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Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?

Posted by Please on 1/13/2025, 10:16 am

I've got a few kids that will be starting grade one solos either this year or next and I wanted to see what some recommendations were.

Trumpet players previously played Trumpeter's Lullaby and Romance in Eb.

Tuba player played Honor and Arms and some of Air and Bourree, but the Bourree section is a little too much right now.

All students are underclassmen.

Thank you all for the help!

Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?

Posted by Mithrandir on 1/16/2025, 10:38 am, in reply to "Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?"

First choice are the ones that are already recommended.
But I have an kinda unorthodox suggestion for tuba: Marcello Sonata 1
The range is fairly low (I think it goes up to 4th line 4) However for class 1 you do need to play all. And being a baroque sonata it's a little dry.
I've had a few students be successful and even like it.

Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?

Posted by Bald Eagle on 1/14/2025, 8:52 am, in reply to "Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?"

For trumpet, I concur with the previous response, and will add the first movement of Greg Bartholomew's Summer Suite. The movement is called Popsicle Rocket Sunrise and technically is very playable.

for Tuba:
Concertpiece No.1 - Vaughan
Ricercar - Gabrielli/Morris
Variations on a Theme of Judas Maccabeus - Beethoven/Bell (just moved back to class 1)

If your student can play a high D above the staff, then Lento by Holmes could be a good choice.

Finally, if all of those prove to be too much, these Class 2 solos can provide a good challenge:

Largo and Presto - Marcello
Larghetto and Allegro - Handel/Little
Colossus - Vandercook

The first two of those used to be on the Class 1 list.

Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?

Posted by Swamplander on 1/15/2025, 11:38 am, in reply to "Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?"

I agree with the other trumpet suggestions. I’d also add Ode for Trumpet if they have good high range. Corelli’s Sonata VIII is also a good one. One that was popular at my school for a while was Aria con Variazioni. I never really liked it, but several kids did.

Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?

Posted by Bald Eagle on 1/15/2025, 5:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?"

Sonata VIII is tougher than it used to be. You now have to play Mvts. 2 & 4 plus either 1 or 3.

Re: Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?

Posted by Trumpet on 1/13/2025, 1:29 pm, in reply to "Grade 1 Solo Recommendations for Tuba and Trumpet?"

Just a reminder that they dont HAVE to play a 1. They can still play a class 2. Some people forget that.
As far as trumpet goes All Antica, Petite Piece Concertante and Andante et Allegro (Ropartz) are my usual first for students making the jump to class 1.

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