Why I hate the 24AW tuba mouthpiece

Over the years, I have had more than a few conversations about the 24AW mouthpiece. Maker (brand) doesn’t matter; Bach, Faxx, Blessing, Jupiter, who EVER. This is the WORST tuba mouthpiece. Under NO circumstances should anyone ever play on this thing. A little history first:

 

In the Vincent Bach catalog, originally printed in the 1950s (I think) listed their 24AW mouthpiece as “a good beginner mouthpiece.” So all the mouthpiece makers saw this and decided to make one of their own (cheaper, too!). WRONGO!  Here’s why:

 

1 – The rim inner diameter: is WAY too small for any application. This would be good for a bass tuba or a solo mouthpiece IF:

 

2 – The cup is WAY too deep. To make up for the constricted sound that is accomplished by the small inner rim diameter, they designed the cup depth to compensate for this being a too small mouthpiece.

 

3 – The rim is too wide. Wide cushioned rims, while may be comfortable for playing, they inhibit lip flexibility. All well designed mouthpieces are a balance between a wide rim and a narrow rim. As a ‘beginner’ mouthpiece, (assuming for a smaller person or a child) they fill up their whole face!! Too wide. And lastly:

 

4 – The throat is HUGE! Again, to make up for the narrow diameter, to get the air through the darned thing, they make the throat too big. Check it out, you can drop a pencil through it! For a beginner, it sucks the wind right out of them.

 

4 strikes – YER OUT!!!

 

Anyone who comes to my place for lesson with one of these, I confiscate and they get to choose one out of my collection (with a recommendation, of course).

 

Feel free to disagree in comments below.

So, What do YOU listen to?

Recently, I was having a conversation with an adult student of mine. Eventually, the discussion came around to listening to music for entertainment &/or enjoyment. The student assumed that I listened to the classics: Mozart, Mahler, Milhaud. He was surprised when I told him I never listen to classical for entertainment. Because when I am at work, I am surrounded by the wonderful classics to which I am exposed on a weekly basis, when I sit down to listen, my tastes go elsewhere. So, what kind of music DO I listen to? I went to my phone, and opening the music app, I hit “Recently Played.” Here’s what I found:

Smashing Pumpkins: Rotten Apples. Coming late to the party, I really love the Pumpkins.

Blood, Sweat & Tears: Live and Improvised. Dave Bargeron’s tuba solo on “One Room Country Shack,” is tuba history.

Taj Mahal: The Real Thing. With 4 tubas on this album, is it any wonder?

Dave Brubeck: Take 5. With the huge Jazz deficiency in my music education, it is a small wonder I am ALWAYS fascinated by the DB Quartet.

Billboard’s Greatest Hits of the 1960s. I am drawn to music from 1965-1972. No question, this is MY music! Sirius Channel 73, too!

Chase: Ennea. The greatest trumpeters EVER!

Iron Butterfly: Inna-gadda-da-vida. Ron Bushy is my hero, but I love the B side, too!

Cream: Wheels of Fire. One word – CLAPTON. And who DOESN’T love 16'16" of Ginger Baker’s best?

Led Zepplin III – Need I say more?

Bobo: Gravity is Light today. I NEVER tire of Yellow Bird.

Jim Self: Tricky Lix. Ya gotta ask?

Classical indulgences:

Anthony Newman & Friends: The Brandenburg Concertos. Take a listen.

LA Phil, Mehta: The Planets. Know why? Saturn.

Tomita: Pictures at an Exhibition

Wendy (Walter) Carlos: The Well-tempered Synthesizer

Pat Sheridan: Lollipops. Ya gotta ask?

Enjoy!!

As always, comments are welcome and encouraged.

Advice for buying and selling tubas (and other brass instruments)

Friends,

I have been buying and selling tubas for over 40 years. Here are some tips for you to get the most for your instrument, and to make it more marketable:

1 - Clean the darned thing! Once, I bought a tuba that smelled SO bad, I threw it in my pool and let it sit there for an hour. I still had to have it cleaned. Please, a good sonic cleaning will do your sale a WORLD of good!
2 - Get the dents taken out. A dented up tuba means you have not taken very good care of your instrument. I wouldn't even CONSIDER tuba that is dented up for my playing needs; unless I was planning on making it into a fountain, or flower pot.
3 - Get the valves ported. You cannot IMAGINE the difference this makes in it's playability. I have played many tubas that played badly, UNTIL I ported the valves.
4 - If you are not going to do a THOROUGH cleaning (see #1 above), at LEAST clean out the lead pipe and all the valve and tuning slides. PLEASE.
5 - If you are including a case (which does not increase the instrument's value, really), please make sure it is clean, inside and out. If your pet has made its home (nest) in it, just burn the sucker, and don't bother trying to pass it along.
6 - Including a mouthpiece does not really make the instrument more desirable; we all have our favorite mouthpiece. If you DO include a mouthpiece, for gosh sake, clean it out! NO ONE wants to see a year's worth of lunches in the throat. And round the shank, too.
7 - Be willing to negotiate, and take trades. This will make your instrument more desirable. We all love our tubas. Many times we (and I include myself here), over value what our tuba is worth. Buyers might not think as highly of that particular instrument. And as far as trades, who knows, the trade-in might really suit your needs. OR you might be able to sell it (the trade) for more than you took in trade (think of an automobile trade-in).
8 - Be willing to travel. I met a guy in Colorado once to get a tuba; he was from Ohio. We met 1/2 way.

My 2¢ worth; I hope this helps.

As always, your comments are welcome and encouraged.

Want to get better? Do this ....

Over my 41+ years of teaching in San Jose, I have been asked many many times, "What can I do to get better?" Well, here is my simple answer. I call it my 

Daily Routine for Sustained Improvement

 

1 – Long Tone Routine

2 – Lip Slur Routine

3 – 3- (or 5-) note patterns

4 – Scales

      Major 3 octaves

      Minor (2 octaves)

            Relative

            Harmonic

            Melodic

5 – Legato study (i.e. Bordogni, Rochut, anything legato)

            Normal tuba register

            Octave lower

6 – Kopprasch 

7 – Tyrell

8 – Blazevich

9 – Music for auditions

            Solos

            Excerpts

Try it, IT WORKS!

Enjoy!

Train Blog, December 21, 2021

Aboard the California Zephyr, Train #6

As you all know, I LOVE train travel. If I hit the lotto, I am going to buy a personal train car and live on the train. Some people retire, and live aboard a cruise ship; not me. It’s on the train, Brother. In these new normal times, things aboard are bit different. Not only is everyone masked, but train service is different than it was. The whole crew seems to be on edge. There is no real feeling that they WANT you to have an enjoyable journey. I felt like I was putting the crew out get salad dressing, or my bed made up. They seemed to have trouble getting me a DIET Coke. Staying in the “H” room (look it up), I hit the attendant call button, and the guy NEVER showed up. Lunch is first come, first served. By the time I made my way to the dining car, there was 28 people ahead of me; I ate at 1:20. The next day, I showed up at the appointed hour (noon), and rudely was told to wait outside. When I sat in an empty bedroom waiting for the diner to open, the conductor chewed me out. Normally, for dinner, they come by your room to get your reservation; the person who did that never showed up. I had to ask my car attendant (Chris, I always get their name) to bring me my dinner. One of the things I love about train travel is meeting people over a leisurely dinner. I missed out on that.

The last trip I took (March 2021), all of the food, while tasty, was pre-packaged and microwaved. It was nice to see they had chefs on board and they are cooking meals fresh again. BACK on the menu is the perennial “crappy side salad.” Even though I have changed my eating regime, the portions are small; I’ll have to bring snacks next time. One odd thing: the menu had no prices on it. When I asked, I was told, “Only sleeping car passengers eat in the dining car.” I guess, since meals are included, no prices are needed. However, if you are in coach, your only meal choice is to get something (microwaved) from the café car. Imagine vending machine food, or food you can get in a gas station freezer; prepackaged chips, cookies, baked goods and the like. You get the idea.

Once more, I was glad I had my toolkit aboard. The door on my room was one of those heavy metal sliding things. When the train took a left hand turn, the door slid closed, and SLAMMED on the door jamb; right turn, it slammed open. Thank God for 3M duct tape. While I could not really get my room temperature right, I did NOT (for a change) have to duct tape over the air vents. In fact, at one point in time, I had to remove one of my shirts as it got too hot in my room.

They are really serious about the masking (thankfully), and get right on you if you are unmasked. Last night, a woman was PUT OFF THE TRAIN because she refused to wear a mask. Good for Amtrak!

While I really love train travel, this trip was not so good. Hopefully, the next one will be better.

A story to tell ...

 ... so, years ago (in a galaxy far, far .... nononono), as a student at Cal State Northridge, there came a time when I needed a bass trombone. Most guys were playing Conn 62Hs, or Holton 180s or Bach 50Bs. It was well know that Larry Minick was making GREAT trombones. He put the valves in line, hand hammered the bells and made incredible slides. So I went to his shop to ask (PLEAD) with him to make me a trombone. As he was the master, and extremely busy, he agreed to put me on his (THEE) list. Then came the news of the cost. Now bear in mind, this was the late 1970's and I was making 2 bucks ($2) an hour in the music store. The cost: $1,200 (plus $72 sales tax); do the math (1,272÷2). 612 hrs to pay for this horn. I was freelancing some at the time (35 buck church gigs) and more money than this came in, but it was GOING to be hard. So, I gave him a $500 down payment (after finagling a couple tuba sales). I figured I had time. I saved my money as I could and awaited the arrival of my custom built Minick version of the Conn 62H; gold brass bell, 2 valves in-line as was all the rage. Tuning in the bell. I wondered about that, but no one EVER questioned Larry's designs. Bach and Holton were making bass trombones with 10" bells at the time (maybe they still do?). He once made a 71H with a 12" bell (yes, TWELVE inches). Apparently, he cut the bell off a Conn french horn and crazy glued it (not really) onto a bass trombone. I walked into the shop and asked, "What the heck is that?" Simply, he said, "If bigger is better, mine's the best." I hear JJ Johnson ended up with that horn, but who knows? He once took a 72H and grafted a THIRD valve onto it, in line! It looked cool as hell, but weighed almost as much as my Mirafone 180-5U F tuba! Anyway, the day came and a phone call from Larry, "Clements? Horn's Done." CLICK. (Typical call from Larry). YIKES! I still owed him about $600 and I didn't have the scratch. Sheepishly, I went to his shop with about $37. I said, "Larry, this is all I got." If you need to sell the horn to someone else, go ahead, I understand. I'll get the next one." He said, "Take it and pay me when you can. And if you EVER tell anyone, I'll kick your ass, and take the horn back." I was shocked. I knew under that gruff exterior beat a heart of gold, but *I* never saw it. Here it was. I sent him $5, $17, whatever I had after paying my bills and ONE DAY, I paid it off. IN FULL. I jumped for joy when I got his invoice labelled "PAID IN FULL" in big red letters.

Jump ahead a few years. I was playing SJ Symphony and freelancing all over the bay area and doing some soloing with college bands.  I had a wonderful bright young student who was studying bass trombone with me. There came a time where HE needed an instrument. Remembering the kindness Minick showed me, I sold this trombone to the student for exactly what I paid for it $1,200. He went on to have a terrific career and is a well known personality in the Los Angeles Area. If he lets me, I'll tell his name later.

So, why am I telling you this now? I got asked to play "The Nutcracker" this week (12/9-12), bass trombone. I sold my Shires years ago and got a King Duo Gravis just in CASE I had to play bass bone somewhere. This is NOT a symphonic trombone. In my efforts to find an appropriate instrument, I called around. I got two instruments delivered today, one was a trial and was expected. I had NO idea what the second box could be. Upon opening the box, there was an OLD Conn trombone case. What do you supposed was in the case? Yep. The Minick. 

I wept.

Baseball Blog.

 Why I’m not watching Baseball Anymore.

I have been a lifelong baseball fan. My dad took me to my first MLB game at the Polo Grounds. The Mets played there and my favorite player, Joe Christopher, was patrolling center field. We sat RIGHT behind him. At one point in time, I yelled out (during the in between innings), “HEY JOE!” He turned and waved. I almost jumped out of my skin! 1962, and I remember it like it was yesterday. After that game, my dad took me to some games in the Bronx, and when Shea opened, we went to several games in Flushing. As wonderful as those times were, it was not like the time Joe Christopher waved to me.

Since that time, I have always loved baseball. I love everything about the game. I love the mano-a-mano, when a great pitcher faces a great hitter. Get ‘em on, get ‘em over, get ‘em in. “Hit it where they ain’t.” Rickey Henderson causing absolute chaos on the base paths. Reggie’s 3 home runs on three pitches. Kirk Gibson. The Ryan Express (and his 7 no hitters). Mark McGwire’s 70 HR season. I know it was steroid induced, but you can’t duplicate THAT kind of excitement in America’s Pastime.

So, why I have I turned my back on baseball? Let me count the ways:

1 – Rules Changes. 

It started with no 4 pitches for an intentional walk. If the defense wants to walk the batter, they simply wave him over to first. How many times, during an IBB did the pitcher throw the ball away, and the runner got to 2^nd? Or the pitch was too close, and the batter hit the ball anyway?

Mound visits. OK, I understand that many managers go to the mound too many times. There was already SOME kind of limit; 2 times, and you yank the pitcher. But it was all part of the strategy, PLUS it gave your reliever a few more pitcher to get ready. Now only THREE times for the entire game? Don’t tell me “pace of game.” You want to speed up the game? Cut the commercials.

Play review. This is a GREAT addition. Yes, it slows the game, but isn’t it all about getting the call right? BUT, how come only SOME plays can get reviewed? Either everything gets reviewed, or nothing gets reviewed.

Double headers. This fries my cookies. Double headers are now 7-inning affairs. What the hell? Are not these guys professional athletes? Aren’t they young and in tip top shape? Hell, I play a senior softball league (60+, some are 80!), we play 7 inning double headers 3-4 days a week. AND we stay for batting practice some days. And the worst:

In extra innings, the offense starts with a guy on 2^nd. What the hell is THAT? Is this a ‘pace of game’ thing, or what?

Coming – the pitch clock. What is this, basketball??

        Also coming - banning the shift? WTF? If the players shift on ya, hit (or bunt) it the other way. Aren't you a professional hitter? In my senior softball league, we have guys that hit the ball all over the field. For cryin' outloud.

2 – Three True Outcomes

There is no more action in baseball. These guys have forgotten how to play the game.  Over THIRTY FIVE PERCENT (35%) of the time, the result of an at bat is a home run, walk or a strikeout. Everybody swings for the fences, even the little guys who would get on base, and make something happen. The ball parks are smaller, and everybody wants to be Hank Aaron, making the big swing. HEY MLB, home runs are boring. No action, nothing happens. You see too much of a thing, and it gets mundane, like homeruns. ALL MLB fences should be 400’. A big-league slugger should be able to hit the ball 400’. If not, we see the game we all used to love. Walk, walk, strike out, strike out, home run, zzzzzzzzzz. I’m going home.

3 – Selfish Assholes.

Sadly, the ball players of today are not that concerned with winning. It is all about personal stats, so they can negotiate that big contract. No team loyalty. It’s all about who’s gonna pay me more. Lindor turned down an offer from the Mets for 10 years, THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE Million dollars. $325,000,000 ($32.5M per year) is not enough? For God’s sake, how much money do you need? Poor guy, he had to settle for $350M, for 10 years. Watch, he’ll get hurt and end up sitting on the bench for the second 5 years of his contract, mark my words. Which leads me to:

4 – Too Many Injuries

With all these experts and the HUGE investment in ball players, can’t MLB figure out how to train these guys, so they can stay on the field? Think about the players of yore, who went out there despite crippling injuries (JR Richard, Mantle, Koufax). I bet Pete Rose was out there with EVERYTHING hurting. These guys are such PUSSIES that they bench themselves for an upset stomach, or “shoulder tightness,” or a hangnail. These big boppers pump so much iron to build up strength (for the long ball, see above), that they are fragile and get hurt with an odd swing, or running to first. Stanton ($30M per year) only plays 4 days a week, only DHs, and is hitting under .200 (as of April 2021). This guy is as fragile as porcelain.

5 – Too much Advertising (see #3 above)

Now that MLB is paying these obscene salaries to fragile ballplayers, SOMEone has to pay for it. If you watch a game on TV, the outfield wall is PLASTERED with advertising. Behind home plate has computer generated ads, with the ball players masked over the green screened ads. You are BOMBARDED with advertising. While the next batter approaches the plate, the broadcast splits the screen, so an ad can get thrown up there before the pitch. Ads run constantly on the bottom of the screen. They talk about ‘pace of game.’ Want to speed up the game? Cut the between commercials BACK to 2 minutes; that’ll speed up the game. Also, this year (2021) all the uniforms have the Nike “swish” near the right shoulder. Every time the camera shows a guy, there is the Nike logo, I think “NIKE,” which is what they intended. And that leads me to:

6 – Actually ATTENDING the game …

… has gotten SO expensive, that it has to be put into the family budget, or one has to have a lot of disposable income or work for a company that has season tickets. In S.F., PARKING is $50! Forget about the $10 beers, $7 hotdogs and the cost of everything else AT the ballpark. I won’t get into ticket costs. After paying all this money, IF your favorite player is playing, there is a GREAT chance he will strike out a couple of times or be walked. I went to a Giants/Cardinal game in SF once. I went to StubHub and paid WAY too much for tickets in great seats to see Albert Pujols play; he wasn’t in the lineup. He PH in the 7^th inning, 3 pitches, K. Sit down, Albert. Yeah, we’re paying those bloated salaries, too.

7 – Absolutely MISERABLE Umping.

Go to YouTube and do a search for MLB Worst Umpires. It boggles my mind how some of these guys are still working. If I made 1% of the mistakes these guy make, I’d NEVER get paid to play the tuba again. Look up CB Bucknor, or Angel Hernadez, or Joe West. Hernandez just sued MLB because he didn’t get offered to UMP in the post season. Case got thrown out of court. Hey Angel, YOU STINK! THAT’S why you didn’t get asked. Now these guys think they can act with impunity (like cops), and they are now INSTIGATING incidents, and they eject ballplayers for giving it back to them. In baseball, umpires should be invisible, NOT effecting the outcome of the game. And it's time for the robo-ump calling balls and strikes. MLB - just DO IT!

So, dear readers, this is why I won’t be watching baseball on TV, attending any games, purchasing MLB gear, or supporting MLB in any way or fashion. 

Do you want to watch the game the way it is supposed to be played? With 100% commitment, love & joy, with all-out effort, teamwork and excellence? Watch Women’s College Softball. That’s the way the game is SUPPOSED to be played.

As usual, your comments are welcome and encouraged.