Caring for the Tuba
Very few music students will be able to buy their own tuba, so the director will need to loan the instrument to the player. Given the amount of financial investment a tuba represents for a music program, proper care and maintenance of the instrument is important. Try to instill a sense of pride in your tuba players. It is a privilege to be allowed to play this important instrument and this needs to be shown in the way the player cares for it.
Here are some things the musician should do:
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Most of the advice above is self-explanatory, but let's look at a few of the points in more detail.
Oil the Valves Every Day
The valves on a piston valve tuba are designed to move freely when oiled properly. They do not move smoothly and can be damaged if they are not oiled. A special type of thin oil made especially for brass instrument valves must be used. Fortunately, this oil is relatively cheap and can be purchased in most shops that sell instruments. If none is available in your area, it can be found at shops in Yangon and Mandalay.
To oil the valves, it is not necessary to remove them completely from the instrument. Simply slide them about 2/3 of the way out and place a few drops of oil on each side of the piston. Continue adding oil until the piston moves freely. If the piston still does not move easily even when a thin layer of oil covers the outside of the piston, stop adding oil and send the instrument to a qualified repairman. Occasionally you will need to remove the valve, wipe it off, and clean the inside of the valve casing to remove any buildup of dust or dirt. |
Oil the SlidesCheck the tuning and valve slides every day to ensure that they move easily and smoothly without falling out on their own. Slide cream is available in most shops that sell instruments; however, a thick petroleum-based cream such as Vaseline can be substituted if necessary. Vaseline can be found in the beauty section of most supermarkets like City Mart in Yangon. Spread a thin layer grease on the inner slide using a finger or a clean cloth.
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Removing a Stuck MouthpieceIf the mouthpiece becomes stuck, it will need to be removed with a special tool. Otherwise, the instrument will need to be sent to a repairman. A mouthpiece puller such as the one seen below can be attached to the mouthpiece shank to remove the mouthpiece by twisting the screws as seen in the photo to the right. These tools can be purchased for less than $50 USD and will save a great deal of money on repair costs in the long run.
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Check for DamageTeach your tuba students to inspect the whole tuba for damage every time they take it out of the case. Playing the instrument with damaged valves can make the damage worse. Not all damage is as serious, however. Small-to-medium dents in large sections of tubing do not affect the sound or intonation very much. Very large dents or dents in small sections of tubing such as the lead pipe can affect the tone, intonation, and playability of the instrument significantly. These will need to be removed by a qualified repairman. Damage to the valves, valve casings, or valve slides should be repaired immediately.
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Small dents like these in a large section of tubing will not seriously affect the sound of the tuba. This tuba can wait to be sent to the repair shop until something more serious needs to be fixed.
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Tuba pages site map: What Is a Tuba | Setting Up for Success | Making a Sound | Tuba Positions | The Overtone Series | Tuba Intonation | Practice | Buying a Tuba | Caring for the Tuba | Introducing Students to the Tuba | Bibliography & Image Sources | About