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Posture

SITTING

 

  1. Sit at the front edge of the chair. Your back shouldn’t be leaning or resting against the back of the chair.

  2. Place both feet forward, flat on the floor. Your knees should be in line with or below the level of your hips. 

  3. Stack your shoulders over your hips and center your head on your shoulders.

  4. Relax the muscles of the shoulders and neck.

  5. Do not use a chair that has arms, allow your arms to have room.

 

Posture is the shape of your body when are you sitting or standing. When your body is relaxed and your air is able to move freely throughout your body, then you are achieving good alignment. It is important to learn how to sit and stand with proper posture because it will help your air travel through  you (and into your euphonium) most efficiently. Good air flow will lead to good tone.

STANDING

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  1. Stand with both feet flat on the ground, about shoulder width apart.

  2. Balance your weight! Rock carefully from side to side and from back to front. Find your center of balance.

  3. Stack your hips over your feet, your shoulders over your hips, and center your head over your shoulders. 

  4. Relax the muscles of the shoulders and neck.

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Instrument Position

 

  1. Sit with excellent posture (see above) and rest the euphonium in your lap. 

  2. Reach your left hand around the front of the euphonium. Your left hand holds the third (or fourth) valve tubing. Do not grip the tubing with a lot of tension. Instead, think of supporting the instrument. If you have a fourth valve on the side of your instrument, make sure your the first finger of your left hand is in a position to play it.

  3. If your torso is too short to reach up to the mouthpiece, try placing it on the chair or on an adjustable euphonium stand with your legs spread wide.

  4. If your torso is too tall to reach down to the mouthpiece, you can hold it up using the left arm muscles. To keep your left arm from tiring, place a cushion/pillow or lap pad under the euphonium, or on an adjustable euphonium stand with your legs spread wide.

  5. If you want to play while standing, simply remove any supports (cushion, pillow, lap pad, or stand) and stand up with excellent posture.

 

Hand Position

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  1. Sit or stand with excellent posture while holding the weight of the euphonium with the left hand and arm (see above).

  2. Shake out the right hand. Make a "C" shape with your right hand. The hand should feel loose and relaxed.

  3. Gently place the C-shaped right hand onto the valves, keeping the hand relaxed and free of tension. Place the pointer finger on the first valve, the middle finger on the second valve, and the ring finger on the third valve.

  4. If you are playing a three-valved euphonium, keep the right pinky loose and relaxed, not out like you're holding a teacup. If you have an in-line fourth valve, place the right hand pinky on it; if you have a side fourth valve, the left hand pointer finger should be touching it.

  5. The right thumb can be placed in the thumb hook (if your instrument has one) or to the side of the first valve.

 

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