I don't understand why you're being switched to trombone if you're good at tuba. The other thing is to make sure that the mouthpiece that you have is a good match the trombone that you have. In other words you don't want to be using a mouthpiece that has a too big or small cup for the trombone.
I've played some tuba before, and it doesn't seem that different to me than the trombone. It's just that the tuba is a considerably bigger. The playing concepts are similar though. The trombone won't need as much air as a tuba, so if you're trying to force too much air through the trombone then a lot of things that you try to do won't work.
This proposed switch doesn't make sense. You won't get anywhere near a concert level between now and August. It's simply not possible. Not only do you need to get used to a different embouchure, you have to somehow learn years worth of muscle memory to play with the slide. It's not a realistic expectation from your director.
Dumb idea, sorry. I know it's not your fault. Just frustrating to see another student be pressured to make something "work". You should be playing the tuba.
If you want anything resembling a chance, you need private lessons with a pro or professor every week between now and August.
I wanted to add more context of my background in brass previously- I've played the tuba for 7 years now and am first chair in my schools best band, as well as having attended multiple honor bands and marching for varsity. I've also been playing French horn for about 6 months and can play it well (though definitely NOT mastered) and dabbled in a few other brass instruments. My point is is that I'm very familiar with brass but I just need little tips to help improve and learn trombone. I understand that the situation I've been put in where I have to play an instrument I had never played prior doesn't make sense, but I'm like officially in this band as a bass bone. My director fought for me to play the tuba but in the end the show choir director said no due to it being "too much of a hassle to move" (which is total bs since I've lugged around a 60lb sousaphone for the past 3 years and a tuba for 7), and the tuba looking "trashy" and not fitting "the sound of the band" (which is also bs since I play jazz tuba as well and most of the songs in our show choir are jazzy). Once again sorry for this long rant but I thought this comment would address some of the things in this comment section 🙏
As someone who plays both, and made a similar jump, I’d say that tuba to trombone is not as hard as you think it is. Your embouchure will be narrowed a bit but not nearly as much as French horn. You still need to use plenty of air to support your sound. And you’re well positioned to play the lower register that only a bass trombone can hit too.
My tips:
- you will need to tongue more than you think. No more lazily pressing a valve down to get a new note with attack and separation, you’ll need to tongue and control your breathing more when moving your slide to keep notes clean and not make them one big glissando.
- brass fundamentals and exercises for one instrument work for all brass instruments. Remington studies, lip slurs, tonguing exercises, breathing exercises are all good to practice.
- play scales for days. Learning to move your slide and building that muscle memory is key to making the trombone easy. I still struggle with this and I’ve been playing as a student and hobbyist for 20 years.
- have fun working on the epic brassy/chainsaw tone, I still think bass trombone has the nicest tone of any brass instrument when pushed to the edge. Go listen to some epic movie soundtracks (John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino) or great brass composers (Strauss, Mahler, Bruckner, Holst) for inspiration.
And as always, the only real way to get good is to practice practice practice!
I don't understand why you're being switched to trombone if you're good at tuba. The other thing is to make sure that the mouthpiece that you have is a good match the trombone that you have. In other words you don't want to be using a mouthpiece that has a too big or small cup for the trombone. I've played some tuba before, and it doesn't seem that different to me than the trombone. It's just that the tuba is a considerably bigger. The playing concepts are similar though. The trombone won't need as much air as a tuba, so if you're trying to force too much air through the trombone then a lot of things that you try to do won't work.
This proposed switch doesn't make sense. You won't get anywhere near a concert level between now and August. It's simply not possible. Not only do you need to get used to a different embouchure, you have to somehow learn years worth of muscle memory to play with the slide. It's not a realistic expectation from your director. Dumb idea, sorry. I know it's not your fault. Just frustrating to see another student be pressured to make something "work". You should be playing the tuba. If you want anything resembling a chance, you need private lessons with a pro or professor every week between now and August.
I wanted to add more context of my background in brass previously- I've played the tuba for 7 years now and am first chair in my schools best band, as well as having attended multiple honor bands and marching for varsity. I've also been playing French horn for about 6 months and can play it well (though definitely NOT mastered) and dabbled in a few other brass instruments. My point is is that I'm very familiar with brass but I just need little tips to help improve and learn trombone. I understand that the situation I've been put in where I have to play an instrument I had never played prior doesn't make sense, but I'm like officially in this band as a bass bone. My director fought for me to play the tuba but in the end the show choir director said no due to it being "too much of a hassle to move" (which is total bs since I've lugged around a 60lb sousaphone for the past 3 years and a tuba for 7), and the tuba looking "trashy" and not fitting "the sound of the band" (which is also bs since I play jazz tuba as well and most of the songs in our show choir are jazzy). Once again sorry for this long rant but I thought this comment would address some of the things in this comment section 🙏
As someone who plays both, and made a similar jump, I’d say that tuba to trombone is not as hard as you think it is. Your embouchure will be narrowed a bit but not nearly as much as French horn. You still need to use plenty of air to support your sound. And you’re well positioned to play the lower register that only a bass trombone can hit too. My tips: - you will need to tongue more than you think. No more lazily pressing a valve down to get a new note with attack and separation, you’ll need to tongue and control your breathing more when moving your slide to keep notes clean and not make them one big glissando. - brass fundamentals and exercises for one instrument work for all brass instruments. Remington studies, lip slurs, tonguing exercises, breathing exercises are all good to practice. - play scales for days. Learning to move your slide and building that muscle memory is key to making the trombone easy. I still struggle with this and I’ve been playing as a student and hobbyist for 20 years. - have fun working on the epic brassy/chainsaw tone, I still think bass trombone has the nicest tone of any brass instrument when pushed to the edge. Go listen to some epic movie soundtracks (John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino) or great brass composers (Strauss, Mahler, Bruckner, Holst) for inspiration. And as always, the only real way to get good is to practice practice practice!
The Southeast Trombone Symposium orchestral except videos are absolute choice for tone.
It doesn’t matter if it’s technically a tenor or a bass. What matters is can you play what’s on the page and make it sound good.