There was a learning period, but not that bad because like many tuba players...
by acemorgan
Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:45 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Favorite Valve oil for pistons?
Replies: 81
Views: 5012

Re: Favorite Valve oil for pistons?

In the 1970s, I bought a single-lens-reflex camera, and became a photography nerd/dilettante. One of the best pieces of advice I learned was, "Don't be afraid to spend film; it's the cheapest thing in your equipment inventory." I think of that when I drench my pistons with oil. Use plenty,...
by acemorgan
Sat Nov 04, 2023 11:26 am
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Embouchure shifts
Replies: 18
Views: 1328

Re: Embouchure shifts

To be clear, when discussing "shift," are we talking about what some brass schools call "pivot?" Or is "shift" referring to sliding the mouthpiece?
by acemorgan
Tue Sep 12, 2023 5:46 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Finish issue
Replies: 23
Views: 1936

Re: Finish issue

Bell condition:
bell 2.jpg
bell 2.jpg (31.61 KiB) Viewed 1520 times
by acemorgan
Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:39 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Finish issue
Replies: 23
Views: 1936

Re: Finish issue

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Skin chemistry is probably a factor, because I know what my chemistry has done to my Wessex lacquered euphonium. But the worst brass emergence percolating through the silver tuba is on the bell. And if someone is going to attack a horn with silver strip...
by acemorgan
Mon Sep 11, 2023 1:19 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Finish issue
Replies: 23
Views: 1936

Finish issue

I bought a used silver plated tuba a few months ago. The previous owner had just had it professionally cleaned and supposedly polished. He wasn't pleased with the results, but I wasn't buying it for looks. It still had some dark cloudy bits here and there, but I thought, "well, it's silver.&quo...
by acemorgan
Fri Sep 08, 2023 3:46 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Can I blindly take a 3 valve Eb to a band rehearsal?
Replies: 24
Views: 1750

Re: Can I blindly take a 3 valve Eb to a band rehearsal?

Yes, Ab is awful, so I do a lot of octave transpositions without even hesitating. I asked the director if he wanted me on the upper divisi parts, and he said yes. I interpreted that as a mandate. When there isn't an upper part, I write one. Take the smaller tuba to rehearsal. You can position yourse...
by acemorgan
Fri Sep 08, 2023 2:26 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Advice on mouthpieces for high-register Eb playing
Replies: 12
Views: 1252

Re: Advice on mouthpieces for high-register Eb playing

I use a Wick 5 (small bore), and it works for me. High Eb is no problem. My high range is proportionally way better on my tubas than it is on my euphonium, and I use a Helleberg 5e on it. For what it's worth.
by acemorgan
Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:14 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: .
Replies: 32
Views: 2556

Re: Setting a tuba or euph on its bell…

I have always heard that setting a tuba or euphonium with vertically positioned valves (top banger) on it's bell will allow dirt, grime and fluids, to make their way to the top (guide area/felts/top caps) of the valves when upside down. Briefly, at rehearsal likely not an issue. Longer term, unplay...
by acemorgan
Mon Aug 07, 2023 2:10 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: Horn Shopping- addiction and frustrations
Replies: 61
Views: 2405

Re: Horn Shopping- addiction and frustrations

As an eefer-American, who also plays euphonium, I find it convenient to tell the family, "I'm going to go play my horn," when I disappear to practice. I suppose I could say, "I'm going to go play my bass tuba," or " I'm going to go play my tenor tuba, " but that would b...
by acemorgan
Tue May 09, 2023 10:55 am
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: pulling out old books
Replies: 5
Views: 304

Re: pulling out old books

Seeing the word Marchesi in print, reminded me of when I was a vocal music major many decades ago. The Marchesi book was not quite on the level of, say, the Arban for brass players, but close. I think I still have a copy of it somewhere. Your post made me think about using it as a resource for my eu...
by acemorgan
Sun Apr 23, 2023 5:12 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: almost impossible to program too often
Replies: 47
Views: 2931

Re: almost impossible to program too often

Total objectivity is probably impossible, because it is going to depend so much on who you were, where you were, what you were doing in your life, when you first heard or played a particular piece. I won't bore you with my backstory. But for me, one of the standout examples in my experience is Shost...
by acemorgan
Sun Apr 09, 2023 12:12 am
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: playing and hearing aids
Replies: 22
Views: 1440

Re: playing and hearing aids

I've lost hearing in some of the upper frequencies, namely female and little kids voice range. If they speak softly, I have a difficult time hearing them. This is very much my case, so I wear them when I watch TV, or in a social setting where people expect you to be listening. I also when I was sti...
by acemorgan
Sat Apr 08, 2023 11:32 pm
Forum: Music Chatter
Topic: bands banned
Replies: 19
Views: 1177

Re: bands banned

I play in a community band. Lots of retired music teachers and former pros and semi-pros. And a few people under 50. A wide variety of music: orchestral transcriptions, concert band arrangements of movie score suites, Sousa, etc. Three Bb tubas and me on Eb. Since it is band music, there are a lot o...