Tubassadors

    Because of my research for this blog, like finding YouTube videos, the YouTube recommended page is actually what alerted me to this group. They are called the Tubassadors, and they are a group of four tuba players who post videos on YouTube focused on funny performance-based content. Their channel has a mix of performance recordings, cover videos, and educational content. The group seems to have existed since 2018, but they didn't start really gaining traction until they started uploading YouTube videos during the pandemic. Their website is actually really fun to look at and a cool approach. They have a timeline-style history of the group and major milestones, as well as fun biographies for each member. I think including zodiacs, personality assessment types, favorite forms of various media, favorite meals, colors, and dislikes is just such a fun way to make the page interesting.

    One cover I want to show from their channel is their cover of Sing Sing Sing by trumpet player and singer Louis Prima. The song came out in 1936, and it is a part of the big band and swing genre. If you have ever seen the film Swing Kids (1993), then you'll have heard it before. The arrangement that Tubassadors play is done by Todo Yuzuki. I think it sounds really good on the tuba. Definitely worth the listen!



    One example of their educational content that I thought was an interesting watch was their video where they did a blind sound test with different mouthpieces. They had various different kinds of tuba mouthpieces that were on the market, and one person from the group would play the same excerpt of playing and the rest of the group had to guess the mouthpiece. What they learned from it on the both times they tried is it was a lot harder to tell and that they could really only guess about one correctly. 



    The last thing I wanted to quickly mention is that they also sell a tuba method book called "Bassazap." From the site, it seems like a compilation of resources they have collected over the years, and they apparently cite in the book. They also hold a group seminar around this method book every so often as well.


P.S. They also have an Earth, Wind, and Fire cover video you should totally watch too, just saying... I just really like Earth, Wind, and Fire.



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