Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • December 2014
21
Posture
Proper posture allows for efficient breathing and
eliminates body tension. To produce quality sounds
on the tuba and euphonium, players need to have
good posture habits. If you teach the students
that their posture contributes to a successful tone
production, they will take it more seriously.
When holding the euphonium or tuba, the front of
the leadpipe needs to point straight on to the player’s
face. Think of how a trombone slide is straight on
the player’s face. On the euphonium and tuba, the
leadpipe bends around the bell, but the front is straight
on the face. Instruments are made differently, so the
position of the euphonium or tuba can look differently
from brand to brand. As long as the front of the
leadpipe is straight, the student is set up correctly.
Here are some helpful posture fundamentals.
• Both feet need to be flat on the floor.
• The upper body should be in the same position as
if they are standing up straight.
• The instrument should come to them.
o For euphonium players you must monitor
whether the instrument rests on their leg, or if they
have to hold the instrument up just like they are
standing. Don’t let students hunch over to get to the
mouthpiece. You can place something on their leg to
raise the height of the instrument to meet their face.
o For tuba players you must monitor the lead
pipe height when the student is sitting down. When
they are sitting up straight, the mouthpiece may be
above or below their face and need some adjustment.
You can shift the instrument up and down their legs,
or tilt the instrument left or tight. They can also rest
instrument on the edge of the chair to hold it steady.
Hand Placement
Proper hand placement fundamentals allow for
efficient playing technique. Even though the right
hand moves the valves, both hands need to have
proper placement and technique to achieve the best
performance. Both hands should be in a natural
relaxed position. They should not feel contorted,
or in an awkward shape. There are two styles of
euphoniums and tubas though. There are instruments
with top action valves, and others front action valves.
No matter which style of instrument they have, their
right hand needs to be in a “C” shape. Make the shape
of a “C ” with the fingers and thumb, and place the
pads of their fingers on top of the valves. This will
keep the fingers from being too flat or too arched.
Also, anchor the thumb on the side of the first valve
casing. All of this will give the hand the most control
over the valves.
For top action valves specifically, the left hand goes
across the front of the instrument and grips the outer
tubing. For the euphonium, the left arm should be
able to hold up the instrument on its own. Many
euphonium and tuba beginners also like to grip the
lead pipe with their left hand, “The Gorilla Grip!”
This doesn’t allow the player to stand while playing.
It also doesn’t allow the body to be free of tension,
and tension will disturb the tone. They also need to
get in the habit of using a 4th valve on the side of the
instrument.
For front action valves, the left hand should grip
the outer tubing, with the arm behind the instrument.
This will have the least amount of bodily tension.
For tuba players, this will also get their left hand in a
position that allows them to push and pull valve slides
in the future.
What ’s Going On Back There?!
Teaching Beginning Euphonium and Tuba