Posted by Mark Heter on November 11, 2003 at 09:16:49:
In Reply to: Re: Vibrato on Tuba posted by Brett on November 09, 2003 at 22:58:11:
Jaw vibrato is the only practical, and best controlled vibrato for a tuba player, plus it helps in "loosening up" the jaw for the lower notes.
Use of vibrato is a matter of musical taste, which is difficult to put into an e-mail response. The vibrato of a mickey band saxophone section isn't going to go over very well in a brass quintet. In some cases players develop a vibrato they can't "turn off" - a real problem for some musicians, especially some euphonium players.
Your current teacher should be able to give some basic do's and don'ts as to where and when vibrato is appropriate. Meanwhile, how are your scales, intervals, and lip slurs? Cand you single, double and triple tongue evenly? Is your sound opened up? Vibrato is just one aspect of brass playing - you have to serve several masters here...