Competition Solos, Book 1 Tuba: Solo & Small Ensemble

The nine selections span from lyrical and flowing to rhythmically playful and character-driven. You'll find familiar folk melodies reimagined alongside more whimsical pieces like "Rooster" and "The Tortoise and the Hare," creating a book that feels like a mix of concert gems and genuine fun to play.

Tuba students preparing for state solo competition who need a curated collection of repertoire drawn directly from official competition lists. Teachers and private instructors will appreciate having multiple solos of similar difficulty in one book, allowing flexibility as students narrow down their competition choice or prepare alternates.

• Download and listen to the audio file for your chosen solo before your first practice session. Hearing the piece performed at competition tempo sets expectations and helps you identify rhythmic or articulation patterns that might not jump out from the written page alone.
• Work through the accompaniment book with your director or accompanist early. The alternate voicings in the piano part are designed for flexibility across instruments, but rehearsing together ensures the tuba and piano lock in on phrasing and balance.
• Mark state competition requirements directly on your score. If your state list specifies cuts, repeats, or performance notes, integrate those into your practicing from the beginning rather than adjusting late.
• Record yourself playing through each solo at least once every other week. Recordings expose intonation issues and rhythmic drift that you won't catch in real time, especially important when preparing for adjudication.

Assign one solo per student in early fall and work through the competition requirements during regular lesson time or sectional rehearsals. This approach spreads preparation across the year and ensures each student has a polished piece ready when competition season arrives. For ensemble-based programs, several pieces adapt well for small tuba groups during concerts before the competition schedule begins.

• Reading and performing solos from standard competition lists
• Shaping melodic phrases with consistent breath support and tone control
• Responding to piano accompaniment cues and balancing against them
• Maintaining steady intonation in lyrical passages and under tempo changes
• Interpreting style markings and character indications in unfamiliar repertoire