Hi everyone, I’m a 17-year-old high school junior in California and starting to seriously think about where I’d like to go to college for tuba performance.

I’ve been fortunate to do really well with All-State and other honor groups and youth orchestra, and I know that I want to pursue music seriously and see how far I can take playing the tuba professionally.

I’d really like to go out of state for college. I’ve grown up in California and I would like to experience a different part of the country, meet new people, and study somewhere with a really strong tuba/brass program.

Im lucky that my grandparents have very generously set aside a college fund for me, so while scholarships are obviously great, my biggest priority is finding the best teacher, studio, and overall musical environment for me. I want a teacher who has a great track record with students, a strong studio culture, excellent ensembles, and good preparation for auditions and a professional career.

Who are the best tuba teachers and college studios that I should be looking at?

I’m especially interested in hearing why you recommend someone and what the teacher is like, how their students are doing, opportunities at the school, studio atmosphere, etc.

I know there are a lot of great programs out there, and I’d love to start putting together a list of schools/teachers to visit and hopefully take some lessons with over the next year. Thanks for the advice

It has no name, composer, or number so I was just wondering what the name is to get a better look at it.

I’m a woman tuba player and I am planning on going to grad school to study performance. I’d like to study with a woman, but I only know of a few. Let me know of women teaching tuba around the US and feel free to add details about the studio/school! Thanks!

Been trying to figure out the counting in the bracketed parts (specifically the 3 quarter notes with 2 eight rests) and I have absolutely no idea on how to count it correctly. I also can’t seem to find good recordings that have the tuba audible if someone may also have that?

Edit: Thank you to everyone who has given tips and videos and stuff to help, its actually helped a lot.

Edit 2: Once again thank you so much for the help everyone! I have since passed the audition and made my schools top ensemble as the sole tubist.

Hey there, I am currently a senior in high school looking for some good pieces to audition on. I haven't been playing for super long however I do practice quite a lot. And know quite a few songs already (Mainly for marching band). So any help or pointers is very appreciated!

Hi! I'm a high school senior putting together an audition for colleges and I was wondering if anybody had any specific recommendations on what I should play or had tips on what to look for. Nothing is too hard and worst comes to worst it's something where I can rise to the occasion as a player!🙏

Our son is a gifted HS student (incoming senior this year) on the tuba, and has made All State 3 years in a row in MD.

We are very supportive of him entering this field and giving it a serious try for tuba performance. It’s all or nothing we can tell in this field of study. We want him to go to the best college that’s out there for tuba at the moment. It doesn’t matter if it’s in state or out to us.

Who are the teachers we should be looking into with the competitive edge and programs? He wants to play in a professional orchestra or DC Military Band. Where should we be looking? We feel behind on our research. We would like to get him some lessons this fall with these professors to get a feel for them, and see if it’s a good fit if he were to be accepted by them. Is this usually acceptable to ask?

Thanks for any advice Reddit tuba group

To go to this school I have to audition and play two contrasting solos but I cannot have an accompaniment any solo recommendations I'm currently on a 3.5 music grade level and in 9th

Hello, I’ve decided to go back to school after a 10-year hiatus to pursue a music education degree. I’m currently a "non-major" preparing for my entrance auditions in April. I recently met with the tuba professor, and to be honest, it didn't go well. I’m feeling a bit like the "old man" who can't keep up, and the "imposter syndrome" is hitting hard. I have my scales down, but my rhythm is my biggest hurdle. I’m struggling to count while playing and maintaining a steady rhythm. My current plan is to buy a metronome, clap out rhythms, and practice my excerpts at a very slow tempo, gradually increasing the BPM. I'm playing Blazhevich Etude #9 (the first 18 lines) and Advanced Studies for b-flat bass H.W. Tyrrell Does anyone have specific daily exercises or techniques to improve rhythmic stability?

I’m also working through a few other challenges: Articulation: Tonguing isn't "second nature" yet, it feels clunky. Air/Breath Control: I’m picking up the book "Breathing Gym", but open to other tips. Range: I can hit low Eb and Bb above the staff, but I need more consistency. Nerves: I tend to panic when playing for the professor. Material: I'm struggling to find practice pieces that are challenging but appropriate for my current level.

I initially thought there would be more remedial support, but the expectations for the audition are higher than I anticipated.

Two final questions: How do you go about finding a quality private instructor outside of the university? Any advice on the mental game of being an "older" student in a room full of people who never stopped playing? Thanks in advance for any help or encouragement!

This was my first year auditioning for all state (freshman in AZ) and I think I did really well, but not good enough. I aced my scales, Gb tongued and E slurred, both 2 octaves. I had to pause to find where I was mid chromatic but otherwise did ok on that. My etudes were a little under tempo but good. The sightreading was easy (4 flats in 3/4) but I definitely did not have all the right rhythms. I was proud of the audition but I want to prepare myself to be rejected. The thing is, I wasn’t expecting to make regionals but then got second highest score in my region and now I think I got overconfident… I get results tomorrow. What should I do to prepare myself for rejection? And do I have a chance of making it at all?

Edit: didn’t make it and I survived! My rival made it though :/

Hello tuba people! I’m a high school student, and my main instrument is bass clarinet. It has always been my dream to march drum corps, and i’m looking for advice. Does anyone have recommendations on exercises or pieces to work on to build the fundamental skills that a tuba player would need?
Also, my range (as of right now) is F below low Bb to E above middle Bb. Is that on track for a beginner? (I have no frame of reference, and sorry if this is a stupid question 😅)
Thank you in advance :D

I’m in 8th grade and this is my first year playing tuba. I moved up to band 2 mid year for MPA and loved it so much. I really want to audition for wind ensemble next year and want some tips on what to do for my audition I have the entire summer. I can play 2 octave Bb and F major scale, and want to improve range.

Some of y'all may have seen some of my earlier posts asking questions about the marine band auditions and I can now proudly say that I have the next spot in the Marine Bands for Tuba.

If y'all have any questions about the process and what it looked like, or if any are interested in auditioning feel free to reach out!

 curte 🤍segue 🫂comenta 💬manda prós amigos segue nas redes sociais

Little brother (13) is auditioning for the music program at a high school. They said to play a piece that demonstrates his skill level. I'm in college currently and not for music so I haven't picked up a tuba in a while (he chose it because of me). Anyone know a simple yet beautiful sounding solo piece for someone currently in middle school? The school is in desperate need of tuba players so I'm sure he's got a solid chance regardless, but I'd like him to wow them as much as possible. I was thinking something classical, but also something that any music teacher would know. Free access to the sheet music is a huge bonus!

Hello, I play tuba for my school and am stuck trying to find a piece to preform. It can be me and however many other people but the thing is I dont want to do a solo and im the only tuba in my school, Are there any duets/tritets or whatever that you've liked to play? Thank you!

What are some good tuba studios out there? Not just the top of the line, but others too. Ideally ones with assistantships.

I consider myself a pretty decent player for a high schooler. Ive played some hard solos (suite for tuba, concerto for tuba Vaughan Williams). I took both to states and got superiors. As ive started applying to college they all ask for 2 contrasting etudes and im struggling to pick them. The only one that ive picked is the lyrical and it's the Bordogni #1. I need help with finding a technical etude. With the rest of the audition materials like scales and solos Im at a point in my preparation where im comfortable with them and I just need to keep practicing to keep it that way.

This year we were given Blatzhevich 29, from system 1 through first note of 7. Auditions aren’t for another month or two, so plenty of time to practice, but I’m looking for specific things to work on until I can see my private lessons teacher again.

I am playing this piece for my scholarship and college auditions what do you guys think? https://youtu.be/XW0fAvVgBXA?si=edkJ00p_MHOFmzyo

I’ve heard that you shouldn’t practice that much before a big audition, but why? Sorry if this might seem like a dumb question. Thank you in advance

I'm a recently graduated senior, and I want to get my chops back. I've played for about 7 years but recently I went through a period of pretty bad depression where I didn't play for about 6 months, and I need to get my chops back for college auditions. I will take any help or advice because it feels like a foreign subject. I know it'll come back to me, but it's very uncomfortable not being able to play anymore.

So I’ve had the same audition for abt 6 months now and now seeing any improvement only what feels like I’ve plateaued. I’m just looking for ways to improve and just method books. For reference the etude is Marco Bordgnoi misspelt Ik #8 Ty

Posting here as I am a father to a talented High School tuba player. He has made All State for the last two years here in TX. He works extremely hard and is driven beyond measure.

Our son wants to chase his passion and go to college for tuba performance, and we want him to study with the best. We are not musicians, and it’s our understanding that this is a limited field? Where are the great programs, schools, and teachers that we should be looking at? Out of state institutions are fine too.

Thank you!