How Tuba Saved My Life

[Chase]

Let me start off this story by saying I am 24 years old with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Multi-Focus Music Performance from the California Institute of the Arts.

I have always been very comfortable financially thanks to my parents. They made it possible for me to follow my dreams and pursue a career as a musician. They weren’t happy about it but they supported me every step of the way.

About a year ago while I was living Los Angeles after I had graduated I was in a very bad relationship. This relationship drained everything out of me, I did not want to do the things I had always loved like skateboarding, swimming, surfing or even playing tuba.

There was even a period where I stopped practicing all together. I had no interest in anything.

Right around my birthday in October the year that I graduated my parents were so generous as to give me a plane ticket home. They had realized how bad things had become and wanted me to come home. My dream had always been to stay in Los Angeles and play rock music on the tuba and I was well on the way to accomplishing that in LA. My parents convinced me to move back to my hometown and to find a job doing anything so that I could recover from this bad relationship and become a normal human being again; they also wanted me to continue playing music no matter what I had to do to get back into it.

The first thing I did when I had found a job and a good place to live in my hometown was pick up my tuba. It was like that moment that you see an old friend after being away for many years. It was a wondrous reunion. I was HOME when I had my horn in my hands and playing God-knows-what. My horn was the friend that I needed but that I had ignored.

Being able to make music again saved my life.

I was wondering if anyone else had any stories like this?

[Chase]

Brian,

How interesting, I have those same nightmares. I also have nightmares in which my horns meet horrible fates. I wake up and run to my music room and make sure they're ok. But I totally understand where you're coming from.

Chase

[k001k47]

I've had epiphanies like that while listening to really well-performed symphonies. Then, I forget about it and carry on being a nobody.
I've also experienced it out on the golf course, but like the tuba, I stink at it. Maybe I should play in a lightning storm. It'd probably put me in my right place.

Anyhow, kudos to you! It's so humbling to know what music has done for you.

[Wyvern]

When I am stressed out I find there is nothing better than playing tuba to pick one up.

We are very lucky to have music in our life!

[Dan Schultz]

I quit playing tuba when I got out of The Navy in 1967 and didn't pick a horn up again until 1997 when I remarried and discovered my new wife had played sax in high school. We bought horns and couldn't find a local group to play with. So... we founded The Old Dam Community Band in Newburgh, Indiana... which now boasts a roster of about 120 and a 'regular' band of about 60 players. Our specialty is encouraging 'come-back' players. Not only has The Band been a great influence on my life.... we also have stories from folks in the band who say "they would be dead if it were not for The Band".

We have a flute player who lost her right arm at the elbow and retrained herself as a F horn player. There is an older tenor sax player who swears he would have been dead had it not been for the band. There is an 86 year-old who says music keeps him alive. There is a mom and two kids who come play. Their dad took up F horn from 'scratch' a couple of years ago and now plays with us.

It's rather heartbreaking to see kids put their horns down after high school or college. But... I know, thanks to groups like ours, there is a fair chance they too will be a 'come-back' player some day.

[Wyvern]

It's rather heartbreaking to see kids put their horns down after high school or college. But... I know, thanks to groups like ours, there is a fair chance they too will be a 'come-back' player some day.

I stopped playing when I left school and it took a local brass band asking me if I would help out for concert to get back into it. Thank goodness they did as I have never looked back! Through all the ups and downs of my life playing music has kept me going.

[tubatooter1940]

Played tuba through high school and college and loved it.
After 24 years as a bar room band leader playing guitar, vocalizing and soloing on trumpet and trombone six nights a week, I looked over my tune list and found I hated every song on it.
I got on at the post office and played no music for three years.
I missed playing fun songs and began to learn some silly songs to play guitar and sing for my rowdy friends.
Playing trumpet with pressure caused me to lose my teeth. Implants enabled me to play just a tad of trumpet but all the tuba I wanted.
Got to play tuba, guitar and vocals in a beach rock band for 14 years. Made some money, recorded two C.D's, got to travel and have a great time making music with friends.
Lucky boy,
toots

[jonesbrass]

There are two things in my life that give me that "dog with it's head out the window" expression of pure, unadulterated joy: making music and riding my motorcycle. They both are my refuge when things are rough and provide that zen-like experience that seems to make everything in the world seem right again.

[iiipopes]

When I found out some years ago I had my genetic clotting condition, I could no longer play bass guitar in bar bands (circulatory conditions and cigarette smoke do not mix, of course). Wondering what to do, one day I got a telephone call, actually asking for my cousin, who used to play saxophone, but when I said I used to play tuba I was asked to sit in on a Shrine band rehearsal for the annual Memorial Day observance. First were borrowed instruments, then the Besson (which still has the best intonation of any tuba I have ever played) and after several in-betweens and also rans settled on my 186 with both bells. As I have had clots on occasion since then, I consider that my tuba playing as one of the means (along with exercise and diet, of course) of keeping my cardiovascular sytem going at as good a capacity as possible has helped me stave off these subsequent small clots, which feel like a bunch of gnomes hammering your chest as they are passed.

[rperrym]

I agree with all of the previous posts. Playing the tuba again after so many years away from it has been of the best things I have ever done. Even though I majored in Music Ed., I went into a different field after graduation. Although I did play on and off with a brass quintet here and there, my work and travel keep me from playing regularly. Now that I recently retired, I have found a community band to play in and have been asked to play in a few church ensembles. I really look forward to practicing and rehearsals. I have also watched other music lovers who recently joined the band become excited and seem to find a new lease on life, so to speak. Some have said, they feel years younger since they began to play their instruments. So, playing our instruments is a great feeling for us as players and hopefully brings some amount of pleasure to our listeners as well.

Rick

[tubaforce]

Hi!
Nothing better than a couple hours of rehearsing with my friends 2-3 times a week!
I put up with whining prima-donna weldors, and cranky supervisors day in, day out in my day job, and music takes all the frustration away!
I've been known to take a Tuba and a Bass, and a Guitar on the road when working away from home! I shouldn't complain about my career as a Steam fitter. It has enabled my music habit quite well over the years!!!

Al

[ScotGJ]

When I picked up a tuba, after 26 years of never touching one, and blew a couple of ugly notes, I became a complete person again. 5 (6?) years later my regular practice and regular gigs are a part of my (and my family's) life. I guess you would have to study the philosophy of aesthetics to understand why we value our artistic parts. But I believe that there are things that music does that nothing else will do. And those of us who have had music as a valuable part of our lives will always feel something is missing when music is absent.

Cheers

[Wyvern]

I believe that there are things that music does that nothing else will do. And those of us who have had music as a valuable part of our lives will always feel something is missing when music is absent.

How VERY true!

[opus37]

All the stories here are similar to my experience. My wife bought me a tuba 35 years ago for $20. I played it in pick up jazz groups and shrine band for a few years. Then life got in the way and the horn sat. I retired and our church started a brass group that really needed a tuba. I practice an hour or more a day now, tae lessons, play in my old community band periodically and just feel good when I play. It is hard to stop practicing. ( I thought I was loosing my self in the horn). From this, I see that Tubitis is a rampant.

[bearphonium]

Similar story, here...

Trombone in HS, French Horn in college, put down the horn when Sheriffin' got to be too busy (SWAT, FTO, Peer Support, Survival Skills Instructor.) Then, my Mom and Mother-in-Law died 8 months apart in 2003-2004, and I went through a round with breast cancer in 2006. I had a nightmareish time at work in late 06 and early 07, and I began playing euphonium (hence the bearphonium forum name) again during that time. I was drafted to play tuba in the New Horizons band, and have not looked back. I now play in the Oregon Tuba Ensemble, a marching band, and another concert band.

The hole in my soul was filled and patched by my return to music. Riding the motorcycle helps!

[Rev Rob]

Playing tuba again may not have saved my life, but it has greatly enhanced it. I purchased a King 1241 from Wichita Music a year and 3 months ago. I was rather rusty, and am still challenged at times playing. But I have patiently worked through the Rubank Elementary, Intermediate and now am tackling the Advanced I and have all the Arban instruction books on tap as well.

Playing again in a band, and playing old marches and polka music has given me great satisfaction, just wish I could be a better player. The greatest satisfaction is getting to know my fellow musicians and enjoying my time with them playing music. Playing music and singing music enhances life, makes life worth living.

[mbeastep]

Dear Chase:

I hope the bad relationship was not with the Gronitz F that I traded to you for the 983!

All the best

mbe

[fairweathertuba]

When I get into the flow of the music whether only practicing or more fun when in a group that's what makes it great! The flow is when thoughts other than the music mostly disappear and I lose track of time.

I'm an on again off again player, but really I think I'm happier as an ON AGAIN person and player.

[peter birch]

whilst I am always pleased to hear stories of how a man gets his life turned around, this is not down to the tuba or to music, but to the love and generosity of your parents, who have been able to help you avoid the consequences of some of your questionable choices. I would hope that you resolve to live your life in a way that deserves this new chance, and remember it when your parents are old and need your care and support

[DevilDog-2013]

I find that it's not only tuba that keeps us all going, but also the people we meet.

The two other tubas in band are like brothers to me. And we are always there for each other. One of them was going to commit suicide and we called him up and talked him out of it. We saved his life. And we know he would do the same for us. I don't know what I would do without these guys.

And tuba! I can't imagine where I would be without it. To be honest, I don't want to think about it...

Erica