Tuba Euphonium Tpo
Tuba Euphonium Tpo
Tuba Euphonium Tpo
Tuba/Euphonium TPO
Out of the case:
o Lay case flat on floor, latches to open upward
o Lift the euphonium/tuba out of the case
o Lift mouthpiece out of the case and place in the mouthpiece receiver, giving a
quarter turn to secure the mouthpiece in place.
o Oil valves prior to playing instrument
Unscrew piston valves and oil silver metal toward bottom of piston. Place
back in appropriate valves slots and rotate until a “click” is heard.
o Oil Rotary
Oiling Through the Slides
Remove the slides and squirt valve oil into them toward the valves.
Replace the slides.
Oiling Through the Valve Caps.
Unscrew the valve caps.
Place a drop of oil on the center of the exposed valve.
Screw on the valve caps.
Posture
o Seated upright in a chair, either against the back of the chair or on the front.
o Straight back, hips in line with shoulders.
o Two feet flat on the floor.
Possibility for feet to be crossed but flat on floor should be taught first.
Hand Position – Rest instrument on right thigh
o Left Hand Carriage –
Left arm should hug around the instrument and support the weight of the
instrument.* **
*If valves are vertical, left hand will grab left side tubing.
**If valves are horizontal on the euphonium, both arms support the weight
of the instrument.
If 4th valve euphonium, left hand pointer finger is placed on 4th
valve.
o Right Hand Carriage –
Thumb in the crevasse of the valve casing between 1st and 2nd valves.
Pointer, Middle and Ring finger curved, tips resting on 1st, 2nd and 3rd
valves, respectively.
Pinkie finger can hang out.
Vertical valves – hand comes from behind instrument.
Horizontal valves – hand reaches around front on instrument.
Initial Sounds
o Say the letter “M” to form the embouchure.
o “Spit out a watermelon seed” to establish a focused buzz.
o Place mouthpiece on lips, in the direct center of the lips.
Half and half up and down, half and half left and right.
o Say M and spit out a watermelon seed into the properly placed mouthpiece.
o Support with full breath of air.
Articulation
o Tongue should interrupt air stream, placed between top teeth and gumline.
o Ta – Regular articulation
o Ti – Separated articulation
o Doo – Connected articulation
Quick Problems and Solutions
o P: Student having trouble with notes above the staff of euphonium?
o S: Use more air, or possibly switch to tuba.
o P: Transfer from trumpet to euphonium, trouble reading bass clef?
o S: Have the student read treble clef euphonium music.
Idiosyncrasies
o Beginning euphonium/tubas sound a Bb as their natural partial.
Similar to the trumpet, they sound Bb when on open partials.
DIFFERENT from trumpet, euphonium/tuba read concert pitch.
Most tubas are in Bb, but C and F are also common.
o Tendency Tones – 4th (occasionally 5th valve tubas) valve euphoniums and tubas
are available to compensate for flat or sharp notes – alternate fingerings, dropping
the instrument down a fourth, or providing a different technique for certain
pitches.
o Too much pressure against the face
Can cause nerve damage
Overusing muscles and tiring out too quickly
Relax face, pull trumpet away from face
o Tuba weight
Occasional tuba stands can be used to support the weight of tubas for
smaller players. Balancing the instrument on a chair is also an option.
References
o A Complete Guide to Brass – Scott Whitener
o International Tuba and Euphonium Association - ITEA
o The Art of Tuba and Euphonium – Harvey Philips and William Winkle
o Brass Player’s Cookbook
o The Breathing Gym