Low Brass Guide

Kristianna Mortera
Spring 2016
Prof. K. Gildow

Cross Instrumental:
Breathing:
How-to Breath
o Breathe in the word How
o Release on Too
Air Speed
o The faster the air, the higher the pitch.
Embouchure: Three Cs very important*
Cheeks
o Product of the corners
o Do not puff cheeks
Try to teach students what to do instead of telling
them what not to do
Chin
o Keep a flat chin
This is typically harder for kids to conceptualize so
explain well.
Corners
o Pull down the corners of your mouth.
o Firm, forward corners
Avoid smiling
o Avoid using the word tight instead use firm corners.
Articulations:
Whispered Toos
o Take a big breathe and breathe out a whispered too
(the word).
Dont say the word, but instead make the shape of
the word with your mouth.
Say Too, hold shape, then breathe out through
that shape

o Work on rhythms with this shape and breathing the

rhythms
o This helps with embouchure because you corners
naturally come down.
Articulate on bottom of teeth
Buzzing:
Buzz without the mouthpiece first.
Straw method:
o Hold a big straw in mouth without crushing it.
After buzzing without mouthpiece, add mouthpiece centered
on the lips.
Brass Recruitment:
During the Fall, attack your principal for an assembly
line of fourth or fifth grade players
Start tuba players at the fifth grade level no third
graders!
Euphonium works well with fourth graders
Instrument Petting Zoo
o Cycle groups of kids through
o Start teaching them how to buzz lips with a mouthpiece
o Make sure the shape of their mouth is right
o Introduce the different instrument families then play a
short piece or excerpt for each.
Play something that will identify the instrument
and sound
o Weed out the students who dont want to play it and
choose the ones who are excited about the instrument
Think about the size of the program
o Some may not have the physical anatomy to buzz lips.

Euphonium
Intonation:
Pulling Tuning Slides
o Early on you want students centering pitches, not
changing their tuning slides
o On the back of the euphonium is the tuning slide.
Usually has a spit valve on it.
Adjusting Embouchure
o Close your mouth or lip until it breaks to the next
partial (bending of pitch)
o Lower mouth until it breaks to next partial
Check for alternate fingerings if you have a four valve
euphonium
Care/Maintenance:
Put case on the floor
o Latches facing up with the handle facing you
Grab the bell or outside part, do not grab from thumb ring.
Parts:
o Valves: delicate and important
Tell students to not remove without instruction
o Mouthpiece receiver: connects to lead pipe
o Bell
o Tuning slides
May put a little valve grease on end of slide
Do not turn mouthpiece all the way
o It will get stuck
o You will have to pull it
o You do not want that
Wipe the horn down when putting it away

o Grease and oil get in the hands and will corrode the
finish on the horn.
Assembly:

Place euphonium on lap

Tilt so mouthpiece comes to your mouth
Feet flat on shoulder width apart
Right hand shaped in a C on the valves

Oiling Valves Steps:

Never take more than one valve out at a time!
Loosen the valves (numbered on the outside and engraved
on the casing)
Do not turn euphonium upside down or spring will come out
On each casing, there is a notch that lines up with a slot on
the valve casing
Put a little bit of oil at the top.
Put valve back in the horn and let it sit there for a bit.
Turn the knob until it clicks.
Lightly screw down the valve.
o If you cant get valve out, bring to professional or be
gentle by moving the casing with a towel and pliers.
Moving Valve Slides
Every summer, oil the valve slides so they can keep moving
You can use Vaseline to do this
Oil Gold standard: Al Cass, Hohon Key Oil
Brand Dos and Donts:
Golden Standard for beginners:
o Yamaha
o Bach
o King
No Crappy or any other off brands

 Advanced High School: Willson

Buy FOUR Valve Euphoniums

Trombone:
Assembly:
Bell:
o
o
o
o
o

Point out the tall and short end

Have the tall end face you in right hand
Hold bell in left hand with U facing you
Screw together tightly but not too tight.
Put on slide lock!

Hand Position:
Show them one finger at a time.
Left Hand
o Thumbs Up
o Left thumb on back brace and lock
o Index finger goes up on receiver
o Three fingers on inside
Right Hand
o Peace sign and thumbs on slide.
Care and Maintenance:
Sit trombone flat in case, not on chair
Only use slide grease at the end of thick side on the slide

Tuba:

Tuning
Find the main
tuning slide
usually

with water key.

o They are different on every tuba.

o Trace the bell to the tuning slide.
o Find your fourth valve and find whats coming off of
your fourth valve.
If youre playing a C, pull out a slide.
o If it becomes flat, then thats the incorrect tuning slide.
Trial and Error
o Have students play an F and pull at different slides until
the pitch drops
Intonation:
Two things that affect intonation: Tuning slide and
Embouchure.
Most preferable: get students to using tuning slides first and
foremost.
Teach students ear training so they can start hearing pitches.
Sizing:

You want a BBb (Bb below bass clef)

CC for professionals.
Never buy a bass tuba.
- Junior High
4/4- High School

Articulation:
Different on Tuba from Euphonium TOE not TOO
o Youre going to get a closed embouchure if you tell
them Doh or Dah.
o TOE helps bring the tongue down which is essential for
tuba players.
Branding:
Gold standard Yamaha and Bach
Holton/King/Conn also work -> these have rotor valves

 Mirafone. Meinl/Meinl Weston -> Also use rotor valves

Jupiter ABSOLUTELY NOT.
o Valve guides on Jupiter are poly=neoprene or plastic
that wears down over time and the valve will spin in the
horn every time
Get a horn with a fourth valve that is easily accessible to.
ALWAYS B FLAT TUBAS.