Lower Brass Column: TUBAsic!!

Louis Yeo, Resident Writer for the Lower Brass Column

Tuba players are generally a forgotten lot, located next furthest from the conductor to the percussion and visually impaired from him by our prized tool of music making.

It is no wonder that the conductor pay less attention to us.

To economically use the ever-decreasing tutorship funds, the tuba tutor is the first to be off the hiring list, as the more melodious sections need more guidance. As a conductor, I am fairly guilty of that too.

With the very pessimistic outlook for the tuba player, the Singapore band scene have produced an astonishing number of outstanding tuba players namely; Leonard Tan, Francis Tan, Tan Yao Cong, Aaron Yong, Wong Yin Xuan, Peh Lian Wei, Daniel Kiang, Julian low, Teng Siang Hong and a group of tuba enthusiast that made up “Tuba Powerhouse”……

Tuba Powerhouse

Good sound (physical relaxation and natural air flow)

I would like to touch on having the basics of producing the best sound on a tuba.

I always tell students that playing the tuba can be a very relaxing and at the same time energy consuming activity.

Physically we need to be relaxed so we could have no constriction when we play but there must be a very intense cardio work out as we inhale and exhale big volume of air in quick succession.

To orientate a student to be physically relaxed, I would get them to lie down on the floor if possible, if not I would ask them to “slump” into the chair as if they have fallen asleep.

I’ll get them to close their eyes and feel themselves breathing as naturally as possible, and be aware of how the body function when the air fills up the lung (Feldenkrais method).

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