Happy International Tuba Day.
When you think about musical instruments, the tuba is probably not the first one that comes to mind unless you are watching Jaws (did you know a tuba played the Jaws theme?) However, this large brass instrument is possibly one of the most fun instruments in the orchestra.
I can say that because I’m married to a man who has played the tuba since high school and because I learned to play the tuba in college. I played an upright concert tuba that was slightly smaller than a normal tuba which was great since I am slightly smaller than a normal human.
My reason for learning yet another instrument (I already played the piano, the clarinet, and the trombone) was that I wanted to be in a Tuba Christmas concert, where a bunch of tuba and baritone players come together and perform Christmas songs for the community. (Learn more at the official website.)
A common form of the tuba is the sousaphone, the large instrument that wraps around the player with the wide bell above their head. Sousaphones are often seen in parades and field shows. Even though concert tubas and sousaphones are very different in shape, they sound the same. If you are in a band and want to get your picture in the paper, play the sousaphone. Reporters love to take pictures of large instruments. My hubby has been in a ton of newspapers all around California wearing his sousaphone.
The next time you think of musical instruments, I hope you’ll think of the tuba. And next Christmas, consider going to a Tuba Christmas concert. They are tuba fun!!