How to Play the Sousaphone

A sousaphone is a musical instrument similar to a tuba. It operates much like other brass instruments. Previous brass instrument experience, especially the tuba, will help you learn to play the sousaphone more quickly. It is best to begin playing the instrument after your permanent teeth are in, so you can establish the correct embouchure or tension of the lips on the mouthpiece.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Put your head through the opening in the middle of the instrument, adjust the mouthpiece and move the valves up and down with your fingers to play music on the sousaphone.

2. Rehearse while standing up to strengthen your arms and lungs for marching. Be cautious walking and turning so you don't hit another band member.

3. Form a tight smile with your lips and then make a buzzing sound into the mouthpiece to play music on the sousaphone. Affect the embouchure by tightening the cheek and jaw muscles.

4. Move your tongue and control your lips to change the pitch from high to low. Tightening the lips will cause a high tone while relaxed lips give a low tone.

5. Practice your lip and tongue positions until you control the airflow into the mouthpiece.

6. Work on pressing the valves with your fingers while blowing into the mouthpiece. The first valve changes the note by one-step, the second valve by one-half of a step and pressing both valves equals one and one-half steps.

7. Push the second and third valves down to alter the pitch by two steps. Use the first and third valves to change the note by two and one-half steps and all three valves pressed simultaneously equals a three-step note change.