another thing regarding performance optics

[bloke]

I've become sensitive to some players (including some players of renown) hovering over their music stands (and bending forward into their stands) rather than playing to the audience or to the camera.

I'm going to start paying more attention to myself, in the event that I'm just as guilty of it as anyone.

It isn't attractive.

bloke "In my belief, at least 90% of the motivation for attending live performances is visually-related."

[Casca Grossa]

Practice more emoting with the cimbasso

[bloke]

Yeah exactly
... but I'm being exposed to videos of people who seem to be playing to and entertaining their music stands.

[bort2.0]

Back row stuff, but related...

About 20 years ago, when our band took a trip to Austria, a few of us had our music lost when we were traveling ("everyone must out your folder in one of the band's crates to prevent loss..." ). It was found quickly, but had to take a separate flight from Paris to Innsbruck.

Anyway, we had a rehearsal the next morning, and I had no music. I played the whole rehearsal without any music, and nailed it all.

After the rehearsal, the director (a 50-year professional orchestra clarinet player)...

Him: wait I thought you didn't have your music?
Me: that's right
Him: but you played the whole thing!
Me: We've been playing this music for months. What's left for me to look at on the page?
Him: [shocked, and uncharacteristically paused for about 3 seconds] we need to talk... Don't let this be the best group you ever play with

My point is exactly that... If you're well prepared, then what could you possibly need that's on that sheet of paper? It's not about memorizing, it's about playing the music and not reading the music.

[Tubeast]

There is another aspect to not being glued to the page:
Better interaction with other musicians to create music.

I remember being the only tubist along with a very musical drummer in youth band (Yeah I know, sounds funny, but I´m not making this up).
We used to play lots of Potpourris back then, so it was an ever repeating series of

- Band plays about 20 seconds of well-known song X
- Tuba and drums and MAYBE few others establish transition in tempo, harmonics and mood to next song Y
- repeat

For those transitions, I used to take the eyes off the conductor to face the drummer in order to team up and drive the bus home together.
The fun part was when one time we decided to slow down instead of speed up, as a prank, which taught me two related aspects of wind banding:

Conductor, drummer and tubist form a magic triangle to control the band.
Any two of these three can seize power over the whole thing, if they synchronize their actions. Everybody else will have to follow.

[bloke]

@Tubeast

When I was attending a university, a friend and I - who attended school together since we were both about 12 years old, had both been principals in the state's high school All State band - as had every tuba player in my high school when they were a senior - were the only two tubas in the university's wind ensemble. I guess the director put two in there just in case one of us would be sick, quit school, or something like that, as wind ensembles usually just have one tuba.

We almost always completely behaved ourselves, but one afternoon we decided to pull a stunt, as every single rehearsal begin with playing through about two pages of a warm-up book called "T.I.P.P.S. For Band", as each couple of pages concentrated on playing in one particular key signature.

The first exercise of each section involved building octaves in the scales. Let's just say it was a concert C scale, so the tubas would of course begin the exercise by first playing a C, the low brass and low woodwinds would next play a concert C, the alto voice instruments would play a concert C, and then finally the soprano instruments would play a concert C. With subtle hand signals, the two of us would decide to play particular pitches (perfectly in tune with each other) in that scale sharp, flat, or in tune to screw up the band. When a particular pitch was so sharp or so flat that the soprano instruments couldn't adjust, the band director would stop, scream at them, and tell them to "LISTEN TO THE TUBAS!!!"

[bone-a-phone]

As long as we're not on this topic, I thought it might be the perfect time to bring up one of my tuba pet peeves. Ok, another of my tuba pet peeves. Licking the mouthpiece. Ewww. At least take the thing out and wipe on your pants or something. Don't lick it. Especially when caught on video. Especially if you have a reputation to protect.

slurp.jpg (6.12 KiB) Viewed 271 times

If you want to see this in action... this is no judgment on the player, just the easiest example I could find.

[bloke]

yeah...

I might suggest that you (maybe asap) take down the targeting link @bone-a-phone and only speak in general terms (as I also had some other particular folks in my mind)...(??) but yeah: I don't care to see anyone do that.

If I ever feel the need to clean a rim, I grab a tissue (actually, I keep a paper towel - ie. more durable) out of my pocket.

Some people play with a "wet" mouthpiece. I bypass any need for that (shameless promotion) with my #2 rim profile - which (if need be) can be "slide-y".

Finally, google (if trustworthy...??) tells me (you peaked my curiosity) that bacteria commonly found in the mouth can cause (same person) skin infections.