Band Today, Part 2: Bass (Tuba) Book

Band Today, Part 2 strikes the balance between ambitious musicianship development and genuine playability for intermediate tuba students. Ployhar's decades of classroom experience shine through in material that challenges students to grow without overwhelming them, making this book an ideal bridge between foundational work and more sophisticated ensemble repertoire.

Working through Band Today, Part 2 feels like steady progress. Exercises build on each other logically, reinforcing concepts while introducing new challenges at a measured pace that keeps students engaged without frustration.

Intermediate tuba students ready to deepen their musicianship beyond first-year fundamentals, particularly those in school bands working through a structured method course. Band directors seeking a comprehensive, time-tested resource that guides tuba players through the specific demands of ensemble playing and technical development.

• Focus on tone production in the lower register; use long tones at the start of each rehearsal to establish a warm, resonant sound that anchors the low brass section.
• Balance volume control with the ensemble by listening carefully to blend with the euphonium and cello sections, adjusting your dynamic output to support rather than dominate.
• Lock articulation patterns with the trombone section to ensure rhythmic cohesion; when parts align rhythmically, the bass line becomes a genuine foundation rather than background.
• Practice rhythms in isolation before adding pitch; many intermediate tuba parts rely on accurate subdivision to keep the ensemble together, so counting precision matters as much as intonation.

Assign this throughout the year as your primary tuba method text, integrating its exercises and etudes into weekly lesson structure while your concert band repertoire provides musical application for newly developed skills. The 36-page format works well for consistent, incremental advancement alongside rehearsal of performance pieces.

• Intermediate tone development in the low register
• Reading and playing in multiple keys and time signatures
• Rhythmic subdivision and accuracy in ensemble contexts
• Dynamic control and balance within the low brass section
• Technical facility through progressive exercises and etudes
• Music theory application at the intermediate level