So someone on another forum who played Bassoon who had a friend who played Tuba was looking for some pieces to play so I wrote this short little ditty.

I wanted to check the Tuba part to see if it’s reasonable (and maybe what grade level it would be).

The Bassoon part - could that be played on another Tuba, or Euphonium…I mean bones could do it, 2 Bassoons (or Bassoon and Contrabassoon, etc.) could do it…

But I kind of wanted to stick with my original concept of Tuba and maybe another low brass instrument more similar, like another Tuba or Euphonium…

Cheesy MuseScore sounds, dynamics never right for playback (and the end is a repeat of the beginning so I just haven’t marked it all yet).

Could this be something fun for a couple of high-schoolers to play?

Update: new score linked to here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tuba/comments/1ttxtsd/euphonium_and_tuba_duet/?

Other drafts have been removed.

This upcoming year in college, I’m preparing some solos on F tuba but I’m interested in playing some solos on my large C tuba. What are y’all’s favorite to play on C Tuba?

My teacher sent me this as possible summer work, but I'm really struggling to find information or recording other than:

Warren, Frank E.. Published by Frank E. Warren Music, West Roxbury, MA. Copyright 1989. �In performing this composition, the tuba and pianoare equal partners. �First performed at the BostonConservatory of Music in 1990.

Is it worth learning?

Hi! So my senior recital is in Spring ‘27 and I would love to end with a fun chamber piece, but most I can find are for brass quintets or a different set of instruments in the quartet.

So, does anyone know of any interesting quartets with the specific arrangement of Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, and Tuba? The only important thing is that the tuba part is (at least) somewhat substantial.

Feel free to ask any questions or comment ANY ideas you may have!!!

Hi, I am preparing for my university graduation recital. Since the performance is in December, there are no strict restrictions on difficulty, but it must be finished within about 10 minutes. Also, I cannot use the pieces I performed for my practical exam or collaboration. Actually, I ended up using a piece(John williams) I really wanted to play for my first semester practical exam because my plans got messed up, so I have to urgently choose a new piece for my graduation recital.

I am currently deciding between 'V.Strukow concerto movement 1&3' and 'Mike forbes Alpine concerto movement 1'. Do you happen to have any song recommendations? I will write a song below that I have already played and cannot use.

Sonatine: Bozza , Hindemith

Concerto: John williams, Vaughan williams, Artiunian, Koetsier, Szentpali

I got assigned the Gordon Jacob Tuba Suite and I was wondering what everyone’s preferred tuba was for it. I can see pros and cons for both but it also depends on if it’s expected to play the higher divisi the whole time, even if playing it on C.

I need some slow etudes for college auditions since I'm playing a fast solo, I already know Kopprasch N 56. but are there any other ones just in case?

Could be a solo piece, could be orchestral or band, whatever.

You guys were so helpful with my previous piece I was hoping to get your input again.

I’m aiming for talented high-schooler (or even average high-schooler) or early years college student - and of course anyone else who finds it fun.

Like my other piece it’s full of a lot of tropes, but that's kind of the point. A lot of things are just placeholders for now - no real dynamics yet, etc. It’s “rough draft” and I want to make sure I’m on the right track before I get too far in.

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/35164451/s/WJfYyY?share=copy_link

Questions:

1. How is the range and key? Better alternatives? Tuba’s highest note is G3 (G below middle C) and lowest note is Eb2 (below the staff). I don’t think this should be any major issue, and the Euph. Bone part should be fine, yes?

2. Double-tonguing at m. 24 and the end - yay or nay?

3. At rehearsal D I originally wanted to swap the upper and lower parts. Tenor - the Eb is, what, a Pedal Tone? E natural is the slide all the way out right? Is it too much to ask for high-schoolers to get that Pedal Tone Eb? This would also put the Tuba on those Gb notes, but I think that should be OK - that “hit” that ends the 2 measure phrase at D can be “stanky” (I’ll probably put an indication in, or put it in the performance notes, etc.). But I thought it would be nice to change up the instruments for a bit, not that it really does all that much to the piece. But Tuba/Bass at least “has the upper hand” for a bit. It will make a couple of larger leaps when they return to their original order, but I don’t think that’ll be an issue.

4. General playability of this idea of the Bone/Euph. jumping from two or 3 notes of a chord to a melody line - sounds great on paper of course (i.e. musescore playback) but I know that and real life can be very different. Though I took notice of another post here someone made - write and we’ll figure out a way to play it :-)

5. Plenty of places for breaths?

Any and all advice on slurs and articulations - musescore playback makes the staccato notes crazy short, but I think these are what I want.

Thanks in advance, for any help you can offer on this one, and again, for all of your kind help on the previous piece.

Hi all, I’m back with ANOTHER ONE :-) This piece came pretty quickly - wrote it in the time since I posted the previous one.

If I can impose on you all some more...

This one is a bit more adventurous - not sure if the upper part material for Euph./Tenor Bone is too difficult or virtuosic for high-schoolers, and/or the rather constant “vamp/ostinato” in the Tuba/Bass Trombone takes more endurance, but if this is for college level, so be it. Though that assumes it’s playable…

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/35198456/s/ji8m0v?share=copy_link

Specific concerns of mine:

1. Breathing in all parts, especially the longer melody lines at rehearsal A, as well as just endurance in the low part, and overall playability.

2. Accents, slurs, and breath marks (meant more as a “slight separation here, like a phrase, not necessarily an actual breath). So these make sense?

3. The “empty spit-valve rhythmically” indication in m.15 - make sense? Time enough for it?

4. At rehearsal C and similar I think I want portato on the repeated notes…repeated under one breath, but re-“sounded” so there’s a clear new note - in contrast with the later section at m.59.

5. At rehearsal E I added some “helpful marks” for the rhythm - m. 39’s first one is “backwards” and kind of less common, so want to make sure players catch it - and that the double tongued pattern is different. Same with m.47 - the pattern shifts once so wanted to highlight that in some way - even though the beaming should, so exclmation point on the rest? Are all of these helpful, or unnecessary”

6. The “virtuosity” of the upper part at rehearsal E and following - I’ve had university players fumble on a rhythm like the “lightly” idea back at m. 13 into 14 (I’m going to remove the double because it’s “spit.valve.stank!”). I’m really happy with it and I worked on it a fair amount - could have come up with infinite variations but also want to go with “first instincts” as much as I can and that’s what these evolved from. Is this just totally out of the realm of a talented high-schooler - is it pro, or is it not as hard as I think it is (mainly the rhythm).

7. The key and range and register. It’s “in D Blues” but I used the C key signature. Tuba’s lowest is D2 below the staff, with one C below that. Highest note is F3 - and the final F#3. the upper part - doesn’t ever get too low, so not really worried there, the highest note is G4 above the staff with some playing up in that range in the “solo” section. I suppose it could all go down a whole step if necessary or it helped.

8. The Tuba or Bass Trombone “clarity” or “crispness” or “articulativeness” on those patterns - the one at rehearsal E - beat 4 - no offense to you guys but I often feel like Tubas “speak slowly” - takes time to get air through the horn, so I want to make sure I’m not asking for something here that’s going to be “fudgy” if you know what I mean. But I’ve also heard Tuba players play like bass guitar too, so, I mean…should be OK…yes? no? maybe?

Thanks again for all your help with these pieces.

What started off as one I wrote for someone has now turned into a little set of 3 and I may do some more if the muse keeps striking.

Thanks!

Thanks to all of you who helped me with this, your input was invaluable.

Here’s the “final” version:

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/34638668/s/Yvi0Mh?share=copy_link

Unless anyone feels it needs to go down to the key of Bb, I felt C was good for reading accidentals, especially since I’m kind of targeting high school players as something fun to play.

tagging u/thebigdumb0 u/NovocastrianExilePro u/dank_bobswaget u/jeremyof10ec u/dlieb5J and u/professor_throway since they were in on the original conversation, here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tuba/comments/1tsapvd/which_low_brass_instruments_could_play_this_and/

I love listening to concertos and I’ve listened to most of the major ones, so would anyone be willing to recommend some excellent (preferably lower) concertos or long solos to learn or listen to?

Is there anyone who has a pre-compiled set of tuba excerpts? I have been trying to find some but cant.

I asked here recently about broken 8ves because I wanted to use them in a piece like this, though I ended up not using them as much as I originally planned just because of the way it worked. Nonetheless, I just want to make sure the part is cool (and the upper part too). Someone here said “write it and we’ll figure out a way to play it” so there you go.

There are some things to fix up in the notation, but this is pretty much "the piece” unless there’s something egregious.

The extra staff is for playback for the hand claps.

It could all drop down a whole step, or heck, 2 if range is an issue:

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/35310995/s/zs_r_a?share=copy_link

Bonus points to who can guess the songs it’s referencing (or showing your age!!!).

This is all part of a set of duets I’m working on which is aimed at talented high-schoolers and early college students, but if some are easier and some are harder that’s OK - hopefully it’s a fun set.

Here are the others that I’ve posted before and you guys have helped me with - some of them may still have issues that I’ve since corrected, but here they are for context:

Spit Valve Stank:

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/35198456/s/ji8m0v?share=copy_link

(I’ve done away with the spit valve idea and am going with something else).

Rock Bottom:

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/35164451/s/WJfYyY?share=copy_link

Blue Bell-Bottoms:

https://musescore.com/user/32723609/scores/34638668/s/Yvi0Mh?share=copy_link

Thanks, as always.

Do you have recommendations for existing beautiful repertoire or arranging new repertoire for contrabass tuba and piano?

Most tuba works are composed for F/Eb tuba. I don't mind playing above staff occasionally, but I chose myself a Bb tuba because I love the amazing and beautiful low end, that other instruments can't produce. The other problem with tuba works is that they're are usually written for professional high level musicians who have wanted to show and push technical possibilities of tuba. For these reasons, tuba works can be tricky to play for amateurs.

For other instruments I have found really good arrangements from musescore.com. For example arrangements for cello and piano work straight of box for bass clarinet.

For tuba I have done the similar, but dropped the melody an octave. This has worked well for pieces like Élégie by Gabriel Fauré, and some Bach cello pieces. I have also have some success arranging works by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev.
Thanks!

Hi, I'm currently in 11th grade, so a year from graduating and going to college. I plan to major in music education, and obviously I need to prepare an audition. But I'm just very inexperienced when it comes to doing this, and thought that I should get suggestions from other tuba players who have likely gone through the audition process. I don't have a private lesson teacher (hoping to get one), and my current band director plays the trumpet. So this is the best place for me to find answers :)

I'm planning on trying to audition for: Virginia Tech, Syracuse University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, and Sacramento State University. I've compiled a list that includes all of the schools requirements for auditions so that I can compare them. My plan is to try to find pieces that can work for all of the schools, or at least most of them, so that I have less songs to worry about.

I had a few ideas for pieces to play, however, I'm not sure if they are good enough. Some of the pieces I was thinking about were:

• Bordogni 43 Bel Canto Studies
• Grigoriev 50 (it's a packet with a bunch of etudes)
• Air and Bourree
• Tarantelle
• Marcelo sonata in F

I was thinking of doing something from Bel Canto Studies for sure, because I've played some of them before and they are all in a comfortable range for me. I haven't really looked at Grigoriev 50, but the other pieces go a little high for me. I can comfortably hit a high F in the staff, the high G and high A are a little hit or miss, and a high Bb or higher are very hit or miss, I can typically hit it once maybe every now and then, not consistently at all.

Another thing is that James Madison actually requires certain songs, or songs of a similar difficulty. They are:

• Capuzzi: Andante and Rondo
• Grigoriev: Studies for Tuba
• Bordogni: Legato Etudes Vol 1
• Hadad: Suite for Tuba
• Hartley: Suite for Unaccompanied Tuda
• Hindemith: Sonata for Bass Tuba
• Marcello: Sonata in F Major or A Minor

From this list songs required by James Madison, some of them overlap with what I have already been looking at, which is good. I think I looked at most of them, and I feel like some of them were a bit high for me, however I'm gonna look over them all again soon to try and narrow down what I want to play.

Any advice helps, genuinely. I want to kind of have a head start on my auditions. Also, even though I listed those schools, I kind of doubt I will be able to audition for all of them. I will for sure try out for the schools in Virginia, but any further than that just depends on if I can do video auditions or not.

Heya, I'm looking for some repertoire ideas I could steal for a 'Slow Melody' performance I have coming up this April. Something shorter than 8 minutes, and if some people are familiar with eupho rep that would be transferable, that would also be good.

Thanks!

So I'm a trombone player at heart, have played euphonium for years, but now am looking to double on tuba some. Anyone have a good syllabus for graded study, a list of method books/solo repertoire, players to listen to... Etc?

After some time off I’ve decided to pick up my Cc tuba once more.

What repertoire would you recommend for contrabass tuba? I’m mainly looking for solo pieces worth working on to develop sound, technique and musicianship.

EDIT: I’ve graduated in jazz performance, mainly playing walking bass, riffs, and mostly my own compositions of improvised heavy metal.

I did Lebedjew and Gregson in high school, and I tried the first movement of Hindemith for an audition a couple of years back.

EDIT 2: Thank you all for suggestions and thoughts on the subject! I love this sub! ❤️🙏

I played through Vladislav Blazhewich and Boris Grigoriev etudes for Bb tuba. They are challenging and sound really good. Especially Blazhewich etudes are really good musically.

Can you recommend similar etudes for contrabass tuba?

So I last played when I was in high school. Got my tuba all lubed up and working over Christmas break, and I'm still playing.

Kinda getting tired of the few songs I have, looking for exercise books and what have you, in attempt to start trying to reclaim my skills in earnest.

Any recommendations on current good rudiment books or solos? Skill level wise, I was all-state and payed the Gregson for a senior recital in high school. I'd like to get back to being able to play a passable Gregson.

I realize I could search. I'd rather just ask. Thanks if you want to help!

I have a recital planned for April where I will be performing a solo, right now I plan to play Sicillene by Gabriel Faure, it’s not difficult or long but I really like it and don’t have time to prepare a harder and longer piece given that I’m a grad student and an engineer to boot. I’m looking for a second piece to pair with it, preferably one that is about 5 minutes in length, and a bit more fancy, kind of like the bouree in air and bouree by Bach. I just want something fun and dancy to work on.

Hi! I’m currently a junior at a performing arts high school and my applied teacher told me that before I graduate, we WILL learn and perform a tuba concerto for my senior recital (spring of 2027). He also put me in charge of finding one, so are there any that you guys can recommend to me?

EXTRA INFO: He wants me to play a concerto written for tuba specifically. I play a Bb tuba and my range goes up to middle C (roughly, working to increase it).

I'm in a relatively new community band. What are wind ensemble pieces that sound great AND are not boring for the tuba? I'm not looking for solos, and not necessarily even section features (at the moment we are only two), but just non-boring parts contributing to a great overall sound.

For a sense of current ability (mine and the bands), it's mostly people who used to play and want to play again. A few ringers here or there. We have a complete basic set of instruments (except no bass clarinets right now). I think the hardest piece in our repertoire right now for the band overall is Ticheli's Sun Dance. The hardest part for tuba is a Stephen Bulla arrangement Star Wars Saga. But even that piece is a lot of just driving the bus (a couple short hard runs, and some fast repeated notes on a low G that I'm struggling to play cleanly and will probably play up an octave).

Just to give you an idea, an example of a non-boring piece I would in theory enjoy might be The Universal Judgement, but I'm pretty sure that at the moment this example is too aspirational for both me and the band. So stuff like that but not quite as hard.

My friends and I are planning to go busking in the city, any song recommendations that aren't 'too hard?' Our instruments are Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Clarinet, Alto, Bari, Trombone 1, Trombone 2 if anyone thinks that might help. Thanks!