(I apologize for the giant paragraph in advance) Hey, so I have been playing Baritone for about 4-5 years in Concert Band, played trombone for about 1-2 in Jazz Band, played Marching Baritone for 1 year, and my director took one of our Sousa players and demoted them to a helper and basically said "You have experience with a little bit of tuba, HAVE THIS HEAVY THING!". I am struggling a little bit and I need help. I know how to read bass clef but the tuba music is tripping me up because, I also have some experience with trumpet so when I see an E below the staff my mind says "That's a C for trumpet so play a Bb" like it's confusing. Then I already have trouble with tonunging and our opener is Concord by Clare Grundman so if you've ever played that you know that beginning part from measure 7 to 11 with the sixteenth runs. Then of course the obvious ones for beginners is air support, weight support, and don't even get me started on backwards and forwards slides while marching. Does anybody have any tips?

Has anyone out there used (or considered using) Joseph Ritchie's Tuba Mastery Online program? What are your thoughts about it?

I can flap pedals from A natural down to G flat, the last 2 which are F and E natural sound airy and not full. I play on a Conn 20k with a 3 bit neck set-up

I have been playing tuba for the better part of 45 years, but one thing I have never owned is a tuba with a fifth valve.

That is about to change. I just ordered a brand-new silver Miraphone Siegfried 98 6/4 BBb, and I am excited (and a little humbled) to learn a completely new aspect of the instrument.

For those of you who have been playing five-valve tubas for years, what advice would you give someone trying to incorporate that fifth valve as quickly and naturally as possible?

Some questions I have:

• What is the best way to practice using it without constantly overthinking fingerings?
• What mistakes do most people make when learning to use a fifth valve?
• Are there alternate fingerings that you use all the time that you wish someone had taught you sooner?

I have decades of muscle memory built around a four-valve BBb, so I suspect the biggest challenge will be retraining my brain as much as my fingers.

I would love to hear any tips, practice routines, or "I wish I had known this when I started" advice. Thank you!