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Hi All,
Here is some info on the tuba opening at Mannes School of Music.


*We have an opening for 1 tubist, either undergrad,
graduate, or Artist diploma (professional studies)
*There is Scholarship money available!
* The Audition date is set for may 23rd in the early evening
* All interested should talk to Georgia Schmidt in the
Admissions office at Mannes. 212-580-0210 ex 0210

Any questions, you can e-mail me at :
nyptuba1@optonline.net

Thanks,
Alan Baer

snufflelufigus wrote:yeah, but how many tuba players are there already? mannes is really only a one tuba type college. unless you get someone who doesn't want to be in the orchestra. mannes was a hip place before the New School sucked it up. better student teacher ratio and more available practice rooms. but that's what the New School is. a business. they maximized their earnings by squeezing as much as they could out of such a small facility. i heard mannes had three tuba students at one point. hell, with the prices they charge you'd be better off renting a rehearsal studio and studying privately. do you really want to pay $20,000 not to play in the orchetsra? just my 2 cents.

However, to study with arguably the best auditioning tuba player in the last 5 years, would be well worth it. If I was in a better financial situation, I'd certainly consider doing it.

bloke wrote: Has this, now, become a viable profession?

If A.B. offered the class at a fee, I bet there would be a pretty long line of folks willing to lay out the $$$$ to take it.

Certainly Bloke..., if you want a job...
Mannes has and will ONLY have two students.. period. Yes there was a time that I had three at Mannes, certainly not my idea of a great situation.
TWO STUDENTS...
enjoy the day,
Alan Baer

you will not get an education that prepares you for the real world as a performer in many other places. It is a very demanding curriculum that sometimes had me wondering "what the heck am I doing this for?" I'd find out later, having to transpose a bunch of stuff at sight in an opera because a singer is having a bad night.

If I were on the audition circuit today, I'd go to BFE to study with Mr. Baer.

Roger

and me, having just payed my binder fees to westconn

I wouldn't be surprized at all if Alan took a student who was interested in doing something other than playing in an orchestra. I would think that a student with a more creative musical occupation in mind might interest a teacher even more. And by "more creative", I don't mean orchestral playing doesn't take creativity, I just mean something like jazz tuba, composition, tuba design and repair, even one-man-banding.

It took a great teacher like Tommy Johnson to set me straight and convince me that I'd be bored just playing the tuba in the back row. When I first went to college, I was quite good, and was focused on that big orchestral job because, well, that was the "thing to do." Thank God Tommy took me to a few of his recording sessions and made me think more about facing the band from the composers' stand. It helped give the the juevos to face my fears and begin writing.

Whoever ends up studying with Alan will be blessed indeed. The NY environment is great for a creative young musician, and if they ever drop their horn on the subway, they'll have a teacher who can bend back the rotars. And I can't see anyone getting mugged walking down the street with the prnicipal tubist of the NY Phil either.

I'll add this...

Personally I HIGHLY reccomend that if you are going to be a performer, that you do your degree (esp a grad degree) at a school that is IN a major city. It provides a facet to the experience that simply cannot be gained anywhere else.

...which is why this situation with Al is probably a very good one. NYC has more to offer an aspiring 'artist' than probably anywhere in the entire world.

While the school situation may be small, the performance and learning experiences throughout the city are almost endless (if you apply yourself)

People often dont speak of it, but environment is a huge part of the school experience! ...and there is nothing like living in NYC!

tubajoe wrote:People often dont speak of it, but environment is a huge part of the school experience! ...and there is nothing like living in NYC!

One minor off-topic addition: Going to school in a particular city tends to gradually enmesh one in the freelance scene. Doesn't mean you can't leave later on, but it would be tempting to stay and see how far the freelancing might carry you (can be addictive!). After a time, you're somewhat 'invested', and less likely to leave.

My point: not everyone's cut out to live in NYC, so if possible, study in a city where you might eventually like to live as well.

UncleBeer wrote:

tubajoe wrote:People often dont speak of it, but environment is a huge part of the school experience! ...and there is nothing like living in NYC!

One minor off-topic addition: Going to school in a particular city tends to gradually enmesh one in the freelance scene. Doesn't mean you can't leave later on, but it would be tempting to stay and see how far the freelancing might carry you (can be addictive!). After a time, you're somewhat 'invested', and less likely to leave.

My point: not everyone's cut out to live in NYC, so if possible, study in a city where you might eventually like to live as well.

Chris Olka freelanced all over the tri-state area when he was at Juilliard and Rutgers. He doesn't live in New York.

RyanSchultz wrote:

UncleBeer wrote:

tubajoe wrote:People often dont speak of it, but environment is a huge part of the school experience! ...and there is nothing like living in NYC!

One minor off-topic addition: Going to school in a particular city tends to gradually enmesh one in the freelance scene. Doesn't mean you can't leave later on, but it would be tempting to stay and see how far the freelancing might carry you (can be addictive!). After a time, you're somewhat 'invested', and less likely to leave.

My point: not everyone's cut out to live in NYC, so if possible, study in a city where you might eventually like to live as well.

Chris Olka freelanced all over the tri-state area when he was at Juilliard and Rutgers. He doesn't live in New York.

Did you read this, Ryan?

UncleBeer wrote:Doesn't mean you can't leave later on

misread, I think