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Book- The Perfect Tuba

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 4:36 pm
by Renodoc
has anyone read this yet- I just ordered it from my local book store:

https://calirb.com/the-perfect-tuba-for ... -quinones/

Re: Book- The Perfect Tuba

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:35 pm
by circusboy
Sounds great. I read his LA Times pieces when they appeared. He's a good writer.

Added to my Amazon wish list.

Thanks!

Re: Book- The Perfect Tuba

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2025 10:52 am
by iiipopes
I'm sure it is a good book. I hope it talks about how to assimilate a player's playing to a tuba, in addition go discussing best design and construction practices. I will not purchase the book, because of the title. There is no such thing as a perfect tuba. All tubas have their quirks. All tubas are subject to the player getting the best tone, response, articulation, and intonation out of any particular instrument. Now, if someone who purchases the book can tell me that this is actually the purpose of the book, how to assimilate a person's playing to the instrument to make the tuba sound the best it can, then I shall reconsider.

Re: Book- The Perfect Tuba

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:14 pm
by circusboy
iiipopes wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 10:52 am I'm sure it is a good book. I hope it talks about how to assimilate a player's playing to a tuba, in addition go discussing best design and construction practices. I will not purchase the book, because of the title. There is no such thing as a perfect tuba. All tubas have their quirks. All tubas are subject to the player getting the best tone, response, articulation, and intonation out of any particular instrument. Now, if someone who purchases the book can tell me that this is actually the purpose of the book, how to assimilate a person's playing to the instrument to make the tuba sound the best it can, then I shall reconsider.
From the book's description:

"Technically speaking, there’s no such thing as a perfect tuba. But perfection isn’t the point of the story Sam Quinones tells so masterfully: purpose is the point. The Perfect Tuba is about what happens when we find something we can devote our creative energy to achieving. The tuba is a metaphor for the journey. Reward comes from striving toward a productive end, toward mastery and self-fulfillment through simple hard work and earnest effort. The lesson isn’t new, it’s just one we have been conditioned to forget."

I think it's shooting for a larger audience than tubists alone, so I doubt it will go into technical/pedagogical areas regarding assimilating a person to an instrument. To me, that's purely experiential and wouldn't make for good reading. My 2 cents.

Re: Book- The Perfect Tuba

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2025 8:47 am
by iiipopes
circusboy wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 5:14 pm
iiipopes wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 10:52 am I'm sure it is a good book. I hope it talks about how to assimilate a player's playing to a tuba, in addition go discussing best design and construction practices. I will not purchase the book, because of the title. There is no such thing as a perfect tuba. All tubas have their quirks. All tubas are subject to the player getting the best tone, response, articulation, and intonation out of any particular instrument. Now, if someone who purchases the book can tell me that this is actually the purpose of the book, how to assimilate a person's playing to the instrument to make the tuba sound the best it can, then I shall reconsider.
From the book's description:

"Technically speaking, there’s no such thing as a perfect tuba. But perfection isn’t the point of the story Sam Quinones tells so masterfully: purpose is the point. The Perfect Tuba is about what happens when we find something we can devote our creative energy to achieving. The tuba is a metaphor for the journey. Reward comes from striving toward a productive end, toward mastery and self-fulfillment through simple hard work and earnest effort. The lesson isn’t new, it’s just one we have been conditioned to forget."

I think it's shooting for a larger audience than tubists alone, so I doubt it will go into technical/pedagogical areas regarding assimilating a person to an instrument. To me, that's purely experiential and wouldn't make for good reading. My 2 cents.
Thank you for the quote. I shall reconsider.