Congratulations to my dad, Tom Eshelman, on completing his first 50 years of playing the tuba! (He started young!)
Here's to the next 50,
Kent
50 years of tuba-playing!
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KentEshelman
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Tim Olt
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Sean Greene
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50 years
Congratulations Tom!
Sean Greene
Andreas Eastman Artist/Clinician
http://www.eastmanmusiccompany.com/artists/
Band Director, Robertsville Middle School
DMA, MM - Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
BM - Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville
Sousaphone, Big Orange Banditos
Andreas Eastman Artist/Clinician
http://www.eastmanmusiccompany.com/artists/
Band Director, Robertsville Middle School
DMA, MM - Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
BM - Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville
Sousaphone, Big Orange Banditos
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Tom Eshelman
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memories of 1956
Thanks guys - I'm honored to be congratulated by such a distinguished group (btw - who are you iiipopes?).
So let me briefly share how things were in 1956 -
Kent's right, I did start young. I went to public elementary school in Summit, NJ. They offered free instrumental music lessons to 4th graders during school hours. Students were allowed to list 3 choices for instruments. I got no guidance or help from my parents. My first choice was, naturally, saxophone!?!? My third choice tuba. I don't think anyone had listed tuba as a choice for a long time so they jumped on my 3rd choice. I was issued an Eb tuba that hadn't been touched for years. We gave it a bath in the bathtub. The lessons were group lessons, but since I was the only tubist, my lesson was a private one from our bandleader (a percussionist) named Roy Fullmer. I began to identify with the tuba right from the start and have been a tuba devotee/nut ever since - strictly amateur. Mr. Fullmer did know enough to urge me to go see Bill Bell when he gave a concert nearby at Montclair State Teachers College in 1958.
Some name-dropping (1962-1965): my high school (Cleveland Heights Ohio) had a wonderful band and an even more remarkable orchestra. I played in a tuba section with a future symphony tubist, Bernie Guzik. He had a long career in Kansas City and Tulsa, until it folded. James Fox (of the James Gang) played drums. Harry Sargous and Marilyn Zupnick played oboe and English Horn. I crossed paths with Kathy Brantigan at one point.
So let me briefly share how things were in 1956 -
Kent's right, I did start young. I went to public elementary school in Summit, NJ. They offered free instrumental music lessons to 4th graders during school hours. Students were allowed to list 3 choices for instruments. I got no guidance or help from my parents. My first choice was, naturally, saxophone!?!? My third choice tuba. I don't think anyone had listed tuba as a choice for a long time so they jumped on my 3rd choice. I was issued an Eb tuba that hadn't been touched for years. We gave it a bath in the bathtub. The lessons were group lessons, but since I was the only tubist, my lesson was a private one from our bandleader (a percussionist) named Roy Fullmer. I began to identify with the tuba right from the start and have been a tuba devotee/nut ever since - strictly amateur. Mr. Fullmer did know enough to urge me to go see Bill Bell when he gave a concert nearby at Montclair State Teachers College in 1958.
Some name-dropping (1962-1965): my high school (Cleveland Heights Ohio) had a wonderful band and an even more remarkable orchestra. I played in a tuba section with a future symphony tubist, Bernie Guzik. He had a long career in Kansas City and Tulsa, until it folded. James Fox (of the James Gang) played drums. Harry Sargous and Marilyn Zupnick played oboe and English Horn. I crossed paths with Kathy Brantigan at one point.
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Tom Eshelman
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1 accomplishment
Can I humbly share also that I think I inspired 4 others to become tubists - my two younger brothers, and son Kent and daughter Elizabeth. Son Jon is a professional musician too - never studied tuba, but he's played in a bunch of TubaChristmas's with us.
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TonyZ
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SplatterTone
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Re: memories of 1956
The Tulsa group has recently restarted with smaller numbers. Time will tell if it keeps flying. And Bernie is still the local guru.Tom Eshelman wrote: Bernie Guzik. He had a long career in Kansas City and Tulsa, until it folded.
Good signature lines: http://tinyurl.com/a47spm