Tubachristmas

Tubachristmas is a super fun music party for people who play big, brass instruments like the tuba and sousaphone. These instruments are like giant trumpets that make a deep, rumbling sound. People who play them, teach them, or even write music for them all get together to play Christmas carols.

Sometimes, they even bring out really old and unusual instruments from the tuba family, like the serpent, which looks like a wiggly snake!

This amazing tradition started a long, long time ago, in 1974. A music teacher named Harvey G. Phillips wanted to do something special for his own teacher, William Bell, whose birthday was on Christmas Day. So, he organized a concert with over 300 tuba players in a famous place called Rockefeller Center in New York City. It was so popular that it became a yearly holiday event!

Tubachristmas is important because it celebrates music and togetherness during the holidays. It shows how many people love playing these big, beautiful instruments. When hundreds of tubas play the same song, the sound is so big and powerful, it fills up the whole place! It’s a unique way to share holiday cheer and connect with other musicians.

Anyone who plays an instrument in the tuba family can join a Tubachristmas concert. That means tubas, sousaphones, baritone horns, and euphoniums. You just need to bring your instrument and be ready to play some festive tunes. The music is often arranged in special ways, like a famous version of 'Jingle Bells' that includes a bit of a marching song!