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Went to my first rehearsal as a baritone ish player tonight..... missed the last 2 rehearsals because we've had a lot going on the last 3 weeks, two surgeries (different family members) and a cold virus going through everybody in the house... while I did go over the tunes and work on sections that looked troublesome a little bit when I wasn't snotting and coughing all over. It definitely was not enough. But, I wasn't completely awful. What I found most challenging is that I'm filling a different voice in the group listening to and countering my home base. It's strange. There are 3 weeks and 2 rehearsals before our concert.... there are a few spots I'm just not going to play, I cant hit much above Eb over the staff. So I'll be hammering a handful of sections and that will be it. It was also really challenging to manage the intonation of this horn as this is my first go with it in an ensamble and my chops being tuba oriented.

All that being said, I had fun. It is really challenging and I'm glad to be doing it.

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2024 7:27 pm there are a few spots I'm just not going to play, I cant hit much above Eb over the staff. So I'll be hammering a handful of sections and that will be it.

All that being said, I had fun. It is really challenging and I'm glad to be doing it.

For the low brass choir I play euphonium in, the arranger keeps 2nd euph to G. First parts reliably go up to C or sometimes D. I play second.

I found two excerpts really helpful for working on range. First was the baritone solo from Brisk Young Sailor which has a lip slur up to the Eb. Then when I was really comfortable with that I pulled out the March from Holst's 2nd Suite which has the euphonium solo that goes up to the G. I remember playing solo Euph on the Holst 30 years ago in high school and those Gs seemed so easy during practice but were terrifying during the concert!

The G seemed to be a transition note. Once I was able to reliably hit that G getting up to the Bb was a piece of cake. For the longest time my F was strong but that G was a bear.

I agree it is a ton of fun, keep at it!

I have now spent more money on mouthpieces than I did on this baritone. But, I found one that really works well. Thank you to Martin man for the two very nice pieces. The king m21 is a hit. My son also picked it out of the group as the best combo. Now I'm enjoying this so much, im thinking I would like to get my hands on a flugabone. I think they're pretty cool. I'm not a fan of playing trombone. It's just not my bag, baby. I had one for a long time and sold it cheap to a local school for thier beginner band kids. The flugabone seems like a better fit for me. A tromboneish sound in a more compact package. Not a marching euph, too bulky. I think. Anyways. I'm just rambling now, sorry.

I keep looking for a flugabone. I want one .... but not $500+ want one.. and that seems to be the going rate.

Grumpikins wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2024 7:27 pm ... What I found most challenging is that I'm filling a different voice in the group listening to and countering my home base. It's strange. ...

I'm playing trombone this cycle, and I love getting to play inside the chords rather than (almost) always under them. It's fresh and fun. And that's just a bonus, since the trombone parts on the John Williams charts just generally more fun than the tuba parts.