Posted by Gary Press on November 01, 1999 at 19:47:24:
In Reply to: Beginning tuba player help! posted by Gary S on October 30, 1999 at 15:25:12:
Here's a thought...try having the student buzz a glissando on the mouthpirece from a comfortable note upward and a mezzo-forte dynamic. Have him/her think of what a trombone would sound like doing this so that there is a musical concept predominating. This way, not only will he/she expand the range, but will begin to develop the entire mechanism without "overthinking" the process. As the great player/pedagogue referred to below in another post would say, "With the musical concept foremost, the body learns what it needs to do to produce what we hear in our heads."
Also, remember that some students take longer to get over "the hump" than others, so above all, be patient and encouraging. It will eventually happen. Good luck!