Studying with the designer of your tuba

vmi5198 · Post by **vmi5198** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:44 pm

I am wondering what you all think about the idea of going and studying with the person who actually designed your tuba. I have a BE 983 and a VMI 5198, and love them both.

I have become good friends with Patrick Sheridan over the years, and have spent time with him at his summer workshops. I would think that he would be the best person to study with the 983 that he helped design.

What do you think about Mel Culbertson? I must say I do not know much about him at all, and I cannot find much information (bio & contact info) on the internet to help me. Do you think that studying with him, due to the fact that he designed my tuba, is a good enough reason on its own? I like the idea of studying with both of these people in the future, I am just looking for some good reasons to pursue this kind of venture.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:06 am

I say go for it. Study with anyone who interests you. Designing a particular horn sounds like a qualification. Just the thought you put into that is worth a lesson from each.

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:36 am

Just 'cuz the Artist's name is on the horn doesn't necessarily mean he played any substantial part in the design or development of the instrument. How many great players would know what effect an earlier taper would have on a horn's playing characteristics or intonation? Generally, these guys get an idea about a heavier bell (or whatever), the company's left to work out the details, usually from parts on hand, and the result is a huge (often unsuccesful) crap shoot. I played one tuba at Meinl-Weston 'designed' by a well-known pedagogue, that they keep well hidden in the store room and secretly chuckle about.

Exception: Warren Deck. That guy pretty well knew the consequences of all the changes he made or suggested.

I'm not saying not to study with these guys! Only that their classification as "instrument designer" shouldn't be taken overly seriously.

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:45 am

WARNING: The following opinion originates from a tuba player who strives to someday achieve mediocrity. My expertise (if any) is in common sense, not tuba pedagogy.

It makes sense to me to study with the guy who does what you want to do. If you want to be a tuba solo stud, study with Sheridan because he's a tuba solo stud. But if you aspire to be an orchestral tubist, study with one of them.

Take the same logic and apply it to other areas. Would you rather study cooking with a great cook, or with the guy who designed the stove? These are two very different skill sets, which may or may not be possessed by the same person. Study with the guy who has the skill set YOU want to acquire.

____________________________________________
Joe Baker, whose skill set qualifies him to teach you to frack high Db's EVERY time.

UDELBR · Post by **UDELBR** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 2:29 am

pw wrote:Warren Deck's horn wasn't really designed by him, as far as I understand, because it's a copy of the Holton that was a copy of one of the CSO Yorks.

The 2165 (and 2265) are 3 bow tubas, whereas the Holtons and CSO Yorks are both 5 bow instruments. So it's fair to say that Warren's design is quite different. And yes, he played an active part in its development, right down to bending bows and soldering.