Playlists
Great F/Eb Tuba Sound and Artistry
A collection of free online recordings of world-class tuba players performing with great sound and great artistry on the F or Eb tuba.
Great CC/BBb Tuba Sound and Artistry
A collection of free online recordings of world-class tuba players performing with great sound and great artistry on the CC or BBb tuba.
Great Bass Trombone Sound and Artistry
A collection of free online recordings of world-class bass trombone players playing with great sound and great artistry.
Great Tenor Trombone Sound and Artistry
A collection of free online recordings of world-class trombone players playing with great sound and great artistry on the tenor trombone.
Great Trumpet Sound and Artistry
A collection of free online recordings of world-class trumpet players playing with great sound and great artistry.
Great Bass Clarinet Sound and Artistry
A collection of free online recordings of world-class artists playing with great sound and artistry on the bass clarinet.
Soprano Saxophone Playlist (Classical)
Great soprano saxophone sound and artistry.
Great Bassoon Sound and Artistry
A collection of recordings of world-class bassoon players playing with beautiful tone and great artistry.
Masterclasses and Instructional Videos
Arnold Jacobs Almost Live
A series of masterclass excerpts given by one of the greatest brass pedagogues of all time, Arnold Jacobs.
Maria Callas, “The Lyric Tradition”
An extensive series of masterclasses presented in 1971 and 1972 at The Juilliard School by Maria Callas, one of the most renowned opera singers in history.
MUSAIC
This website gives you access to masterclasses, instructional videos, interviews, and musical excerpts by many of the greatest musicians in the world, from world-renowned soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Gil Shaham to musicians of top-level orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony and the New York Philharmonic.
Trombonist Norman Bolter’s channel
This channel includes a large collection of high quality instructional videos, exploring many musical concepts that can help any musician, not just brass players. Norman Bolter is a former trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“Tuba & Euphonium Repair and Maintenance” Instructional Videos by Jeff Funderburk
These videos contain a great deal of information on cleaning, maintaining, and repairing tubas and euphoniums, focusing primarily on rotary valve tubas.
Articles
Orchestral Audition Advice, by Gene Pokorny (Principal Tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
One of the most valuable orchestral audition prep articles out there.
Symphony Auditions: Preparation and Execution, by Douglas Yeo (former Bass Trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Another one of the most valuable orchestral audition prep writings available, and also one of the most comprehensive.
Notes from lessons with Bud Herseth
Acclaimed as one of the greatest orchestral trumpet players of all time, Adolph “Bud” Herseth was the Principal Trumpet player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 53 years. Thanks to the generosity of Tim Kent, who took lessons with Herseth and took thorough, concise notes from these lessons, these notes are now available for all brass players to benefit from.
Other Websites
Craig Knox’s website
At Craig Knox’s website, you can find many helpful musical resources and other resources. Craig Knox is the Principal Tubist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Douglas Yeo’s website
On Douglas Yeo’s website, you can find many valuable musical resources and other resources. Douglas Yeo is the former Bass Trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
IMSLP
The “International Music Score Library Project” is the indispensable online database where you can find free, legal downloads of any sheet music which is public domain in your country. (Make sure to follow the public domain warnings on each file listing; if the listing says “Non-PD [Your Country]”, it is not legal to download the file, and the download should be avoided in order to avoid committing copyright infringement.)
Last Row Music
Here you can find the latest information about brass auditions for professional ensembles worldwide.
TromboneChat
The major trombone forum, which contains much information including classified sections where you can buy and sell instruments and equipment.
Trumpet Herald Marketplace
The premiere website for buying and selling used trumpets and equipment online.
TubeNet
The great tuba and euphonium forum in which you can find information on upcoming auditions, find equipment for sale, sell your equipment, and find many other great resources for tuba and euphonium players.
Windsong Press
This website contains a number of resources for brass players including CDs, books, breathing devices, and other valuable tools for brass players. This website also has a number of resources related to Arnold Jacobs and his teachings.
Interview Series
The interviews in the following series are not only interesting and entertaining, but many of these interviews also contain valuable advice on performing from some of the greatest musicians in the world.
“Bone2Pick” Interviews from HipBone Music
This is the channel of Michael Davis’ HipBone Music, which includes the acclaimed (and very valuable) interview series, Bone2Pick, bringing you interviews with many of the greatest musicians in the world.
“Brass Chats” from Monster Oil
The “Monster Oil” channel includes the informative and unique “Brass Chats” interview series with some of the best brass players in the world.
“ChopSaver” Interviews from Dan Gosling
This is Dan Gosling’s “ChopSaver” interview series with world renowned brass players.
“Sarah’s Horn Hangouts” from Sarah Willis
This is the channel of Sarah Willis and home of the world famous interview series, “Sarah’s Horn Hangouts”, in which Ms. Willis interviews renowned musicians from all over the world. Sarah Willis is a horn player with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Blogs
Frequency Bone
This is the blog of trombonist Norman Bolter. This blog includes many valuable insights on music and brass playing, and also includes parallel posts to the instructional videos on Mr. Bolter’s YouTube channel (linked in the “Masterclasses and Instructional Videos” section below). Norman Bolter is a former trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Empire Brass.
Roger Bobo’s blog
The blog of master brass pedagogue and former tuba virtuoso Roger Bobo contains a great deal of valuable insights on music and brass playing.
Resources for Purchase
Exercise Books
For all exercises, approach them as beautiful pieces of music, to which you bring your own expression and feeling. Approach these exercises as if they are beautiful pieces of music written for unaccompanied tuba.
The Brass Gym (Sam Pilafian and Patrick Sheridan)
The Brass Gym contains a great collection of exercises which can be used for your own daily fundamentals routine. If possible, use a metronome, a pitch drone, and an open ear with these exercises, for optimal training regarding pitch and rhythm. Published by Focus on Music.
Flow Studies (Vincent Cichowicz)
Valuable studies for sound and air flow, these are the original Cichowicz flow studies transcribed and edited for trombone, euphonium, and tuba by Michael Cichowicz and Mark Dulin, with the assistance of Rob Roy McGregor, Joseph Alessi, Jay Friedman, Steven Mead, Michael Mulcahy, and Nick Lane. For the tuba, the exercises in this book should be played one octave lower than written. Published by Studio 259 Productions.
Flow Studies for Tuba (David Vining) – CC Tuba Version. BBb Tuba Version.
Valuable studies for sound and air flow. Published by Mountain Peak Music.
Mastering the Tuba (Roger Bobo)
Written by renowned brass pedagogue and former tuba virtuoso Roger Bobo, this book contains valuable exercises as well as helpful writings regarding tuba playing. Published by Editions Bim.
Technical Studies (Herbert L. Clarke)
Herbert L. Clarke’s complete technical studies, revised and edited for tuba, euphonium, and trombone, by Dr. Jerry Young, inclusive of all ranges of the tuba. Published by Really Good Music.
Etude Books
Low Etudes for Tuba (Phil Snedecor)
These are beautiful musical etudes for the tuba which focus on low range playing, many of which also focus on lyrical playing. These etudes facilitate air flow, lyricism, and musicality in all ranges of the tuba, with a focus on low range. These are, in my opinion, some of the most valuable etudes available for tuba. Published by PAS Music.
Bordogni – Complete Vocalises for Tuba (Wesley Jacobs)
Bordogni’s bel canto studies, originally written for vocalists, have become famous in the low brass world for their value in cultivating good phrasing and lyricism among low brass musicians. This edition, transcribed by Wesley Jacobs, is a valuable resource for tuba players. Published by Encore Music Publishers.
Blazhevich – Studies for Tuba
The Blazhevich etudes are valuable for their musical content as well as their technical demands. These etudes have rightly become a staple in the tuba world. Published by Robert King Music. Volume 2 found here.
Kopprasch – Studies for Tuba
The Kopprasch studies demand high technical standards among tuba players, and have become a staple in the tuba etude repertoire. This edition, edited by Dr. Jerry Young, is published by Encore Music Publishers.
Books With Writings About Playing
Also Sprach Arnold Jacobs
This book contains a concise and extensive compilation of the teachings of Arnold Jacobs (transcribed directly from lessons taken with Mr. Jacobs). Arnold Jacobs was one of the greatest brass pedagogues the world has ever seen. This book is an extremely valuable resource for brass players. Published by Polymnia Press.
The Brass Player’s Cookbook
A compilation of articles written by many of the best brass musicians in the world, this book contains many wise insights which can be profoundly helpful to the musicianship and playing level of any brass player. Published by Meredith Music. (Note: this book is becoming harder to find. At the time of updating this post, I was able to find copies available and in stock at the following websites: Just For Brass, J.W. Pepper, and Amazon. I do not know what the future of the availability of this book will look like as more copies are bought.)
CD’s
“Portrait of an Artist” – Arnold Jacobs
A collection of masterclass excerpts and performance recordings from one of the greatest brass pedagogues in history, Arnold Jacobs. Arnold Jacobs was also the Principal Tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 44 years.
“Legacy of an Artist” – Arnold Jacobs
The second such collection released by Summit Records, this is a compilation of more masterclass excerpts and performance recordings from the great Arnold Jacobs.
DVD’s
Tuba Profondo – An International Masterclass with Roger Bobo
This is a video recording of a masterclass presented by one of the greatest brass pedagogues in the world today, Roger Bobo.