What is a sousaphone?
Q: What is a sousaphone?
A: The sousaphone is a brass instrument in the same family as the more widely known tuba. It was designed to be easier to play while standing or marching, and it has a large cupped mouthpiece that produces sound by moving air past the lips.
Q: Who created the sousaphone?
A: The sousaphone was created around 1893 by J.W. Pepper at the direction of American bandleader John Philip Sousa (after whom the instrument was then named).
Q: How does one produce sound on a sousaphone?
A: Sound is produced on a sousaphone by moving air past the lips, causing them to vibrate or "buzz" into a large cupped mouthpiece.
Q: What makes carrying a sousaphone easier than other instruments?
A: The instrument is bent in a circle to fit around the body of the musician, making it easier to carry than other instruments like concert tubas.
Q: Why are sousaphones used in marching bands?
A: Because of their ease of carrying and their ability to project sound ahead of the player, they are widely employed in marching bands as well as various other musical genres.
Q: What materials are modern-day sousaphones made from?
A: Modern-day sousaphones are typically made from lighter materials like fiberglass, although brass models are still in wide use.
Q: What direction does sound travel when playing a sousaphone?
A: The bell of the instrument points forward, projecting sound ahead of the player.
