The Shifted Low Register Embouchure

This is my most requested video of all time. It's an in-depth discussion and demonstration of the "shifted" low register embouchure used by tubists as well as other brass players.
*Headphones Recommended* For more content like this, please visit: chrisolka.com

[@dctrbrass]

My favorite part is "if it sounds good, who cares?" My thoughts exactly.

[@bdragon1445]

I used to practice like this for hours. I thought I was being bad by shifting the embouchure. But it made my sound better, so I kept doing it.

[@semarcus1]

This is the best presentation on this topic that I've ever seen and heard. Thanks for covering, Chris.

[@caspianrobert7327]

@Memphis River Yea, been using InstaFlixxer for months myself =)

[@qbonics30]

This video is a clinic!! Congrats on the quality of this production👏🏾.

[@CorvetteCoonass]

I had started doing this my freshman year of college, it was totally by accident but I started incorporating it into my playing. A couple people said I was cheating, but later I found out Tommy Johnson pioneered it and that explains how he got so loud down low.

[@tubadylan]

And that lamp is so perfectly placed behind that chair.

[@NickRosaci]

This is great, and after watching your shifting in the past, just simply emulating what I could see had drastically improved my low playing. I studied euphonium with Paul Ebbers and when I switched to tuba about ten years ago, I just regurgitated everything Prof. Ebbers taught me on euph, but couldn't get the low end. Watching what you were doing drastically helped! The debate on shifted embouchures reminds me of two quotes: The first one being from Prof. Ebbers ("Just #&%*ing play the horn!"), and Arnold Jacobs ("Only in music do I find people worrying about whether they're using their bodies right. Get the products, get the results! Don't worry about whether it's right or wrong, just make sure it sounds better than anybody else! That's the big factor!")

[@rudycarrasco2599]

Great video, keep it up! Love to see what you have in store for the future.

[@eliasrodehorst11]

This is a gem! Thank you so much for this informational content!

[@willtemp9065]

I have heard so many thoughts on the shift both for it and against it so thank you for the video that clarifies it all. Also, the production on this video is very very high, I loved it! The video was high quality and the audio was too, just a fantastic video all around. Thank you again!

[@tubadylan]

Excellent instructional video. Thanks, Chris!!!

[@steverosseyoutubechannel5999]

This is GREAT Chris thank you for the valuable resource! Will be sending to all my students! Looking forward to our TubaMania webinar together on this topic as well! Steve

[@thomaskinder8967]

Wonderfully done and very good ways of clearly explaining it! I am just learning the shift myself (studying with a former student of yours!). Love your videos, I'll share to help it go viral!

[@petersauer3460]

Thanks so much! One of the best tuba videos I ever watched

[@tubadylan]

Your video has much improved in quality. Your embouchure shift has always sounded great! I'm one of those who had to work on "the shift". Tommy Johnson taught me how to do it. I'm so glad that I did.

[@cheers623]

Thanks for the feedback, Dylan! I’m learning slowly. Buying the iPhone 12 and getting a proper tripod, along with creative lighting/staging has helped a lot! Beats the hell out of setting my iPad mini on a music stand and pressing record...🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tubadylan]

@@cheers623 Love the "shift" video. You really covered it well. KZbin is such a great tool for the modern musician to reach out and help folks through education, while promoting the future and new careers in music. Keep it up, for all of ou sakes!

[@Tuba-Total]

Bravo! Very well done! 😊🎵🎶 I like it.

[@kevinwass7029]

This is a fabulous presentation of an often confusing topic and raised some questions that I had never considered (the top lip vs. bottom lip discussion is really tweaking my mind right now). I have always taught students to go with whichever direction speaks most easily for them when they first try shifting but will now start encouraging students to develop both to and bottom at least as an experiment. Trying to top shift now after bottom shifting for over 30 years. Initial results are comical but I'll keep trying!

[@leejarzembak]

Agreed! I look forward to making progress on this myself.

[@sergheibolun7225]

Love it! Thanks, Chris!

[@cheers623]

Thanks Serghei! Hope you're well!

[@acattanach72]

Great video! As a (mainly) brass band player, different Shifts (I've always known it as pivots) give different results when playing in tuba (bass) sections with octaves/blend etc, and for different methods of attack or volumes as you describe. Many Brass Band players DO think it's "cheating", but I've always unconsciously used these methods, and try and pass them on too.

[@marklindenbaum4790]

Hi Chris! Well done, very useful!

[@cheers623]

Thanks to everyone that has replied so far. Apparently it’s important to engage in the comments section to boost the video. I don’t get paid for any of this, but I’d like to see it go viral and help the people that want to use the information! Also, thanks for all the kind words!

[@Zeicon117]

@@cheers623 I think you can actually be part of the KZbin partner partner program! The qualifications are to have 4,000 watch hours, have 1,000 subscribers or more, and live in the country or region that youtube supports creators :D

[@jonathanekim]

Thank You So Much!!!!!

[@cheers623]

Thank you for your support!

[@NickLukefahr]

I've only ever used the bottom shift, but it seems like the top shift is actually a lot more useful... time to start practicing...

[@cheers623]

I used to only have the bottom shift. After working hard to try and make it more flexible, I discovered that the top shift is much more flexible for me. Individual experience may vary.

[@tubadylan]

And it does always depend on the horn, the mouthpiece, the shape of one's mouth, and the coordination between the lips and the brain, especially in the subconscious, musical mind.

[@Zeicon117]

Thank you so much for this video Mr.Olka, by any chance do you think one day you can do a video on the daily routine of a tuba player? Like warm ups or maybe things a tuba player would do to keep their chops where they are daily? And maybe even covering days where the player cannot sit down for very long so they choose a separate exercise to do because of lack of time? I appreciate all your videos and have helped a lot through my tuba journey

[@cheers623]

Max, have you checked out my “Dirty Thirty” video? That’s a perfect short daily maintenance routine.

[@Zeicon117]

@@cheers623 I have not, I will get to that right away! Thank you for the guidance :D

[@mr.bug9319]

Can you do a review on some of the Wessex instruments such has the Lurzern or the Anton ? I’m looking into buying one of them.

[@MattAllenTeller]

Bravo. Curious as to the width of the mouthpiece, not for "what mouthpiece are you using because I want to sound that way" (ha) but because I'm small and you can only see the very edges of my corners outside the cup that gets the best sound and response for me. I don't have the air to play low like that (for more than about one second) but have a "required" definite shift farther up, which has to occur somewhere around E in the staff. I'm going to refer a friend who has trouble with low range to this video. Thanks for all the food for discussion!

[@cheers623]

The rim outside diameter is 1.920” I hope that helps.

[@gearaddictclimber2524]

Wonderful video. I notice you have a valve/trigger of some kind, what’s the function/utility of that? Thanks so much :)

[@cheers623]

It’s the fifth valve

[@maxlechevalierblanc3117]

You did not show the shift with blocking the upper lip who is more strong

[@shawnbelanger853]

what brand of tuba are you using I have seen other professional tuba players use that horn and I am a high school tuba on my 6th year of playing and I want to have a professional tuba that I could purchase when i have enough money.

[@jt.entertains444]

Please perform these scales in one breath, utilizing this system, for comparative reference!🎨📯🎼🇺🇸

[@tubadylan]

It does seem like a lot of work to get this right. Why not just learn the string bass instead?

[@tubadylan]

@@dave1536 Howdy, Dave! Isn't Chris a great guy? :)

[@LongDefiant]

Heresy!!!! 😅

[@gustru2078]

There is no such thing as "cheating" in music unless you're talking about "pop stars" going on stage, not singing a single note and doing some lipsync while a recording's doing all the work. It's not a sport afaik. Don't listen to anyone telling you otherwise. Any technique or tool that can help you achieve the desired sound or precision is useful.

[@cheers623]

I couldn’t agree more!

[@TheMASICO]

What model tuba please?