Questioning yourself

[Benjamin]

From the way you describe it you are a good Tuba player. Don't be affraid to do anything you want, no matter what your told. (From this case the people telling you are on your side.) Just remember you can only get as good as you want. Allways remember thes, "Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice!"

[Ames0325]

Here's what I would say. I would only choose music as a career after you have explored every other option thouroughly and discarded them. Not saying you need to try all the other options ( its not humanly possible) but you need to consider that perhaps music is not something you watn to spend 40-80 hrs aweek and thousands of dollars (college, top-notch equipment etc.) on for the rest of your life.
Also I would listen to lots of tuba players at various levels. College, professional, Excellent Hisgh school, Average hisgh school etc. And compare them objectively to a recording of yourself. I am guessing you are a pretty good player and love to play but Sit down objectively and listen and compare and ask yourself how good am you really are right now and what potential and talent you have.
If Music is the thing that burns holes in your heart and your fingers and you just can't stop playing even when you hate it more than spinach or brussel sprouts or cleaning your room or runnign across hot coals and you have the drive and the talent to keep up with the competition go for it.

I am finding out that although I love music and tuba acareer in music is not really what i want and it took me a while to reconcile myself to that but I feel better now that I have--I think. But the music will always be there and I will always play but jsut for fun the competititon of college has made it difficult boring and frustrating work for me and the rewards I gain are no longer worth the costs for me and I am bailing out. I also know if I hadn't tried I would have always wondered what would have happened if I had and I am glad I gave it a shot.

Also that being said don't second guess yourself. Don't think tooo hard about it just do whatever is as natural as breathing is to you.

Amy

[leehipp]

Go see Jay Bertolet (Florida Phil.) or John Olah (U of Miami) they will both stear you in the right direction. Your band director should be able to help you get in touch with either one.

Ultimately you have to make the choice, but in my opinion if you are in High School it's still too early for you to know for sure. This is a very long road for most to travel, I did not decide to start down it as a career until I had already graduated from undergraduate school with a Music Education degree.

It never hurts to get more than one professional opinion.

[fpoon]

And remember, the #1 reason for playing tuba (or anything else for that matter) is BECAUSE ITS FUN!!!

Yeah, its important to understand what you do wrong, and work on fixing it, but ALWAYS have some fun during practice as well. Some days, I go in and I sound like "booyah" and other days I sound like "nasty". This happens to everyone I would imagine. Shoot, happens to me on bass as well. It's normal, don't let it get you down.

Regarding taking the tuba to the next level, music major, etc. Give it a try! What have you got to lose? I worked myself up and somehow got into music school, only to find that it wasn't for me. But what did I get out of it? A wasted semester? NO! I made some great friends, and discovered a lot about myself in the process. And even though I didn't stick with it, I most certainly am a better tuba player now then I was.

So to sum it up, don't worry about the good days and bad. Be observant, but don't be overly critical and beat yourself into the grond. Just enjoy yourself and your horn, and explore future options. My high school band director told me something that I didn't understand until the last year or so. He said "you don't have to make music your career to get a lot out of it". Keep that in mind...

[WoodSheddin]

I want to make somwhat of a career out of this
Im not expecting to be a "master of Tuba
-tubachris

Making a career out of performing usually requires becoming a "master of Tuba". There are some avenues which are available to the less dedicated, but in general the most rewarding careers and most sought after positions are obtained only by the "master of Tuba".

If you want it, then it required total and obsessive dedication for a few years.

[WoodSheddin]

Oh, what I meant that as an expression, for im not expecting to be one the greatest tuba player of all time, but I will try.
-tubachris

Another issue to consider is your purpose. If the purpose is to win a job then you might be in for a lot of disappointments which can lead to unhappiness. If the purpose is based in the improvement of the music itself regardless of outside pressures and benchmarks than you can have success everyday.

One outlook is based on the destination, while the other is based on the journey.

[Joe Baker]

One outlook is based on the destination, while the other is based on the journey.

Well said!!

When I set out to study music, I quickly realized that I had to be willing to give up the 'destination' (financial security, etc.) -- not that there aren't any musicians who HAVE that security, but when you set out you really don't know if you will. I love playing, but I had some specific goals and plans that were more important to me than playing full-time. I'm certain I'm a happier man for my decision to major in something else. I think you frame the choice very well.
______________________________
Joe Baker, who thinks the most bitter of life's lessons is that NO ONE gets to "have it all".

[tubatooter1940]

Tubachris85,
So many good posts have been written for you.I would like to add a story about "The Great Caruso",an operatic tenor from long ago.
People heard Caruso screaming in his dressing room before a performance.They rushed in to see if he was O.K. and found him alone.He explained the yelling was his way of quashing the doubts about himself that entered his mind before he went onstage.
The highs and lows of an artist's confidence must be dealt with.Some people are pleased to play music for pleasure and others for a career but an indicator of real progress is your most recent work.If you are still making progress and your most recent work is your best then that is an indication that you should stay at it.
Don't let them ol' blues set you down.
tubatooter1940