Taming the Tuba
ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
Tuner, Stuart et al. “Tuba.” Embou-Sure: A Step-by-Step Method complete with tape. Ashland, OR:
W.I.B.C. Publishing, 1987. 33-37. Print.
Colwell, Richard J., and Thomas W. Goolsby. The Teaching of Instrumental Music. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. 274-86. Print.
Cox, Thomas. “Trumpet to Tuba Switcher: An ABC Masters Candidate Special Presentation.”
Bandworld Online. 2006. 24 Jul. 2012. <http://www.bandworld.org/MagOnline/MagOnline.aspx?
i=0&p=27>
Erickson, Marty. “Which Students Do I Switch to Tuba?” Xtreme Brass & Percussion. 24 Jul. 2012.
<http://xtremebrass.com/store/index.php?dispatch=pages.view&page_id=35>
Gale, Bruce. “Balance and Blend.” The Concert Band. 9 Jan. 2010. 24 Jul. 2012. <http://
www.theconcertband.com/index.php/band-training/balance-and-blend>
Morris, R. Winston. “Recommended Basic Repertoire for the High School Tuba Soloist.” The American
Band College Summer 2012 Notebook: Session A and B. 2012. WM-1 - WM-2. Print.
Morris, R. Winston. “Tuba/Euphonium CD Recommendations.” The American Band College Summer
2012 Notebook: Session A and B. 2012. WM-7. Print.
Navarre, Randy. Instrumental Music Teacher’s Survival Kit: Ready to Use Guidelines for Teaching
Beginning Band Instruments. Paramus, NJ: Parker Publishing Company, 2001. 163-71. Print.
Tenerelli, Vito P. and Robert W. Brown. “Switching to the Tuba (Sousaphone).” The Super Switcher
Book: Brass. St. Joseph, MI: Shoreline Music Publications, 1989. 24-31. Print.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a band director is getting students started well on tuba. In my school district, we have not historically started students on tuba; and therefore, we often need to find students that are willing to make a switch in their second or third year of band. Often, beginning trumpet sections over-balance the rest of the ensemble, creating a large pool from which to find a few potential tuba players. With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to create a resource that students could use on their own to make a quick and effective transfer to tuba.
This website was created by
Chris Paulson in partial fulfillment of of his Masters Degree
in Wind Conducting from Sam Houston State University.
Chris Paulson is the Assistant Band Director at
Penn High School, and has been teaching in Penn-Harris-Madison Schools
since 2006. Chris graduated in 2006 from Ball State University with a
Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a strong foundation in clarinet
performance. He has held memberships in Indiana Music Educators
Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National
Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Chris began his teaching career at Grissom Middle School, a position he
held for five years. As the band director at Grissom Middle School, his
teaching assignments included three grade-level bands (6th, 7th, and 8th), a
7th grade general music class, two jazz ensembles, and pep band. Under his direction, the Grissom bands received consistent Gold ratings at the ISSMA Organizational Contest. Grissom's 6th grade band in 2010, and the 7th and 8th grade bands in 2011 received Gold ratings “With Distinction” at the ISSMA Organizational Contest. Students at Grissom were strong participants in ISSMA’s Solo and Ensemble Contest and in the Indiana Bandmasters Association’s All-Region Honor Band.
At Penn High School, Chris holds responsibilities with five concert bands: assisting with Symphonic Winds, conducting the Symphonic Band and Concert Band, and assisting with the Intermediate and Advanced Freshmen Bands. He is also an assistant director of the Penn Marching Kingsmen, directs the Pep Band, and assists with the After School Jazz Orchestra.
Currently, Chris resides in Mishawaka, Indiana with his wife of 5 years, Sarah, who is a Wedding Specialist at MichaelAngelo's, a local floral and décor company. They have one son, Brandon, who was born in April of 2012.
