Posted by Klaus on March 27, 2002 at 11:24:16:
In Reply to: Need a practice mute! posted by Todd Morgan on March 27, 2002 at 10:50:49:
If you like the sound of an open tuba, and i think we all do that, then you will never find a practise mute, that does not sound stuffy.
However it is possible to get accustomed to playing over ones full ranges through a practising mute.
Purists will say, that open practising is unparallelled. They are right.
However the pragmatists are right, when they say, that practising through a practise mute is better by dimensions, than is no practising at all.
I would even go so far as to saying that practising flexibility, range, dynamics, intonation, intervals, and maybe especially articulation through a practise mute is of benefit. Because everything is just that tiny bit harder to do muted.
Muted playing needs just as much air, so you will not feel of breath when playing open.
For models please see my posting on the Silent Brass thread just down the main board.
Klaus