Posted by Daniel Bradley on June 01, 1999 at 22:31:54:
In Reply to: Low Range posted by Joe on June 01, 1999 at 21:36:47:
The answer is actually quite simple: just do a lot of playing down there! A good low register doesn't come overnight, but it can come rather quickly if you do enough. Playing slow scales(quater=50)will encourage not only your sound development, but also your fluency with fingerings on all the low notes. Make sure to do them both tounged and slurred, for there is a definite difference in the feel of low-range articulation. Make sure to give plenty of sound- the volume will encourage good amounts of wind, which are VITAL to this register- at least Forte. Play arban excercises(all- even the fast ones) down an octave in addition to your normal practice of these studies. And of course you must also play melodious/legato material like Rochuts in the basement. Don't let the sound close at the lower dynamics. And lastly, make sure that you extend all of your flexibility exercises to encompass ALL of the fingerings. If you play a four or five valve tuba, then there is no excuse not to go beyond the traditional 1-2-3/2-4 that is usually the stopping point. Go on to 1-4, 3-4, 2-3-4, etc. An important thing to remember is that you WILL get dizzy. Just try to play through it as much as possible, and you'll notice that all of this playing will become easier and your overall sound will be much nicer. Have fun!