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Hi everyone! I am a current high school senior pursuing a Music BA (I dont want to teach, but I dont necessarily want to be a performance major, either) at either West Virginia University or Penn State University. I have met with David Fedderly at Baltimore Brass who was nothing but helpful and all around awesome. He filled a room with six or seven C tubas of various makes and models to try out. After an entire afternoon of playing, I fell for the Meinl Weston 5450 "Thor." Mr. Fedderly showed me the Thor he bought himself, and from the great numbers of positive reviews of it, I can assume it is good. To cut to the point, does anyone have any experience with this tuba, silver or lacquer, and recommended mouthpieces? I have been playing since the 3rd grade and I know that I will want to continue this through college and hopefully with some employment afterwards.

cdtuba wrote:Hi everyone! I am a current high school senior pursuing a Music BA (I dont want to teach, but I dont necessarily want to be a performance major, either) at either West Virginia University or Penn State University. I have met with David Fedderly at Baltimore Brass who was nothing but helpful and all around awesome. He filled a room with six or seven C tubas of various makes and models to try out. After an entire afternoon of playing, I fell for the Meinl Weston 5450 "Thor." Mr. Fedderly showed me the Thor he bought himself, and from the great numbers of positive reviews of it, I can assume it is good. To cut to the point, does anyone have any experience with this tuba, silver or lacquer, and recommended mouthpieces? I have been playing since the 3rd grade and I know that I will want to continue this through college and hopefully with some employment afterwards.

A high-school senior buying a Thor? And they say we are in an economic crisis...

Read the other thread on the Thor. I doubt the finish makes any difference beyond price and aesthetics, so buy what you want. If you are buying a Thor, then you should be able to make your own mouthpiece recommendations, heh, heh.

Rick "whose mouthpiece choices are rather personalized" Denney

Actually the economy has been pretty helpful. My buddies and I have been taking advantage of all the closeout sales to beef up our recording systems. Plus we've been saving for a bit.

Thanks. I kinda figured that the mouthpiece would be the hard part.

Personally, I found the Silver version to have a more vibrant sound that projected better than the lacquer version. (Your experience may vary)

I use a LM-3 on my 5450, but I like huge mouthpieces. Many knowledgeable performers/educators have found the Helleberg (or similar designs) to be particularly effective.

I recently bought a lacquered Thor. For me, each of the lacquered Thors I tried just seemed to be a better fit for what I wanted.

Also, I got a Giddings and Webster Caver Lite and could not be happier with the choice. I don't know where that MP has been all my life but it is here now.

Drop Ivan a note on their website (Giddings and Webster) and see what he thinks. He is not only as smart as the day is long, but very honest also. After years of playing the same mouthpiece this was a big move for me. I'm glad I did it.

cdtuba wrote:Hi everyone! I am a current high school senior pursuing a Music BA (I dont want to teach, but I dont necessarily want to be a performance major, either)

OK, you are new to the board and asked a reasonable question, so I will try to be as polite as possible (it's a tough crowd around here sometimes)
You don't want to teach (fair enough) and you don't want to be a performance major (I understand.)
So...
What DO you want to do with your music degree?
There are commercial music and music business degrees. Trevecca here in Nashville will have you intern in Music Row studios that will give you real world experience in that kind of environment. I am not sure outside LA, NY, and Nashville how many other schools offer similar programs with viable internships.
What other options are you looking at? Composing? Conducting?

Answering these questions now will be helpful so you aren't mounting tires in four years after receiving your BA in music degree.

I ask these questions NOT to be a big meanie, but to try and help you find the right horn and set a path towards your future. You may find that a big CC is not the best option if you are in an environment where the performance heavies are playing in the top ensembles. You may find that a BBb tuba such as the new King suits your needs better when playing in a symphonic band or a college/community band that some institutiuons have for non-majors. Another advantage to the BBb is that you will not get crossed up when switching back and forth with sousaphone, if you choose to march.

To all the guys here lambasting you for wanting a Thor, if that is the right tool for the right job -and- you can afford it, I say why not? They are great horns, and, if taken care of, should have good resale value.

Before this thread gets too off track, my point is to know what you want to do and get a degree that will actually be of practical use. Without a Master's in a different field, a BA in music won't get you very far. Hence my suggestions on commercial music / music business.

I could have also said "don't get a music ed degree if you will make the greater percentage of your income building servers and maintaining the network for the headquarters of a non-profit company located in 188 countries"

just didn't have the same ring to it, though

MartyNeilan wrote:Before this thread gets too off track, my point is to know what you want to do and get a degree that will actually be of practical use. Without a Master's in a different field, a BA in music won't get you very far. Hence my suggestions on commercial music / music business.

I could have also said "don't get a music ed degree if you will make the greater percentage of your income building servers and maintaining the network for the headquarters of a non-profit company located in 188 countries"

just didn't have the same ring to it, though

BA in music and an MBA might work. Or, as Marty says, a 'useful' field for employment plus music for yourself.

Looking for a used Thor might be a smart idea. The resale price of a used Thor will probably be a lot closer to what you paid it for than a new one. At the very least, you would have more money for beer.

Jeff "Dreams 'R' Us" Benedict

The Big Ben wrote: Looking for a used Thor might be a smart idea. The resale price of a used Thor will probably be a lot closer to what you paid it for than a new one. At the very least, you would have more money for beer.

Jeff "Dreams 'R' Us" Benedict

Great advice for a HS student.

MartyNeilan wrote:To all the guys here lambasting you for wanting a Thor, if that is the right tool for the right job -and- you can afford it, I say why not? They are great horns, and, if taken care of, should have good resale value.

I didn't hear anyone complaining. And my own comment was based on jealousy as much as anything. I've often said that the only justification required for an amateur to by any given tuba is: 1.) he has the money, and 2.) he wants it.

Rick "who has lived by that standard for a long time" Denney

The Big Ben wrote:
BA in music and an MBA might work. Or, as Marty says, a 'useful' field for employment plus music for yourself.

Looking for a used Thor might be a smart idea. The resale price of a used Thor will probably be a lot closer to what you paid it for than a new one. At the very least, you would have more money for beer.

Jeff "Dreams 'R' Us" Benedict

If I get in to my first choice school, I will likely have a Recording Technology or Music Technology minor along with that BA. There is also the highly likely chance that I will re-audition and switch to performance major if I feel I can handle all the extras that come with it. The BA is just to get me in to school since I don't want to teach and I didnt know if I was good enough for a performance major yet. Regardless of BA or Performance, I want to keep up with music during, and after college. And taking from experience with recording and sound equipment, you always lose when you play the trade up game.

BigDale wrote: But hey, if my parents were millionaires

I don't know the OP nor his circumstances but 30 years ago I discovered one of the underclassmen, who was a decent but not spectacular player, was getting a BA instead of a Mus Ed degree and asked him why. He told me his grandfather had set up a trust fund for him which he could access only after he got any 4 year degree from any in state college. He liked to play the trumpet so there you are. I didn't figure out who his granfather was for a while, but once that fact was known the size of the trust fund could be approximated. It became obvious that this kid could do what ever he wanted for the rest of his life and not go hungry. I don't know that the OP is in this position but if he is I say "Wish it were me".

We arent millionaires. And like I said...the BA is probably going to be a temporary thing, or go with something more "useful."

cdtuba wrote:If I get in to my first choice school, I will likely have a Recording Technology or Music Technology minor along with that BA. There is also the highly likely chance that I will re-audition and switch to performance major if I feel I can handle all the extras that come with it. The BA is just to get me in to school since I don't want to teach and I didnt know if I was good enough for a performance major yet. Regardless of BA or Performance, I want to keep up with music during, and after college. And taking from experience with recording and sound equipment, you always lose when you play the trade up game.

Let me start by asking you this...what do you think you actually want to do for a living??? Not what do you want to study, but what do you actually want to spend every day doing to pay the bills. What job do you think you'd be good at, and enjoy doing??? When you answer that question, you should pursue whatever degree will help you to do that. It sounds like you're interesting in recording...why not MAJOR in Recording Tech. or Music Tech?? Minoring in one of those, with a BA major seems backwards, to me. You can still stay involved in music, play in band and even take lessons, even if you aren't a music major.

Many schools today with really good Music Industry programs are music majors. Here at Appalachian, Music Industry student's have lessons that are half the credit of Education majors and a quarter that of Performance majors, but they're still lessons and the professors give you the work that you're willing to take (As I'm sure it is most places). Many people here double major in Industry and Performance (not particularly easy, but I've seen it done in 4 years)

TMurphy wrote:

cdtuba wrote:If I get in to my first choice school, I will likely have a Recording Technology or Music Technology minor along with that BA. There is also the highly likely chance that I will re-audition and switch to performance major if I feel I can handle all the extras that come with it. The BA is just to get me in to school since I don't want to teach and I didnt know if I was good enough for a performance major yet. Regardless of BA or Performance, I want to keep up with music during, and after college. And taking from experience with recording and sound equipment, you always lose when you play the trade up game.

Let me start by asking you this...what do you think you actually want to do for a living??? Not what do you want to study, but what do you actually want to spend every day doing to pay the bills. What job do you think you'd be good at, and enjoy doing??? When you answer that question, you should pursue whatever degree will help you to do that. It sounds like you're interesting in recording...why not MAJOR in Recording Tech. or Music Tech?? Minoring in one of those, with a BA major seems backwards, to me. You can still stay involved in music, play in band and even take lessons, even if you aren't a music major.

Penn State only has a minor and West Virginia has neither. The more I think about it, the more I realize I wouldn't mind teaching...so that is turning into a legit option. And like I said...the BA will probably be only a first year thing until I get the specifics hammered out.

One final comment from me on this thread. Not to push Trevecca too hard, but something to consider:
If you are going to do the whole recording technology thing, why not do it in a city like NY, LA, or Nashville - where most of the recordings are actually made, and you can intern in a professional studio? If you are looking at doing this when you graduate, you will want to be in an area where there is a good number of jobs in that field, and where you have already made some connections.

Marty out.

cdtuba wrote:Penn State only has a minor and West Virginia has neither. The more I think about it, the more I realize I wouldn't mind teaching...so that is turning into a legit option. And like I said...the BA will probably be only a first year thing until I get the specifics hammered out.

My advice on how to go to college, potentially worth no more than what you are paying for it:

Study what you want. But keep your academic integrity and discipline. I don't mean "artistic integrity", as most people define it, which is to wander aimlessly to avoid doing something someone else thinks might be a good idea. Here's what it means: never turn down a subject or major course of study that interests you because you think it will be too hard. Never take a half schedule so you can have more time to party. Never be satisfied with anything less than your best effort, and that especially includes effort applied during preparation. Most importantly, decide to enjoy those courses you are required to take, which may at times mean you have to pretend for a few months.

If you can manage to build those principles into whatever you study, you'll do just fine no matter where you end up.

I didn't embrace these principles until grad school and I have always regretted waiting so long.

You can never be sure of any outcome in this uncertain world, but you have control over your own integrity.

Rick "who even now needs frequent reminders" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:My advice on how to go to college, potentially worth no more than what you are paying for it:

Study what you want. But keep your academic integrity and discipline. I don't mean "artistic integrity", as most people define it, which is to wander aimlessly to avoid doing something someone else thinks might be a good idea. Here's what it means: never turn down a subject or major course of study that interests you because you think it will be too hard. Never take a half schedule so you can have more time to party. Never be satisfied with anything less than your best effort, and that especially includes effort applied during preparation. Most importantly, decide to enjoy those courses you are required to take, which may at times mean you have to pretend for a few months.

If you can manage to build those principles into whatever you study, you'll do just fine no matter where you end up.

I didn't embrace these principles until grad school and I have always regretted waiting so long.

You can never be sure of any outcome in this uncertain world, but you have control over your own integrity.

Rick "who even now needs frequent reminders" Denney

This post illustrates exactly why Rick gets "Resident Genius" status.

Rick Denney wrote:
My advice on how to go to college, potentially worth no more than what you are paying for it:

Study what you want. But keep your academic integrity and discipline. I don't mean "artistic integrity", as most people define it, which is to wander aimlessly to avoid doing something someone else thinks might be a good idea. Here's what it means: never turn down a subject or major course of study that interests you because you think it will be too hard. Never take a half schedule so you can have more time to party. Never be satisfied with anything less than your best effort, and that especially includes effort applied during preparation. Most importantly, decide to enjoy those courses you are required to take, which may at times mean you have to pretend for a few months.

If you can manage to build those principles into whatever you study, you'll do just fine no matter where you end up.

I didn't embrace these principles until grad school and I have always regretted waiting so long.

You can never be sure of any outcome in this uncertain world, but you have control over your own integrity.

Rick "who even now needs frequent reminders" Denney

This is probably the most useful thing anyone has said. haha. Thanks.