Size of lower Brass players

[Spanky Rear]

A comment made by my wife at the last couple of Aibert Hall Finals is one some of you Band aficianados might care to give your comments and observations on. She remarked on the very large size of many Tuba/ Bass Trombone/Euphonium players.On checking I felt she had a point,although not all were by any measurement outsize.
Do Championship Bands require these players to be outsize[certainly in weight] before auditioning and only make do with average performers if there are no outsize lads/lasses available?
I have observed bigger players on other instruments too, but not so frequently as with lower brass.

 

[Okiedokie of Oz]

I know this remark wasn't made to be offensive, so I am trying to hold back any negative remarks.

"Larger" players already have their bodies working fairly hard. Fingers get exercised by remnote controls and keyboards, so heavy valves are nbo threat. The air required by our bodies is equivalent to a 4 bar phrase in any hymn. So, some may say we (and yes I say we, because I am slo a large tuba player) are designed to be lower brass specialists.

Humour aside, there isn't any real auditioning process. I think it's just a natural occurance. Like why are there so many tall basketball players?

I will add, for the fact, that I do know many tuba, trombone, and eupho players that do not fall in any form of the category "large", by which I mean both tall, or portly. Tuba is fast becoming a thin man's domain in the orchestral world.

However, I will add for the record that eupho is looking like it's a tall person's job. In the 2 bands I've played in down here, I've had
* Male, age 35, 6' 4
* Male, age 32, 6' 2
* Male, age 29, 6'
* Male, age 17, 5'11
and
* Female, age 14, 6'2 :shock:

 

[Aidan]

what about michael dodd at grimey?

 

[geordiecolin]

Well I may be 6' 4" but I'm as skinny as a rake and not particularly heavy either

 

[Ste69]

and
* Female, age 14, 6'2 :shock:

wayhay!!!!! :lol:

I've just joined my current band and I think I'm the biggest bass there (not in height as I'm only 5'10") but I think I was definitely designed with a bass in mind. As was a mate of mine from a previous band (I think if he ever got his hands on a Euph, he'd straighten it :!: )

Also, good point about Michael Dodd.

 

[littlemisshorns]

I know a couple of small people who play BBb and its quite funny watching them trying to reach the mouthpiece!
Most bass players I know are thin and small. I only know 1 or 2 'larger' bass players.

 

[ScrapingtheBottom]

I'm pleasantly plump - which is about right for a trombone player.

 

[PeterBale]

Mention of the size of players relative to the instruments they play reminds me of seeing the Gurkhas on the march with a baritone sax player whose instrument seemed to be almost touching the ground - not recommended, especially marching at their pace :!: :wink: :lol:

 

[akwarose]

my dads a bass player and hes a dinky little dude. he's about 5'6 and skinny
bless

 

[stevetrom]

I am a 5'8", 15 stone, bass trombone player and, a while ago, i was getting stick from the wife about my size !

A guy asked if he could come along to band for a blow and when i picked him up i noticed that he was 3/4" shorter and 1(ish, maybe more i did'nt ask) stone heavier than me.

When he played it was also obvious that he was somewhat a better player than me.

From this i have had to inform my wife that i am actually under weight for my instrument !

 

[Spanky Rear]

Ithank you all for your detailed information, but also notice that some of you are struggling to make the grade!
Steve Sykes and/or John Gillam are more the types {for examples} that my wife had observed She loves seeing them.So do I.

SPANKY.

 

[drummerboy]

what about michael dodd at grimey?

Yeah, and our principal euph, Mark Glover, another lad who ain't as wide as he is tall.

 

[tim]

What about Dave Thornton and Childs not massive. Steve Miles fairly tall but skinny.

Joe Cook and Phil Goodwin are tall yes but not large!!!!!!

 

[Dave Euph]

Well, I'm 5' 11" and although not skinny, certainly not fat! I've had a smaller belly through the times but I haven't lost it yet!

Maybe it explains why I'm a rubbish player?

 

[bassinthebathroom]

I've just joined my current band and I think I'm the biggest bass there

Well you've certainly ousted/relieved me from/of that 'honour'! :lol: :wink:
Think I'm still the tallest though... must be the heels!

 

[Ste69]

I've just joined my current band and I think I'm the biggest bass there

Well you've certainly ousted/relieved me from/of that 'honour'! :lol: :wink:
Think I'm still the tallest though... must be the heels!

Hey it took years of work to be able to "Oust" an entire bass section just like that :wink:

 

[bassinthebathroom]

I've just joined my current band and I think I'm the biggest bass there

Well you've certainly ousted/relieved me from/of that 'honour'! :lol: :wink:
Think I'm still the tallest though... must be the heels!

Hey it took years of work to be able to "Oust" an entire bass section just like that :wink:

Haven't you got anything better to do with yourself at this time of night sir? Obviously I haven't, being only a student :lol:

 

[Pj]

maybe im just an odd ball but im probably the weediest bass trombone player on the planet...ok yeah im 6 ft tall but i only weigh 9.5 stone! Ive been told several times to eat lots of takeaways and drink 8 pints a day by several people to become a better player...i think id do my liver some (more) damage that way though! :shock:

 

[Australian Euphonium]

maybe im just an odd ball but im probably the weediest bass trombone player on the planet...ok yeah im 6 ft tall but i only weigh 9.5 stone! Ive been told several times to eat lots of takeaways and drink 8 pints a day by several people to become a better player...i think id do my liver some (more) damage that way though! :shock:

Douglas Yeo is as skinny as a rake and still manages to be one of, if not THE leading bass trombonist in the world!!

I think bigger players aren't naturally heavier, they're the ones that have had secret operations to get air compressors surgically inserted into their diapraghm - trust me, thats why they float :shock: :shock:

 

[ScrapingtheBottom]

Douglas Yeo is as skinny as a rake and still manages to be one of, if not THE leading bass trombonist in the world!!

And just think how good he'd be if he put on a few pounds! :shock: :lol: