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'Think for a minute: What does the tuba mean to you?'
All hail the mighty tuba! Today is International Tuba Day, and while you might not play the tuba, that doesn't mean you are left out, and our video lunch aims to prove it. The observance "was created for both tuba players and non-tuba players alike," Tuba Day explains, and "was created to recognize tubists in musical organizations around the world who have to go through the hassle of handling a tuba."
That's not just the physical hassle because of the size of the big brass instrument, but because of "the prevalence of stereotyped attitudes among people towards tubists and their role in a musical organization." More Tuba awareness:
Think for a minute: What does the tuba mean to you? Unfortunately, many non-tuba players think of the tuba as just being one of those big, loud instruments that go "oompah" in the back of parades - having no real importance and being easy to play - they're just there to look nice. As for tuba players, many people view them in the old stereotyped way: they have no real musical talent, no personality, just big, fat bodies with puffy cheeks and powerful lungs
.Oh, say it isn't so? We did a quick search of YouTube for "tuba" and "Los Angeles" and have this compilation of three videos for you to digest today. First up, as recorded at Downtown's Los Angeles State Historic Park (aka "The Cornfield") a little improv tuba and ocarina duet. Then, a Los Angeles-based tubist plays Camptown Races. Last, a group of Spanish-speaking musicians prove that if a tuba isn't around, a home-made contraption will suffice to play the "Corrido de Los Angeles California."
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