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Equipment 1 Tuba
Equipment 1 Tuba
from one maker to the next, the width of 14-16" across. These types of Stencil: a tuba made by a maker
choice can be difficult. It can be diffi- tubas will be listed as three-quarter- who was paid to put a different
cult to find one tuba to try at a local sized tubas, and some makers at one name on it. This can be for a •;
music store, let alone several brands time even made half-size tubas with music store wanting its own
and sizes of tuba. This often leads to smaller dimensions. Get a hard case line of instruments. Marketing :
purchases made with inadequate infor- to help protect the instrument; most agreements in different coun-
mation. Band directors should consid- come with wheels to help students tries may forbid one brand from
er bell and bore sizes, instrument transport the tuba. The stock mouth- being sold in multiple stores, so
length and width, valve set-up, and piece that comes with the instrument a stencil gives makers an oppor-
key when buying a tuba. should work fine. The majority of tunity to sell instruments in dif-
tubas appropriate for elementary stu- ferent places. These instru-
Elementary School dents will be from American makers, ments are usually the same}
A tuba for an elementary student who usually make instruments with quality as the makers and some'
should be in the key of BB1> with three three or four piston valves. European times even come from the same
upright valves and a bell no bigger and Asian makers will use piston or factory with different names/
than 15" across. Upright valves work rotary valves or a combination of the stamped on them,
best for younger students because they two, and their instruments have three
make the instrument easier to balance to five valves. Clone: a copy of another;
maker's tuba. This company:
Middle School generally does not stamp their '•.
Middle school directors should have name on the instruments, but [
Si- puts the names of other stores j
tubas of different sizes to accommodate
students as they grow in size and or importers there instead.,:
progress musically. Sixth-grade players Companies that clone instru-
should still use the same BBl> tuba as in ments do not develop new!
the elementary program. This familiar instruments, whereas makers 1
instrument feels comfortable and research new styles, sizes, metal j
allows them to continue their musical combinations, bore sizes, andf
growth without the distraction of a bell sizes.
new instrument.
Most seventh and eighth grade stu-
dents hit a growth spurt. For them it is valve, front-action tubas; Europ
ideal to have small tubas similar to makers are more likely to offer rota
what a sixth grader would use, as well valve or upright-piston tubas. Nk
as a larger instrument with front- four-valve instruments may be temp
action valves. I recommend a BB^> tuba ing, but students this age usually ',
with three piston valves, a bore no big- the pinky strength to use a fa
ger than .690, and a bell no bigger valve well. A three-valve instrun
than 18". The body length should be lets students focus on holding the (
no longer than 36". Piston valves are and moving valve tuning slides
more durable than rotary valves. adjust pitch.
Rotary valves are easier to use but have
more moving parts for students to hit, High School
damage, and lose. Many American and High school directors should own)
Asian tuba makers manufacture three- least two three-quarter tubas and i
3 2 THE INSTRUMENTALIST / SEPTEMBER 2011
four- or five-quarter tubas. The biggestj
Europe's fastest mistake I often see is a five-fbot'tall stu-1
ROY growing line of dent with a 40" tall, five-quarter tuba|
that has a 20" bell. Such a student \t ju
BENSON
W I N I ) I N S I K I M I. N 1 S
instruments now
available in the US. this big, he will struggle to get it;
through the door. When a tuba is i
big and unwieldy for a student, it is dif-i
ficult to play the instrument comfort')
ably, let alone play with a good sound.
A good small high school BBt tubaj
should be 34-36" long with a 15- or 16
inch bell and a bore size of .709. Hig
school students, even the smaller on
should be able to handle a four-valv
instrument. At this level rotary valv
are a good choice; they have a quic
response and smooth valve moveme
and the finger paddles are close t
er, making it easy for students wid
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM small hands to play. Directors who (
for piston-valve tubas should choose i
IDHECICONT model with the valves arranged in:
curved setup to help with
ergonomics of playing. Front actio
valves make a tuba easier to hold i
free the left hand to adjust pitch 1
pulling tuning slides.
Four- and five-quarter BBt tubas \e 36
2012 Hawaii Band & Orchestra Festival®
from 16-20". The bore size will
between .740 to .850, and it is wofl
noting that the larger bore on
Jay S. Gephart James Swearingen instruments will produce a big
Artistic director Artistic director sound that will surprise studen
and clinician and clinician coming off a three-quarter tuba
first. Such instruments with pis
March 3. March 31 & April 14. 2012 - Parade March 4, 2012 valves will have larger valves pla
farther apart because of the incre
Website: www.hawaiimusicfestivals.com bore size. Rotary valves on the
E-mail: groups@hawaiimusicfesivals.com Phone: 1-800-366-7486 tubas are also available and are easUJ
to damage than even those on
three-quarter tuba. Given how mu
Marching Band
At the Rudi E. Scheldt School of Music, High school directors looking fors
we have created a complete learning option for marching band can ch
experience for aspiring musicians.
Whether you are interested in
performance, composition, music
history, education, or the music
industry, you will find all the pieces
Tuba Sizes:Tubas come in BE
of your musical future here. Brilliant EK CC, and F. The most i
faculty prepare and inspire you. A mon key for tubas in Americ
world-renowned music heritage schools is BBk, but tubas
awaits you. And you, too, will
the early 1900s are likely to 1
become perfectly composed.
in Ek In Europe E\> tubas are ju
Audition dates are Dec. 3, 2011;
as common as those in B|
Feb. 11,2012; Feb. 18, 2012; Tubas in CC and F professio
and Feb. 25,2012. tubas are used in orche
across the country. The
B.M. M.M. D.M.A. Ph.D.
tuba is the primary choice
meniphJB.edu/muiic 901.678.2541 mvgicmmtmphiB.edu
professional musicians, mu
THE UNIVERSITY OF
MEMPHIS, Rudi E. Scheldt School of Music students, and teachers.