Posted by Joe S. on May 02, 1999 at 21:35:11:
In Reply to: William Bell Complete Tuba Method posted by Ay-Jaye Paige on April 30, 1999 at 16:41:26:
Some might suggest that your first so-called advanced technique book be the Tyrell 40 studies. They challenge an intermediate player, but will not offer too many frustrating keys or fingerings on the "back side" of the horn. At the same time, you might want to be working out of the Shoemaker "Legato Etudes" or Bordogni 43(?) studies for "bel canto" (phrasing, musical expression) development.
A second technique book (after working out of one not quite this challenging) might be the transcription of the French horn Kopprasch method (60 studies), and your second "bel canto" studies might be the Rochut trombone books -- more Bordogni (three of them -- 120 studies)-- that you will have to transcribe down an octave at sight. Perhaps you could skip book 1, because many of these will have been seen in the tuba Bordogni book.
There are other equally effective books of both types, and also books that just concentrate on flexibility (ex. Schlossberg trpt./tbn., etc.), intervals (ex. Verne Reynolds 48 Etudes transcribed by C. Beauregard -- VERY challenging), and many other things. Start with something that looks challenging, ORGANIZED/logical, and accomplishable by you with some effort. Work out of at least two books, if not more: one being mostly technical, and one being mostly musical (phrasing, expression).
The more that you can get used to reading in various clefs (bass clef down an octave, Bb treble clef, concert pitch treble clef, tenor clef, etc.), the more really GREAT etudes and solo works will be at your disposal, and you will have an INCREDIBLY large body of work to chose from, performance-wise, if you dig in and learn these skills now. The tuba repertoire has GREATLY expanded in size and quality in the past quarter century, but alas, (sorry disagreers) it is still just a little bit lame, collectively, compared to other instruments' available works. (Steal the best from other instruments, along with embracing the best written-for-tuba stuff.)
Have fun with your Bell book. I love the "sneeze" exercise!