"Value" of an education.

[greatk82]

The Army supply system has an ERC(equipment readiness code) for every item supplied to units and soldiers. Both an M16 and a tuba have an ERC of A meaning that when you step foot in a combat zone, you are required to have both with you. In practice though, occasionally you will have to put the tuba away and grab your weapon. During my first tour to Iraq, our band pulled perimeter security for the 4th Infantry Division's Division Main. Our 40 man unit pulled guard at 8 towers and the main gate at the presidential compound in Tikrit, Iraq. Our Comanding General slept soundly at night knowing that the only thing between the enemy and him on the front gate was a tuba player, a french horn player, a saxophonist and a eupher. After our 12 hour shift, we often had brass quintet rehearsals. We sat on the balcony of a 10,000 square foot marble palace looking over a man made lake surrounded by palm trees while practicing Ewald. We had performances called off due to too many incoming mortars. What I am explaining is the extreme of Army Band life, but I wouldn't change any of these experiences for anything in the world.

[Carroll]

I guess I should weigh in on this and even if I should not... I am as a parent, a TTU grad, and a teacher who is sending students to both Tech and MTSU. It is true that lots of military bands carry Tech grads on their rosters, but Gil Long is the pricipal tubist with the Nashville Symphony. Tech is a pretty small pond with lots of big fish, MTSU a larger pond and not so many whoppers. MTSU does the big time football band thing, not TTU. MTSU has more scholarship dough, more jazz clubs, more retail/food service opportunities, closer to Nashville, more private teaching prospects, more party temptations. Tech is a smaller campus in a smaller town with more rural charm, probably smarter women (it is a technological university), a well established - recording - travelling tuba/euphonium ensemble. Both top bands are fantastic. Tech does carry full time faculty on every orchestral instrument, MTSU uses adjunct faculty (Mr. Long, included).

Do take your folks with you and audition for both, tour the campus, go to the just off campus chinese buffet, and talk to some upperclassmen. Catch a wind ensemble/symphony band concert if you can... or at least a rehearsal. If they want, have them P.M. me.

[tubajoe]

One thing to consider is the level of proficiency and vibrance of your ENVIRONMENT. Put yourself in a pool of the best players you can... as most only grow as much as those around them.

School studios are like petri dishes -- you want to be in one where the cultures grow FAST... it's a collaborative thing.

Avoid the safe easy route where you will be a big fish in a little pond, you wont grow as much and wont get as much result for that money you are spending... in 3 years, you might find yourself frustrated.

Also go somewhere that is in a city/area where art and culture are vibrant and supported... as many students stay around for a while after they are done with school.

Paying for school sucks, the huge price is evil-- and much of how it is presented nowadays is downright unfair and exclusionary. That being said, you get what you pay for.

Also, another factor -- if you go out of state to a state school, after a year or two often you can get residency status which may lower your tuition considerably -- and the schools will help you with this -- as they make more money (from the govt etc) from in state students than out of state. It probably varies state to state -- but talk to folks in the studios you are considering.

Maybe some profs can jump in on this... it's an important reoccurring topic that applies to many on this bbs.

[Tubaguy56]

ah, here's how I convinced my parents, I said, ya know my band director that everyone hates and is totally incompetent? He didn't go to a good music school, thats why I need to go somewhere with a good program. I jest though, if you have a private teacher though, have them tell your parents you need to go to a good college, my teacher basically said he didn't have a whole lot left to teach me and told me to go far away, gee, I wonder why?

[Rick Denney]

I can't say that I'd be willing to risk my life for the ideals of someone else. Is there any way to buy plane tickets to a very remote island way in advance, with no time restrictions?

For what would you be willing to risk your life? I see kids risking their lives for all sorts of silly things, including using stronger drugs, driving way too fast and following other frightened drivers way too closely, drinking themselves into oblivion and then driving, shooting at each other because of the color of their sneakers, and so on. Those things are cutting short young lives at a vastly higher rate than any military action since World War II, yet kids seem quite willing to take those risks without due consideration.

The Army Band thing doesn't sound like a bad deal, though. Do you have to go through basic training? Are you at a heightened probability of having your tuba replaced with an M16?

It depends on your posting (and that depends on how good you are and the deal you make going in). In the Army, a musician is also a soldier, and yes you have to go through basic training (though that should not affect your decision--nearly anything on these shores can be endured for 13 weeks). Other branches are a little different. If you go that route, make sure you get the advice of those on Tubenet who have done so--they can help you avoid getting manipulated by a recruiting officer.

Rick "thinking that the Pledge of Allegiance is a statement of meshed ideals" Denney

[ken k]

A number of people have suggested joining a military band.

How realistic is it for a HS graduate to even get into a military band? It is my understanding that with all the budget cuts and reductions in bands, etc. even getting into a regular military band (as opposed to one of the "premier" service bands) is very difficult for a HS graduate.

Perhaps someone with this experience can tell a little about the realities of military auditions and the chances of a HS graduate getting into the military band program.

ken k

[tubeast]

I´m sure this won´t help you in your decision making.
Our band director is a tenorhornist with an Austrian Army Band. Apart from his musical service, he also does guard duties and basic training for recruits (to a large extent. the band consists of recruits doing their 9-months military service which (with an option to civil service in health care and other public facilities) is mandatory for young men over here.

In Germany, military musicians are part of the medical units and would serve as such in case of war. All personnel will have basic training and repetitive follow-ups during their career.

[ai698]

The basic course at the SOM was always something like 24 or 26 weeks. When did it change to only four?

The Reserve Component AIT at the SOM is four weeks. They changed it last year from doing OJT with an Active Duty band. They schedule it during the summer only.

[Lew]

Where you go to college will not impact your ability to get a job, especially in music.

I 100% disagree with that statement. Of course it matters. And putting off til graduate school, as someone else posted, to get into the higher quality musical environment is the wrong tactic. Grad school is not where to polish you professional abilities. It is a place to go when you have lost all your auditions to that point and are not ready to give up yet.

Finding a way to pay for college is tough, but I think you are totally approaching this situation logically. Do whatever you can to go to the most personally condusive environment possible. But realize that unfortunatelly reality does not always meet up with the ideal.

If you are able to somehow swing the more expensive option, which you believe to also be the better school for your goals, then make darned sure you earn every minute of that opportunity.

I think my statement was too strongly worded. My intent was to say that the name of the school isn't what will get you the job, but the quality of the faculty is what matters. That is of course impacted by where you go to school, but some schools may not have the big name reputation, but may have faculty that will allow you to develop you full potential.

(Then again, I paid over $40K per year to send my daughter to Cornell because that's where she wanted to go to school, for art, which is not one of their better programs, even though she was offered $10K per year at other schools and nothing from Cornell. I had planned and saved for her college education and could afford it. Not everybody can.)

[LoyalTubist]

The basic course at the SOM was always something like 24 or 26 weeks. When did it change to only four?

The Reserve Component AIT at the SOM is four weeks. They changed it last year from doing OJT with an Active Duty band. They schedule it during the summer only.

When I was in the Army, my job was training Reservists and Guardsmen. They always only had four weeks.

SOM is 23 weeks, if you stay until the end.