A: The basic procedure:
We meet at a pre-arranged time and place (e.g., 8:30 at the Broadview station). Then we proceed down the street to the first likely place of business (pub, restaurant, convenience store, etc.). We then enter said place of business and begin playing our tunes. The better our reception, the longer we stay. Then we move on down the street to the next likely place and repeat. Occasionally we take requests and play a song or two outside. We do not, however, use music stands and chairs, and we do not stay in one place all night.
A: We play for fun -- for our appreciative and enthusiastic audiences. We aren't out on any particular mission.
A: No. This is a musical activity, and drinks and food are not the objective.
A: No.
A: for roughly two weeks before xmas; generally evenings - often starting at 8:30 pm
See our schedule page for specific dates.
A: fairly easy -- Most people are sight-reading. We have no rehearsals before we go out, but sometimes we will practice a song on the street or in a convenience store.
A: Jingle Bells; Good King Wenceslas; Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer; Frosty, the Snowman; The First Noel; Gloria/Deo; Here We Come A-Wassailing; Silent Night; Adeste Fidelis; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Deck the Halls; Joy to the World; Ding Dong Merrily on High; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; Up on the Housetop; I'll Be Home for Christmas; Santa Claus is Coming to Town; Blue Christmas, Winter Wonterland, Jingle Bell Rock -- plus a few more in reserve in case of requests
We also keep Happy Birthday handy.
A: Not easy to predict. Even just two tubas can put on a good show, but we've had as many as 11.
A: You don't have to commit to every night.
A: Just let us know, and we will try to predict where we'll be later on. We're not hard to find! The Tuba Carol Locator App (TCLA) is not ready yet, but you can always just ask someone on the street: "Say, you haven't seen a bunch of tuba players around here lately, have you?"
A: It's great if you RSVP, but you can just show up.
A: Preferably at home or in a car trunk. We generally stay in a fairly small geographic area on a given night. You won't be unpacking and repacking all night long.
A: Most of us play just for the fun of it, but it is possible to earn some money for your efforts. Appreciative audiences often give us tips, and you can sometimes earn more than minimum wage. (If you don't expect much, you won't be disappointed.) They occasionally buy us food and drinks, and several restaurant owners have given us gift certificates.
A: We can be outside for a few minutes between stops, so dress appropriately for the weather. There is no dress code.
A: Most of our playing is indoors, typically in a restaurant, pub, or shop. We have been known to play outside at xmas tree lots, and we usually get a couple of requests to play a song or two on the sidewalk.
A: We average two or three carols per establishment. And we hardly ever play more than five in any one place.
How long we keep going depends on the energy of the group. A few players might be ready to call it a night after just an hour or two. Enthuastic players often continue past midnight.
A: Not usually. For simplicity, we usually stick with 2-part arrangements. We do use a few 3- or 4-part arrangements.
A: "Good" is not a word that we hear very often. "Amazing!", "Awesome!", "Interesting" - we hear those quite a bit. But not "good".
A: The biggest challenge has been valves freezing up on super-cold nights. Some players strap hand warmers onto their valves to prevent this.
Also, in a few places, it is a bit dark -- and hard to read the music. If you can attach a small flashlight to your horn or shoulder, this could come in handy.
A: No problem.
A: Yes indeed. Practice ducking through doorways!
A: If you warn us in advance, we can supply transposed parts. Do not, however, bring the trumpet!
A: As above, if you warn us in advance, we can supply transposed parts.
A: Bring the baritone.
A: You are still welcome.
A: We do not kick someone out for playing wrong notes. (Just play the bad notes more softly, and nobody will notice.)
A: Use a shoulder strap or a harness to support your instrument, so that you'll have a hand free to hold the music. A couple of us have spare lyres that might work for you. Contact us soon!
A: Contact us, and we'll help you find one to rent or borrow.
A: We can help you work things out beforehand. For instance, we can give you keys and starting notes if you'd like to practice ahead of time.
A: Yes, of course.
A: There are probably several similar traditions, but this one dates back to 1972, when Charles Fugate suggested that Xmas carols could be written out for tubas to play. A small group of sousaphone players went house-to-house on December 23 of that year, and it was a great success.
A: Toronto
A: Normally we play rain, snow, or shine. So far, the only time was in 2013, when we cancelled one afternoon gig due to a severe ice storm.
A: We try to start from a sheltered location so that early arrivals won't freeze while waiting. LCBOs have, in the past, welcomed us and not asked us to leave while we wait.
A: That's a good question. Probably because no one has sent us any to post. Also, some of us are camera-shy. There was a youtube video, but it appears to have been removed.
One photo from Whitby (2019-12-13) appears below.
A: No. It is very different from, and not affiliated with, TubaChristmas. This is also separate from the Nathan Phillips Square event.
A: low-brass instrument (tuba, sousaphone, euphonium)
lyre or free hand to hold music
also suggested:
small flashlight or LED, to shine on music
hand-warmers, to protect valves
A: xmas@tuba.to (You might need to manually edit the @ sign.)
