Needing Advice/Suggestions, Please

[Dylan King]

Buy something cheap on ebay and make it sound like it's worth a million bucks. You sound like the kind of guy who could do something like that.

Welcome back my friend.

[Tubaryan12]

I would be carefull about buying on ebay...for what you want the tuba for i would suggest playing before you buy...or at least buy something you can return if you dont like the sound...there is nothing worse than laying out a large sum of money on a limited income and then hating what you've bought (been there, done that)

[MaryAnn]

Transfer to the university with your current major and sign up for band and lessons so you can use a tuba. Pick a U where they will let you do this; get good enough that you can enroll in a grad school with a very fine program. There are lots of U's with "non-famous" professors who are nonetheless competent. Also, learn your lesson from your previous experience where you decided to walk....either choose a music dept differently or choose to behave differently, whichever applies.
MA, who got her music degree a couple years late and her BSEE at 39

[Matt G]

You mention the local community college. Do they have any tubas? You could use one of theirs while enrolled there. Practice on that and audition for the Univ. you want to go to.

Also, other resources: Local community bands might be able to help you out. Go to stuff like tuba Christmas even if you don't have a horn. Some tuba players are nice folks and might have a beater they will lend you for a small fee or yardwork or some sort of barter.

Your sister's idea ain't so bad either. I will be 30 when graduating with an MBA. I have a BA in music ed, but i don't use it, so I quit the good job I had and went back to school full time. I will be staring a new professional career at 30.

Take your time and do what feels right. Make some friends and network to your advantage. THis will not only help you in finding a tuba for short term, but long term as well. Additionally, this will help you to get quality recommendations on a school that would best suit all of your needs.

Don't worry about being 'old' and being an undergrad. That can actually be used to your advantage in many ways. A lot of employers (especially schools) would take a 30 year old over a 23 year old with the same experience. Mainly because the 30 year old (with a clean record and a square head) is less of a liability than the 23 year old. You have the advantage of life experience on your side.

Good luck!

[Rick Denney]

PS - I never knew how much fun it was to walk up to friends/professors and ask, without preamble, "Ok, where can I find a tuba?" lol

You really should give both Matt Walters at Dillon Music and Dave Fedderly at Baltimore Brass a call. Both often have instruments that don't appear on their website that would serve you for much less than you expect.

For example, I once helped my wife's uncle by a King 1241 from Baltimore Brass for $1400. It was ugly (at the time) but it plays beautifully and would be more than good enough to audition for college. In reviewing both the BB and the Dillon websites, I see several instruments for under $1500 that would be good enough for the present purpose. A world-class instrument will not impress a college professor, especially if the player doesn't have a sound commensurate with such an instrument. A player who does well on a scrappy looking horn will likely get more respect.

You should be able to swing $1500 with a coupla months worth of a second job. Then, when you can afford a better instrument, you can sell it for what you paid.

Rick "seeing a lot of great, inexpensive tubas at the stores just now" Denney

[Matt G]

Question: Regarding a "play it before you buy it" situation, how does one typically go about that? Would I need to find a store in person that sells them and play there? Or are there places online that would let someone do this?
JPB

To this point, you should listen to Rick's advice. Matt Walters at Dillon's or David Fedderly at Baltimore Brass will be honest about any horn in their stock.

I have dealt with Matt many times and I can tell you he will not sell you the most expensive horn in the store. He can tell you what horn will suit you best for the type of player you are. If you are knowledgeable of what type of player you are and are honest about your abilities, he can really help out.

If you are near these store, then you might as well stop by. You'll at least save on shipping. There are other stores with good reputations also in various parts of the country. It just happens that two really good shops are located only a four hour drive from one another.

Most shops will give you a trial period. But that is costly due to you paying the shipping both ways if you don't like the horn. I have had a horn shipped out on approval twice and been satisfied with what they sent the first time both times. That was WW&BW.

The proposition offered to you by the university professor is very promising. THis give you access with little or no cost and give you the opportunity to get into a music program. In all reality, you could get a music ed degree without owning a tuba at all. Not everyone needs to have owned a BBb and two different CC's and an F and a Bass & Tenor trombone in their music ed undergrad (like me ). At that point, owning a horn would purely be an option and up to you as finances and desire allow. This would also give you the opportunity to build your chops and really pick out a tuba that is good for you. Then you can find a horn you can have a long term relationship with.

[Rick Denney]

Question: Regarding a "play it before you buy it" situation, how does one typically go about that? Would I need to find a store in person that sells them and play there? Or are there places online that would let someone do this?

Typically, most shops will sell on approval. What that means is you buy the instrument. During the approval period, you can decide not to keep it, and send it back. You pay shipping on the return leg. They then refund the cost of the isntrument, minus the shipping on the outbound leg.

Unless you are too picky for the budget you've suggested to us, you can accept the advice of the shops mentioned in this thread. I like to have a pro I trust play an instrument for me when I'm considering something new, because I don't trust my own ability to choose. But I put the advice of people like Matt Walters and Dave Fedderly in that category.

Rick "who thinks the dream instrument needs to wait for later" Denney

[Tubaryan12]

I can tell you from personal experience that Dave Fedderly is great to deal with....and i am sure Matt is also...I drove from Cleveland, OH to Baltimore to try out a horn before i bought it. A 24 hr trip including spending the better part of the afternoon at Balt. Brass Co. and then a few hours at the inter harbor.