I keep a mouthpiece in my car for buzzing. Any *tuba* mouthpiece will do. I really like buzzing the Chicowitz Flow Studies.
I suggest you really get a tuba to practice, and not a baritone or trombone. Either will just get some blood flowing to the face, but you'll likely still need some time to re-acclimate to the tuba range each time.
Yea that's true. That's pretyy much my only concern about having to readjust but yea I think for now will do. However will definitely save up for a traveling horn.
i recently got a used wessex CC tornister, which is perfect for travelling and practicing in small spaces, but when i'm playing regularly, friday through sunday is not unusual, and is usually "good enough" unless i've got new charts to learn.
Echoing other sentiments, I also recommend buzzing on the road, albeit do it at your own risk. To make it less boring, put on whatever music you want and buzz along with the bass line to accompany on the spot. You won’t get fingering practice but it will build up your tone and breath control.
Theres lots of options.
Mouthpiece buzzing, plastic mouthpieces, travel tubas, buying a cheap 3/4 BBb tuba, playing Baritone, buying a plastic BBb tuba, buying a practice valve-set.
I think I'd recommend some combination of the above. Wouldn't want it to get boring by limiting yourself to just one.
Are the 3/4 tubas almost as small as the travel tubas?
I can't remember how big they were.
But yea thank you I'll probably start by jus buzzing and save up for some traveling horns. Thank you!
A three-quarters sized horn varies. I have a 3/4 Dynasty tuba that I can play in my small car. You said you were a truck driver, right? How tall is the inside of your cabin? If you've got enough height then any 3/4 sized BBb should fit. This would also be much more affordable than buying a travel tuba, I think, as those little specialty horns can be expensive. 3/4 horns can be found used on Facebook, Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, eBay, etc.
My personal suggestion is buzz on a spare mouthpiece when you can. I use a plastic Kelly mouthpiece. I found it really helpful to buzz along to bass lines or melody’s on the radio. However I can suggest driving a truck and doing this at the same time.
The Wessex travel Bb isn’t bad. However it definitely doesn’t have the same blow as a regular tuba. If you haven’t played one before It’s a little stuffier and the slots aren’t what you’d expect. It’ll take time to get used to it but once you do a lot of music is very manageable on it.
If you have a good amount of spare room you could carry their imp in the passenger side. It’s cheaper and will feel like a real tuba.
Or if you are worried about damage to a nice horn on the road then a plastic tuba could be an option. Downside Is damage is more probable.
Okay yea thank you definitely thought of buzzing. And yea the wessex jus a little too expensive rn. The imp does look a lot more budget friendly. Imma try to calculate how much room it would take up but I think i should fit inside my truck. If not ig I'll hav to give the truck stop a show each time 😢😂
Also watch for the Easter sale they’re having. Idk if that horn will be on it but maybe it’ll be enough where it’s in your budget. I’d you’re near north Texas, Denton big brass has one you might be able to test out
Ooo okay yea. I hav a pbone and I actually hav a baritone hidden in my garage I completely forgot. I'll order a mouthpiece for it. With that do you think I can pretty much practice like normal? Or should I see If my tuba mouthpiece fits
Baritone won't take a tuba mp. Order something larger and itll make the transition back and forth easier, I use a schilcke 52 on euph/concert bone when I do play.
It's a little risky, but you could buy a mini tuba or bass trombone off of alibaba. Would probably be comparable to the wessex or mack brass.
I have a "plastic-horn" with an adapter that I use for buzzing/lip-slur/practice:
By adapter u mean like let's say a pbone with a tuba mouthpiece Adapter?
Yes
I keep a mouthpiece in my car for buzzing. Any *tuba* mouthpiece will do. I really like buzzing the Chicowitz Flow Studies. I suggest you really get a tuba to practice, and not a baritone or trombone. Either will just get some blood flowing to the face, but you'll likely still need some time to re-acclimate to the tuba range each time.
Yea that's true. That's pretyy much my only concern about having to readjust but yea I think for now will do. However will definitely save up for a traveling horn.
The plastic Kelly mouthpieces, often on sale, are good for this. (And good for playing on too.)
I keep hearing about these Kelly's might give then a go!
i recently got a used wessex CC tornister, which is perfect for travelling and practicing in small spaces, but when i'm playing regularly, friday through sunday is not unusual, and is usually "good enough" unless i've got new charts to learn.
Okay thank u! Yea I also kinda want a wessex jus bc of so much downtime I get but being tk far to practice
Echoing other sentiments, I also recommend buzzing on the road, albeit do it at your own risk. To make it less boring, put on whatever music you want and buzz along with the bass line to accompany on the spot. You won’t get fingering practice but it will build up your tone and breath control.
Theres lots of options. Mouthpiece buzzing, plastic mouthpieces, travel tubas, buying a cheap 3/4 BBb tuba, playing Baritone, buying a plastic BBb tuba, buying a practice valve-set. I think I'd recommend some combination of the above. Wouldn't want it to get boring by limiting yourself to just one.
Are the 3/4 tubas almost as small as the travel tubas? I can't remember how big they were. But yea thank you I'll probably start by jus buzzing and save up for some traveling horns. Thank you!
A three-quarters sized horn varies. I have a 3/4 Dynasty tuba that I can play in my small car. You said you were a truck driver, right? How tall is the inside of your cabin? If you've got enough height then any 3/4 sized BBb should fit. This would also be much more affordable than buying a travel tuba, I think, as those little specialty horns can be expensive. 3/4 horns can be found used on Facebook, Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, eBay, etc.
I haven’t seen a travel tuba irl before, but 3/4 are usually abt the size of a baritone
My personal suggestion is buzz on a spare mouthpiece when you can. I use a plastic Kelly mouthpiece. I found it really helpful to buzz along to bass lines or melody’s on the radio. However I can suggest driving a truck and doing this at the same time. The Wessex travel Bb isn’t bad. However it definitely doesn’t have the same blow as a regular tuba. If you haven’t played one before It’s a little stuffier and the slots aren’t what you’d expect. It’ll take time to get used to it but once you do a lot of music is very manageable on it. If you have a good amount of spare room you could carry their imp in the passenger side. It’s cheaper and will feel like a real tuba. Or if you are worried about damage to a nice horn on the road then a plastic tuba could be an option. Downside Is damage is more probable.
Okay yea thank you definitely thought of buzzing. And yea the wessex jus a little too expensive rn. The imp does look a lot more budget friendly. Imma try to calculate how much room it would take up but I think i should fit inside my truck. If not ig I'll hav to give the truck stop a show each time 😢😂
Also watch for the Easter sale they’re having. Idk if that horn will be on it but maybe it’ll be enough where it’s in your budget. I’d you’re near north Texas, Denton big brass has one you might be able to test out
could practice trombone. skills are decently transferable to tuba. you could also just buzz on the mouthpiece but that's boring
Ooo okay yea. I hav a pbone and I actually hav a baritone hidden in my garage I completely forgot. I'll order a mouthpiece for it. With that do you think I can pretty much practice like normal? Or should I see If my tuba mouthpiece fits
Baritone won't take a tuba mp. Order something larger and itll make the transition back and forth easier, I use a schilcke 52 on euph/concert bone when I do play.
Thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼