My university band is one of very few in the country to still march bell-front recording bases instead of sousaphones or contras. We currently own a mix of 15 King 2341 and King 1241 tubas, 11 are still in working order and condition. For the sake of longevity and maintenance, we will be moving to Conn 40K sousaphones in the near future, making this an even rarer sight to see.

Hello! I’m a euphonium player and I’ve been planning on doing Sousa for my high school’s pep band and was wondering if there is a difference in the fingerings between the two?

Does anyone have any information about RS berkeley? I came across and rs berkeley marching tuba/contra however i had never heard of the brand before, does anyone know anything about the brand?

I am 43, I haven't played since I was 18 in high school but played Bb tuba 5th-12th and was never able to get a tuba until now, but it happens to be an Eb. It's also got a 5th valve, and even in school I rarely used the 4th valve but mostly just used the 3.

Any tips or sources for learning again? The fingerings seem to be very different than I remember. Will music have to be for an Eb or is it the same music as Bb but playing the notes I see on the paper are just different fingerings?

This is the tuba, it's from 1930 and plays amazing.

On Amazon I see cheap (<$30) knockoffs of:

• Conn Helleberg 120s
• Yamaha 67c4
• Bach 24AW
• Bach 22
• Denis Wick 4L

Eastrock (the most common knockoff brand) sells a "standard" model and I don't know what that is a knockoff of, it looks just like their 67c4 but clearly has a different model number?

How faithful are the copies of the knockoffs? Does the rim dimensions and cup and throat match the original?

Also, I do see a 67c4 from a brand called Rowell, which looks nothing like a 67c4. It's grooved like a Marcinkiewicz, but with more grooves, and it is clearly a deeper cup (or at least a longer external body) than the Yamaha.

Are they safe? For example, one mouthpiece I see which looks like helleberg knockoff but gold, is labelled "Golden Tuba Mouthpiece Accessory" from a store called EXCEART which largely sells not musical stuff, just eclectic crap. It doesn't claim to be real gold or silver coated, and says it is made from "gold brass". Is this likely just a raw polished brass mouthpiece? It' s my understanding that this is a terrible idea and the majority of people would react to that over time. Or could it be someone got their hands on a stock of gold-plated helleberg knockoffs and have absolutely no idea how to sell them? (The ad copy and photos are hilarious; and they show the mouthpiece pasted along side a trumpet, and a clarinet). If I ordered this would there be any way to find out if it is plated and with what? Very tempted purely for curiosity.

How much should I pay for a Eastman EBB534 bbflat tuba that is slightly used? I looked around online and saw them in the 9k range new but what is expected for used?

Hi everyone,

After 10 years of not playing I recently joined an alumni concert band at my university and I'm getting back into it. Im looking for fun parts and solos to try practicing!

I'm looking for stuff that is just good fun to play and really highlights the beauty of the tuba. Im open to all levels of music, Id love a variety of levels so I can work up to the harder pieces (but remember I didnt major in music in college so be gentle with your reccomendations please!)

Back in high school I played in the wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz band (on the bass Trombone parts) and marching band (shout out to my fellow sousaphones!!)

My goal with this is to find joy in practicing again, and have pieces I can work towards playing. I dont want to just do scales and long tones every time I sit down lol (dont worry I promise not to skip the basics!!)

So what are your favorite parts to play? What pieces have brought you joy on the tuba?

I used to feel so self conscious about being a tuba player when I played back in high school (I was the only girl in my section) but Tuba is an awesome instrument and thats why I really want to get back into it and really have some fun.

Hello everyone, as you may have read from the title, I am switching to tuba after playing the trumpet for almost 11 years (half-profesionally), but now due to medical reasons i need to switch to tuba (long story, i can only play a big mouthpiece). I've been practicing the tuba every day for over a month now.

As you might guess, I'm going through a sort of "backwards learning process" as i have no problems in the mid-high register (articulation is not a problem, neither is endurance - i've found i can play all day without getting tired, which is pretty amazing for someone coming from trumpet haha)

My main problem is the low register, i know i need to breathe more and blow a lot of slow, warm air, but i also hear and see everyone talking about "dropping your jaw", which seems very unnatural to me. When playing in the mirror i tend to pull my chin down when going up and dropping it when going lower seems to make it worse: it pulls my lips apart and they don't vibrate.

Do you think i need to learn the habit of "jaw' dropping, or is it fine if my embouchure barely moves at all and just slowly but surely expand my lower register with what i have?

I know it's a lot of theory to take in but i'm writing this while away from my horn so it'll be a couple of days before i can record myself playing to show what i mean.

Thank you in advance and have a good day!

For background context I play the tuba in the school's marching band, and we march contras. Have since the school was founded. I want to know from all the past contra/sousa/marching tuba players out there, what did you use for lights during night parades? I have used string lights in the past, but they always got shoddy/rained on/didn't work to begin with, so I'm curious as to what solutions you've used before. Do I rip it and go for some strip lights with 3m tape that I gotta buy every time? Or do I gotta go with something else.

Hi all!

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place to rent from on short notice in Manchester, UK. Specifically, looking for 1) a besson sovereign 982 in E flat and 2) any 5 valve CC contrabass tuba. Thanks in advance!

I want to play this piece for a French competition, so I tried looking for the full version Bolero by Hector Berlioz on YouTube with no luck.

Hello! I'm a tuba player of around 2.5 years and I play in a European marching band but I'll need to be able to switch between tuba and bass trombone when needed. I really want an independent double valve even though money plays a very big part for me (I am also open to buying used instruments).

I'm also planning on starting a trombone trio with my friends although the marching band is still my main concern and priority.

Feel free to ask any questions and I'll try my best to answer.

I FINALLY got myself a tuba! But, it has a couple of issues ...

The previous owner said one end of the 1st valve (rotary) spring broke and since then it has not been very responsive (stays down when pressed). The 4th valve also does not come back up consistently; you have to press the valve just the right way to insure that it comes back up.

It also appears the lever bar is bent on one end, but may be bent elsewhere and may be contributing to the issues being experienced.

I've been trying to find replacement parts and while I have found springs on Amazon, I cannot find the bar. I've done some reading and found I can do a DIY solution if I can find the appropriate type/size of round stock (3mm in nickel silver or brass) then use a tap to create the thread for the ends.

The horn is a Spencer, which is designed after the B&S 101.

If anyone can help me find the lever bar, I'd greatly appreciate it! I'll most likely purchase the springs on Amazon, but want to wait to get those until I know I will have the bar coming in the mail. That way, I can take care of the replacement over the weekend.

So my 2 kids are low brass players in high school marching band. There is a parent preview of their field show tonight and after they do their show they are bringing their parents down to the field and are going to give us a crash course in the first movement of their show. They do not expect us to play, just do the movements on the field, but we are allowed to play whatever we want.

I played baritone 349857239845 years ago in middle school, yet I have been assigned to play the sousaphone. I can make the thing make noise and after fiddling around with it for about 10 minutes I have the first 8ish bars of the imperial march with really terrible tone, but not bad for having not played anything brass in 30+ years. I'd love to have 2 more short passages I can learn pretty quick that would be instantly recognizable.

Please keep in mind I cannot read music and convert it to fingerings anymore, so if you could hook me up with the fingerings too I would so appreciate it. TIA from a guy just trying to be a good dad.

UPDATE: Busted out the imperial march, jaws and my kid gave me a crash course on lets go blue. They were stoked. Probably one of the worst sousa performances ever, but for one afternoon of practice I am told it was pretty good. Thank you for all the suggestions and help!!!!!

I’m playing a piece right now that calls for a low F played marcato at fortesimo and my band director said it sounded like “if an hbcu played Vaughan Williams” which is not what he wants. Any tips appreciated

Left to right: Yamaha 67C4
J. Marcinkiewicz/N4*T Johnson
Vincent Bach 24AW

I just joined my local community college band after a 20+ year hiatus from playing concert music, and I happen to be in possession of these three mouthpieces. I can tell that they play slightly differently, but I can’t say one feels any “better” than the others. Are they supposed to be for different styles of playing, or is it just personal preference? I’m playing a 3/4 size tuba, if that matters.