Army School of Music Questions

[Gorilla Tuba]

Ah, The School of Matrimony. I had a very positive experience at Little Creek. It is 6 months of wake up, do PT, Go to class, practice, and then practice some more. In that time they can take a competent high school level player and whip them into a person with enough skills to gig and be a soldier (or marine or Sailor), too.

The academic side is a lot like going to school full time. If you work hard it can be a positive experience and make you a better player. If you are lazy... well, truck driving ain't so bad.

Your activities while not in class or the practiceroom can range from a total control-like environment like basic training to complete freedom like in college... it all depends on the current CO or First Sergeant. While I was there is was fairly free, but you had to be in bed at lights out. Many weekends were completely "off." I spent a lot of time at Virginia Beach or at the Norfolk waterfront. I have no idea what "after-hours" is like now. Retrospectively, If we had less free-time, it would have better. I spent a lot of money going out.

All in all, it was a really great experience. I learned alot about tuba playing from Chuck Jackson and met some great people. I also met some loosers, but they usually didn't make through the school and into a band. Like anything, you get out of the experience exactly how much you put into it.

Good Luck and have fun!

[manatee]

Anyone know where David Jacobson is now? He was a great teacher and a nice guy too.
Re: Scott Hall. I think it is hilarious that in the promo stuff they show it as being a state of the art facility. That place was a dump 24 years ago when I was there.

[TubaRay]

I, too, studied with Jake(David Jacobson). Twenty-four years ago, huh? You must be old. I was there before you. My time at the the school was the easiest job I have ever had in my life. I had chops of steel!

[Tubadork]

So sorry to be that guy,
BUT,
I had a real bad experience there, mostly because the school is not designed for people who have degrees in music (much less a masters) and it seemed to me like everyone (including some of the drill sgts, yep, drill sgts {WTF over?}) had to get their last digs in before you went out the door. The teachers there at the time were Rodger Ridenour (tuba) and Dale McGiboney (euph), I had time for 1 lesson with each of them and both lessons were good, I have no complaints about them. But, waking up a 4:15 in the am to do PT and the drills complaining every day that I needed a haircut (I HAD A SHAVED HEAD AT THE TIME!!!). The theory that they taught was all jacked up and had nothing to do with theory that is taught in any music school in the country that I know of. All I wanted to do was get out of there. I was told that if I passed everything one th 1st try I could be gone in 2 weeks. It took me 5 to get out of there (not because I didn't pass anything) but because they didn't want to send me out just yet. D'OH! I went through at the age of 27 (which also doesn't help) and I was talked down to as if I was 10.
Sorry to vent, but IMHO the school is a waste of time for anyone who has been through college.
On the brighter side I met my current girlfriend there (yeah , yeah I know the school of matrimony, but we didn't date at the school). The area is nice (esp. the golf course and the beach) and I had fun doing PT with the Marines after school was over. We would run up and down the beach and all over the place and they would laugh at me for not being able to do any pull-ups.
As with all things, it is what you make of it. If you have been through college and are expecting to learn theory or have a good musical experience, don't get your hopes up. If you have enough good people, start a brass quintet or tuba quartet to keep music alive for you there, concert band when I went through was a gross slug fest complete with 9 tubas and 3 clarinets! There are some good instructors there and you'll figure out who they are very quickly, latch on to them and learn as much from them as you can. Corey Dawson is the tuba prof there now and I know nothing but good things about him. Good player, nice guy and Killer arranger (he did some arrangements for symphonia!) so get as much as you can from him and try to ignore all of the BS
good luck,
Bill Pritchard

[MackBrass]

I must say that the school is not designed for those with a degree but look at what the populations of students are. No matter what your education background is, you will learn something. I am sorry to say this but no one should be allowed to spend only 5 weeks there. Why would you want to rush to get to your first duty station and have to do some work, play the same type gigs day in and out, when you could spend your time in Virginia Beach. I spent 12 weeks there as a basic student but my situation was a little different, I was teaching my peers. I loved every minute of baybash Saturday nights, hanging out with new friends and scoring 350 to 375 in PT. Yes those scores are correct; there are things you can improve on even though you have more than one degree.

In my time there I came in contact with every type of personality you can imagine. Most of the time, students with degrees played no differently than those who were right out of HS. Actually, I had several students out of HS with no formal training who scored in the 3.1+ range and blew away the so called more advanced students. The best students I had were those who kept an open mind, they were the ones whom were a pleasure to teach and work with. To tell you the truth, the worst students were those with degrees and those who had disciplinary problems, sometimes they were one in the same. I am not going to say there were many of them but, the problem they had was they thought they already knew it all. When you’re a big fish in a little pond it’s easy to forget where you really are or where you came from.

No matter what level you are on as a player you will learn something, you have to know what questions to ask. As a student you must provoke thought from your instructor if you’re not getting the guidance you are seeking. When I arrived at the school I played well, but I learned just as much from my students as I did from all the pros I studied with. Learning how not to play things are as important as how to play correctly.

Here is what I told everyone when I was there. “You have already made more money being paid as a tuba player while at the school than 99% of all tuba players will make in there who life as a musicianâ€

[Mike Finn]

Man, Wade's post brought back some memories! The first thing our Platoon Sgt told us was "Don't get married, don't buy a car." Pretty good advice, really.

The theory that they taught was all jacked up

Funny, that's how I felt after the SOM when I eventually went to college to study music! I would have to agree though, the school is definitely geared towards and best for folks right out of high school. If you've got a college education already, I imagine it could be pretty frustrating at times. but hey, Parris Island was frustrating at times, at least at the SOM you've got a tuba in your hands!

Anyone know where David Jacobson is now? He was a great teacher and a nice guy too.

Dave Jacobson is right here in beautiful Virginia Beach, last I saw him I believe he was running a Booking Agency (Royal Music) and playing in a great little dixie band.
My instructor (1991) was an Army Sgt Becker, I ran into him at TUSAB a few years ago, anybody know what he's doing these days? I also learned to play electric bass while at the school, in those days you had to double if you blew a good enough incoming on tuba. That's a whole other story...
To the original poster: good luck, and give me a call when you're here in town if you want to get together for a "Jimmy's Unit" or anything. I'm in the phone book.
Semper Fi
Mike Finn

[Dave Roberts]

Mike...that wasn't Ray Becker, was it? Wow (if it was). Played in regional and state PA bands with him about a thousand years ago. Dave

[Mike Finn]

That's him, Dave. I guess we've both just dated ourselves, for better or for worse!
Mike

[Gorilla Tuba]

"The teachers there at the time were Rodger Ridenour (tuba)"

What a small world... Roger and I went through at the same time. He played really well. He was a great gut, too. I learned as much from him as any formal instruction.

I guess I was lucky to only have a little college before attending the SOM. I found their weird theory method to be very useful...especially when learning to improvise or lift tunes from recordings. It is different than most university teaching, but not useless.

If I can offer any advice to the original poster, it would be to relax and learn what they have to teach. Remember the old saying..."There is the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way." Although there is probably no longer beer machines in the lobby, a good time can still be had. Avoid being a Prima Donna at all costs... al it can do is make you unhappy. Shut up, play well, and have fun. If you take it too seriously you will be miserable.

[Gorilla Tuba]

Roger was a great guY... not gut. I like typos!

[manatee]

Thanks for the info on Jake!