What age were you when you took up the TUBA?

[Richardrichard9]

9 years old: Violin

11 years old: piano

14 years old: tuba

[bearphonium]

5th grade trombone: age 11
1st year college french horn: age 18
Mid-life experience tuba: age 48

[Dylan King]

2 yrs old - Cornet (just buzzing and playing around on my dad's)
6 yrs old - Violin
13 yrs old - Trombone
14 yrs old - Eb Tuba
15 yrs old - CC Tuba
19 yrs old - F tuba
31 yrs old - Trumpet

Psalm 98:6
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.

[NDSPTuba]

6th grade through 40 years old - French Horn
41 to present ( still 41 ): Tuba with a sprinkling of F. horn, though the last time I had the horn to my face was such a frustrating experience I don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon.

[jbaylies]

5'th grade ~ Trombone
7'th grade ~ Tuba

[BriceT]

6th grade - present: TUBA

I absolutely hated it at first then gradually developed a passion for it.

[TubaRay]

6th grade! By the time I was in the 7th grade, I knew I really wanted to keep doing this. By 9th grade, I was completely convinced. I haven't changed my mind, yet. I should graduate sometime soon.

[bassax]

10 yrs old - Recorder
11 yrs old - Saxophone
13 yrs old - Guitar
14 yrs old - Clarinet
15 yrs old - Bass guitar
18 yrs old - Bassoon
18 yrs old - Euphonium
20 yrs old - Alto horn
24 yrs old - Tuba
28 yrs old - Flute

I've also for a short while played piano, harmonica, didgeridoo, bagpipes, oboe, trumpet and trombone.

[RRW]

X

[Wyvern]

Learned tuba at school aged 12 originally as something to do in lunch breaks and as a way of getting out of lessons I didnt like. Tuba just because it took my fancy!

Stopped for a couple of years on leaving school before recruited by the local brass band.

Only got into orchestral tuba playing when 32 - never looked back

[brianggilbert]

Since I started this thread, I think it's very interesting to notice that a number of folks started in their 40's.

Personally I know of a few players I've come across in m travels that came to the instrument later in life, and are pretty awesome players in their own right. Maybe that's the magic decade?

[twoconnguy]

I started playing piano when I was 8.
I started sousaphone at 10 years old, in 5th grade. Technically, I didn't get to play a tuba until 10th grade in high school. We had a silver Conn 38K sousaphone, that I still have, bought for my older brother to use as a home practice horn. All through grade school and junior high we got to play the brass sousaphones that used to belong to the high school, and were passed down through the system as new fiberglass ones were purchased. At the high school, there were 3 bands (big school and strong band program). In the fall, the top 2 bands, formed the marching band. After the football season, the marching band was split into the Concert and Varsity bands. In 10th grade, I ended up in the Varsity (#2) band, which played at the basketball and hockey games . In the spring we played one concert and prepared for the state contest, so I finally got to play a tuba, a beat up Mirafone handed down from the Concert band. I was in the Concert band for 11th and 12th grade, where I got to play a new rotary MW, but I'm not sure if it was an 18, 19 or 25.
I pretty much quit playing after high school, but joined a community band and started again 25 years later. I've been playing for about 12 years now, and joined a second community band 4 years ago. I restarted where I started, using the 38K, but found a 4 valve Reynolds recording bell, for $900 at the local university band garage sale. Then I found a silver 20J on eBay, that I played for a while, but I missed having the 4th valve, so I traded the Reynolds, the 20J and some cash for a silver 24J. Then I got a silver 25J on ebay, mostly for the bell. The body on the first 24J was a better player, but more banged up, so I took it to Lee Stofer and he straightened some things out and put on a new leadpipe (exceptional work, as always by Lee). I've also picked up a couple of detachable bell front 186 Mirafones, plus an upright Mirafone bell that fits. The latest one in the collection is a MW 19 with a detachable upright bell. I need the recording bells for outdoor concerts, and I'm thinking that I'll start using the MW or Mira's when I get too damn old to lug the Conns around anymore, although I've got pretty good system down with a foldable 2 wheeler fitted with 12" pneumatic tires that will go most anywhere, including stairs. More info than most of you care to see, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Donn]

Since I started this thread, I think it's very interesting to notice that a number of folks started in their 40's.

Personally I know of a few players I've come across in m travels that came to the instrument later in life, and are pretty awesome players in their own right. Maybe that's the magic decade?

Maybe it's a magic generation. I was surprised to see those numbers in the poll, until it reminded me of a certain post-WWII demographic bulge. Did a lot of those 40's beginners begin around 15 years ago?

[TubaSailor]

Started on Sousaphone at age 12, then played everything I could get my hands on - from little Olds 990, Conn 34J, Besson Bombardon, through College. Played Organ, Jazz band, doubled on t-bone, learned soprano sax (Don't hurt me - I gave that up quickly Then got busy w/ life & stopped. Re-started again (@ age 49) - Having fun - Probably play until I die.....