I'm a new member of 8notes. I don't completely know what they do. Also new to posting on forums. I hope I'm doing this right.

I've played sousaphone from the 60s, mostly solo, mostly for myself. I like to play hymns and folk songs. I am retired from working with deaf students, and used to play for them. If low notes come through better when one has a hearing loss, a melody two octaves down might be more fun. "Music for Everyone to Enjoy" had a similar thought.

Tubby wanted to play MELODIES, not just "oompa, oompa all the time." Me too, and it's easy! I read the treble clef, so can play directly from a hymnal or song book! Also, much clarinet and trumpet music works well. Do others of you do it this way? Most songs in the books are in the right range, but I'd like them a step or two lower, just because I love the low B and A.

I started by learning the fingering on a trumpet, and slid over to the sousaphone. I can't remember thinking through the advantages of treble clef reading. Maybe I didn't know enough about music and brass to think it through!

A is a good low note for me (two notes below "middle C." I like songs in G, so I can end on G, then add G an octave lower, if I can hit it!

The high note that is comfortable for me is D or maybe E (top of the treble clef). If I played more, I think E and F would be easy.

Can I ask 8notes for music that goes down to A or B in almost every piece, so I can relish those low notes?

Jim Olsen, Portland, Oregon