Tuba Euphonium Tpo

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 3

Eric Gabriel Marx Brass Methods April 20, 2020

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

You might also like