Posted by David L. Allen on January 05, 1999 at 23:53:23:
I have an exceptionally bright 7th grade tuba student that Im teaching right now that has a rather NON-unique problem. He is 5'0 and 105 lbs. and the poor kid was unfortunately told to purchace a Miraphone Rose Orchestra MP when he was in beginning band. Im pretty impressed that he can get a sound out of the thing on the YBB-641 he plays on but I really think there has to be a better solution for him. I have been experementing with the assortment of mp's I own, but to no avail - his embosh. still gets engulfed by the width of the interior rim. The smallest mp I've tried for him so far has been a Conn helleberg 7B and it still causes him problems. So my question is this: Has anyone in such a situation considered using an smaller Eb or F tuba MP (along the lines of a PT-72 or PT-65) so that the student could actually have a chance of his embosh. reaching across the entire width of the mp? Once again - creative solutions are welcome.