Posted by ken k on February 03, 2000 at 22:37:02:
In Reply to: Tone and Tuning posted by Bookert on February 03, 2000 at 20:29:24:
Try buzzing the mouthpiece alone, but use a tuner while you do it. For example, play a middle Bb on the tuba, then take the mouthpiece off the horn and buzz the Bb on the mouthpiece into a tuner. You may find that you are actually buzzing sharp, and can loosen up your embouchure a bit, or open the jaw a bit. Make sure you are using just enough mouthpiece pressure to keep the seal but no more than necessary. Too much mouthpiece pressure can pinch off your sound. Just some suggestions to try that certainly won't hurt anything. Obviously without hearing you play I really can't tell. Good Luck. Try to get a teacher or another tuba player who knows what he/she is talking about to listen to you. ken k