Video

I would like to see a t&e video on the adams selected series. It's a 4 quarter BBb with 4 pistion valves and a independent thumb rotar.

the king has spoken

the bach king

Wonderful Mr Olka! Which mouthpiece did you use in this presentation?

Can't wait to try this out( at a slower tempo). Many thanks Chris for your generousity and time.

Thanks for these amazing content you give to our community. You are an inspiration for all of us!

Hi Chris, I bought the Drill of the weeks about a year ago and didn’t realize there would be more added. Is there any way to add this new drill?

I love these short format drill vids.

And this is where MAW valves become super useful.

Awesome Drill!

I like the "Baby Beard " And the shiny dome. Wax? Instructions are too involved ... for most tuba players 😆

I never play on Sunday. My chops love the day off every week :) If I have a Sun gig, I take a different day off. I've been doing it since my performance major days in the 2000s and I still do it :) Overuse is a terrible idea. I also like how it makes me plan my practice time carefully.

You may be able to publish these drills in a book :) I'd buy it!

4:42

This is great!! Definitely going to challenge this in my practice 😎 Thanks for sharing, Chris!

Go have fun...do some tuba or low brass duets or trios with Tony Kniffen or Chris Knox or your students. I also think a deep dive on the mental toll of having a top symphony gig and college jobs needs to be addressed. It's been brutal to many professional brass players. Thank you for all that you do and your time making these videos!

I would love to see you playing fun and good etudes in the future of your short videos.

If your home is the only place available to you to make these videos I'd rather have that than nothing. Also, branching out into things outside tuba playing as part of each episode sounds like the way to go. I'd also like to see excerpt demos and tips (Fountains of Rome, anyone?)

Everything you put out is inspirational. Would love to see more plane content!

Instrument maintenance and tweaks/modifications.

Tuba tips and the business aspects

I'm mostly interested in Tuba content only, since I'm just an amateur player. For the sound, I don't mind either way. Short form content sounds like a great idea though!

I had it in 1.5 time and didn’t realize and thought “oh my god how can he do that… the acoustics suck”

I like your sound quality a lot! I think pdf formats of your drill will also be a great way on making sure I can just flip through and find a drill I'd want to do with the music laid out rather than going back to that video. Thank you so much for your contributions to the community!

Id love for you to branch out your content more

I think that the recording quality would be more than acceptable especially for your caliber of playing. I think it would be beneficial to have more content talking about ways for musicians to find fulfillment and jobs that aren't just the big symphony gigs. Maybe some ways to market yourself in the music business and discussions on similar topics!

Your standard of playing always speaks for itself, regardless of room, so I think a lot of us would be happy with higher frequency of uploading, even in less ideal acoustical spaces. I’m personally stuck in practice rooms a lot of the time, so hearing you in smaller spaces could be motivating and illuminating as well. Also, would you consider recording some of your DoTW’s on F tuba, or maybe even catering to the smaller horn? I personally find bass tubas to be very different beasts in the lower range and would be interested in your thoughts. Thank you!

Hi Chris! I am always interested and encouraged by your videos. I understand sound quality and spaces used, I am happy to hear you in a small room or large, I’m not too concerned about that. I appreciate your time and if it means not the biggest room, that’s fine, plenty of us practice in small spaces. Your descriptions are very in depth and thorough, even if you trim them, you will give plenty of information. Yes, I want as much tuba info as you can give but with your experience, sharing knowledge about the business would be so helpful and wonderful. Thank you!

1. Your sound will always vary based on the space. It is the consistency, facility and intonation that is instructive. So, play where you need to play. 2. The shorter drills are fine. We should be able to transpose whatever examples you provide. 3. Your experiences in the music business beyond just tuba playing would be welcome. I fully intended to have a career as a performer. Sadly, I was not good enough. Now, I play most of my gigs (roughly 70 a year) on the sousaphone. I know I would find whatever you have to say about the business insightful and entertaining and those who still seek to be in the business (or those already in the business) would too.

music biz, flying do it all...

I trust your judgement!

I think branching your content to the music business aspect would be great especially for those who want to perform etc.

I appreciate your time in reviewing and evaluating these. I purchased a set for my small-valve new to me 2165. I’m excited to test them out as I think that type of tuba is what these valves are made for! Can’t wait.

Thanks for another great video Chris. It was excellent to see and hear you again.

Definitely not as woofy especially in the low register with the MAWs installed. Better resonance, projection and the timbre is noticeably brighter with a fuller sound. I despise a woofy tuba although I recognize it's appropriate in certain applications. The slurs are also much smoother and buttery. I'd buy a set if I played piston tubas but I'm partial to rotary. Started on a Yahama in HS and played rotary mostly since.

Would MAW Valves be willing to make custom euphonium valves for my Geneva Cardinal euphonium? Or do they focus on Tubas only?

Mr. Wilk is a phenomenal instrument repairman. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable, he takes enormous pride in what he does and he stands behind his work and products. There’s a reason he doesn’t need to advertise his valves as much, they really speak for themselves!

Respectfully, your videos are only ever positive reviews and frequently gloss over any negatives. I agree that these are a fun idea and conceptually probably an improvement. However, there are valid concerns about the structural integrity of the valves with the part missing AND plenty of established pros have used them for a while and gone back to their stock valves after a year or so. In addition, you rave about them and then decide not to use them yourself. Considering the history of only positive reviews, it all really casts a shadow on the reliability of your reviews for making any purchase decision.

Martin offered to get me MAW valves for my 836 when I went up to his shop a couple months back for some work, but as a freshman in my undergrad the cost is quite steep. Do you believe, at this moment, that this is a worthwhile investment?

There's more bass in the low notes on the maw valves as well

Are those vented?

MAW sound super even. Great demonstration as always!

Unfortunately, the newer version of this horn does not include a 5th valve.

i’ve never been this early for one of these :o very excited for eastman camp though

I might invest in these! Thank you for the video

Did the intonation characteristics change any with the MAW valves?

New T&E video! I love it Chris, would it be possible to review the miraphone 186 CC copy from mackbrass? The TU-410 if possible!

Easy! Just convince Eastman to install MAWs in every one of their piston instruments from the factory! </wishful thinking> I agree that all of the benefits he lists on the site are realized, even if it's a 5% improvement in any particular characteristic (in some cases it's more IMO)

Chris, you sound fantastic. You inspire!

I recently purchased one of these (based in no small part on this video). I LOVE it! Intonation is excellent, sound is excellent, it's well constructed, very free-blowing, it can rattle the walls in the lower register but still plays well in the upper register. I have listened to this video for years and agree with the user who stated this is the the best tuba sound he's heard. Of course 99.9% of that is Chris Olka... but the Wyvern is no impediment in making this sound. Like the saying goes buy the horn that doesn't get in your way while playing. For me, this is it. I'll never sound like Chris Olka... but it does help me be the best version of me.