Naperville Tuba Lessons
The Tuba is such a cool instrument! It is the largest and lowest of the brass instruments, and requires the player to have a huge lung capacity. If you take tuba lessons and do not have good breath support, you will very likely get frustrated and switch to another instrument. In many cases, it is a good idea to switch to the tuba from the trombone or euphonium especially if you are a younger player. Anyway, for now we will jump right in to our tuba lesson.
If you have a pinwheel at home, you should locate it and use it to do the following exercise. Take a huge breath, and hold the pinwheel at arm's length. Now make it spin as fast as possible, and blow out all the air that you inhaled. Do this a few times, and be sure to stop immediately if you feel that you may be getting lightheaded taking some time to rest even if it happens during a lesson. If you do not have a pinwheel, try and improvise using some folded paper and placing it far but not too far and doing the same exercise I outlined above. Although it is very uncomfortable to do this, it is a necessity if you want to progress in your lessons and have the right idea of airflow. Just a few minutes a day will get you used to this concept and you will have the air for a good tone as a result during your lessons.
The sheer size of the tuba can be daunting. Some people are unfortunately physically too small to take tuba lessons. However, smaller models are available for those still wishing to pursue it, and the euphonium is a close relative that is a decent alternative to the tuba. The music you can play on the tuba is truly varied. From Wagner operas to Sousaphone in your marching band, there are plenty of opportunities to show off your tuba playing talent. You will undoubtedly enjoy taking tuba lessons.
-Naperville Lessons, August 2010