Make Mine A Tuba (from Learn As You Play Tuba): Instrumental Solo

Norton writes with a composer's ear for what actually engages young players. This piece delivers genuine musicality within a three-page frame, giving tuba students material that sounds composed, not simplified. It's the kind of piece that makes a student feel like a real musician from page one.

Straightforward and musical without pretense. Norton's harmonic language is clear enough to follow but sophisticated enough to keep young ears engaged. The piece breathes naturally, giving players room to discover their own voice within its structure.

Tuba students in their first or second year of study who are ready for repertoire that moves beyond exercise-based material. Teachers seeking quality single-line pieces that develop both technical facility and interpretive thinking will find this a reliable choice.

• Establish a steady foundation in the opening phrase. Young tuba players often rush when learning new material, so a metronomic approach to the opening measures pays off in confidence for the whole piece.
• Shape the melodic contours dynamically even in the supporting passages. The tuba voice matters here; resist the urge to play every sustained note at the same dynamic level.
• Balance registration awareness with musical phrasing. Be mindful of which partials you're using across register breaks and plan smooth transitions before students encounter them in performance.

Use this as a solo vehicle in a spring or year-end student recital, or feature it as part of a low brass ensemble program. It also works well as a confidence builder when introducing tuba students to the idea of performing solo repertoire beyond method book studies.

• Sustaining legato lines across multiple phrases
• Dynamic shaping and musicality in single-line parts
• Reading and performing through register changes
• Interpreting a complete musical thought within a compact form