Beginner
Course Description
Gavin Saynor is your course tutor as you start your voyage of discovery on the Tuba. Gavin has held workshops and lessons around the world, so you are in good hands. Our beginners’ course is designed to give you all the essential tools needed to enjoy playing the Tuba – whether for purely personal pleasure or as part of a band. Starting with how to stand and breathe, to producing your first notes, playing scales, different notes and simple pieces, this ten-video course is designed to give you the very best start to enjoying playing the Tuba. You don’t have to have played a brass instrument before, or any instrument, as Gavin guides you through reading music and understanding time signatures.
By the end of the course, you will be able to play simple pieces and understand and develop a range of techniques.
The lessons are both instructive and fun, and we’re sure that when you have completed them, they will lead you on to further adventures with your chosen instrument.
Posture and sound making
We look at what is meant by good posture/instrument hold and how this affects sound. Also consider the importance of the “rule” of three (air, tongue, buzz) in making a sound.
20 minutes
Purchase LessonHow to change notes
Recap from previous lesson. Achieve and hear the difference between C, D, E, F, and G. Develop understanding of how lips and valves change notes. Stress the importance of playing in time.
20 minutes
Purchase LessonUnderstanding time and note lengths
Explain how the beat and correct note lengths help us play in time. Achieve fun through composing over a given rhythm pattern. Learn 4/4 time signature.
20 minutes
Purchase LessonReading music
Reading the notes CDEFG more consistently. Discuss the staff and treble clef. Playing music using a 2/4 time signature.
20:00
Purchase LessonA new note and melodies
Introduce the A note. Introduce the slur and how to control this technique. Play melodies using different articulations
20:00
Purchase LessonPhrasing and breathing
We discuss phrasing and how to use the breathe more effectively. Introduce the B note.
20:00
Purchase LessonPlaying by ear
We play a well-known melody without any music, by using our ears and the notes we have learnt. We use different note lengths to alter the melody. We play F#.
20:00
Purchase LessonThe C Major Scale
Introduce the octave C, and play the C major scale. Use the scale to work on tongue and valve coordination.
20:00
Purchase LessonIntroducing Arpeggios
We discuss the structure of the arpeggios and use the arpeggio to help the lips and “muscle memory”.
20:00
Purchase LessonA musical round up
In this lesson we recap what we have learnt during the course and how the different aspects of playing come together. Play different music to show learning.
20:00
Purchase Lesson