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What's your take on this? Yay or nay?

My dream is to be a studio musician. Maybe get into music therapy as well.
I tested out of high school 2 years early and am currently playing in the local community college band. I have been asked to play in another high school band as well because they are in need of a tuba player. I'm trying to get a job so I can save for a motorcycle or a tuba (I haven't decided yet - both are needed equally) and hopefully afford to take lessons.

My original plan was to hopefully get into a Marine Corps band this year. But I'm starting to rethink it. I can't help but wonder if I would be better off to go to college instead. I think about this for hours every single day.

I'm in dire need for some second opinions...

Please and thanks.

Talk to Julian Dixon and Pete Nowlen at Sac State. Pete is a F. Horn player, but I have sought advice from him many times. I would suggest sitting with Julian for a lesson and discussing your options with him afterwards. Both of these men know their stuff, and I would take any advice they offered for some serious consideration. Best of luck!

DevilDog-2013 wrote:My dream is to be a studio musician.

It's a nice dream, but it's not going to happen, at least not on tuba. Can you name more tuba players making a living as a studio musician than there are fingers on one of your hands? I'm betting you can't.

DevilDog-2013 wrote:Maybe get into music therapy as well.

Better, but good luck getting a job that earns more than $20,000 a year.

DevilDog-2013 wrote:I tested out of high school 2 years early and am currently playing in the local community college band.

This piqued my curiosity. How does one "test out" of high school? I've heard of AP tests that give you college credit but I've never heard of the school system allowing students to simply quit going to school by taking a series of tests.

DevilDog-2013 wrote:I have been asked to play in another high school band as well because they are in need of a tuba player.

Seems like a shady deal if you're not a student there. Is that legal for contest purposes?

DevilDog-2013 wrote:I'm trying to get a job so I can save for a motorcycle or a tuba (I haven't decided yet - both are needed equally) and hopefully afford to take lessons.

Sorry, but if you can't decide between an instrument and a motorcycle then a music performance career probably isn't for you.

DevilDog-2013 wrote:My original plan was to hopefully get into a Marine Corps band this year. But I'm starting to rethink it. I can't help but wonder if I would be better off to go to college instead. I think about this for hours every single day.

Are you old enough to qualify for college or the Marines?

DevilDog-2013 wrote:I'm in dire need for some second opinions...

Go back to school. Enjoy your carefree student days. The real world sucks. And forget about making a living playing the tuba. You won't be able to.

In many states, with parental approval you can drop out of high school at 16 and get your GED. Then you can go to college at an earlier age (if you are accepted). Some friends and I considered doing this, but ended up deciding against it (among other reasons, I have a late birthday and was 17 when I started college anyway).

It's a good concept, and if you're mature and really focused on something (tuba, college, career, ...), it's a fine idea if you're ready to ditch public schools as soon as you can and get on with your goals.

DevilDog-2013 wrote: My dream is to be a studio musician. Maybe get into music therapy as well.
I tested out of high school 2 years early and am currently playing in the local community college band. I have been asked to play in another high school band as well because they are in need of a tuba player. I'm trying to get a job so I can save for a motorcycle or a tuba (I haven't decided yet - both are needed equally) and hopefully afford to take lessons.

My original plan was to hopefully get into a Marine Corps band this year. But I'm starting to rethink it. I can't help but wonder if I would be better off to go to college instead. I think about this for hours every single day.

I'm in dire need for some second opinions...

1. How do a motorcycle and tuba go together. A vehicle is useful for tubists and essential at times. However, a motorcycle is terrible as you can't carry your tuba with it. I seriuosly doubt that you would be able to afford a motorcycle and a car at the same time....

2. Music therapy is wonderful. I have nothing but respect for what therapists do. Its a great "on the side" gig that most people have to combine with other work. There is no money in that job. Plus, finding a school for music therapy might mean that you have to move far away to study.

3. If you do decide to go to college and get a music degree, don't go into debt. Go to a community college, live at home, get scholarships, work while you study. A music degree is a terrible financial decision for most people and ending up 40K in debt with Tuba playing as your main are of focus is foolish. Don't get me wrong, a music degree is a great thing to have, it just doesn't lead to many opportunities in terms of jobs.

4. I've met people from the US marine bands, both current and former members. Many really enjoy/ed what they do. There are still people that join straight out of high school. Of all the options you have listed so far, this one seems the most reasonable.

5. Nothing stops you from going to community college/junior college(usually these cost less) for a year or two and then deciding whether you transfer to university or join the Marine corps or any other Army band.

PMeuph wrote:However, a motorcycle is terrible as you can't carry your tuba with it.

This is not strictly true. I do it regularly, most recently last night, and I believe I'm not the only one. Though admittedly it is not the vehicle most obviously suited to tuba transport.

bloke wrote:..... Learn how to run a board, ProTools, and all sorts of other studio equipment. Make the right connections.....

Add any other of the popular recording softwares, a good computer and some expensive VSTs...

I have a friend who dropped out of his degree (composition) to do this. His music is decent, he really knows his studio gear, his initial investments was about 5k when he was a student and he has progressively upgraded has he has been getting better paying contracts. He lives in a decent sized Canadian city (Montreal) and has written music for ads, games, movies and some pop artists. 90% of his stuff is all made on computer. Occasionally, he'll hire 2-3 performers to play along his computer tracks (Especially solos and improvisation) to get a "real" feel out of his music. Most of the music is written and recorded in the spare bedroom in his house.

I guess he's a studio musician....

Learning Protools is a good idea. My younger brother (18 y.o.) programs, records, and mixes for local bands out of a converted shed. At several hundred dollars per demo, it isn't a bad gig for a kid his age.

Donn wrote:

PMeuph wrote:However, a motorcycle is terrible as you can't carry your tuba with it.

This is not strictly true. I do it regularly, most recently last night, and I believe I'm not the only one. Though admittedly it is not the vehicle most obviously suited to tuba transport.

OK, I might be wrong... I would never carry a tuba on a bike and I imagine that a large tuba would be very difficult to carry. Unless, you modified a side car to fit the tuba in it.


My former prof had to carry two tubas and a euph some times when he had a long day of rehearsals, teaching, recitals. A studio musician would surely be in a similar predicament. Find me one motorcycle that can do that....

Thank you all for the replies.

To clear a few things up...
Nothing about the Marines is making me uneasy. It seems like it's my only shot. If I even have one.

I took the proficiency exam which is equivalent to having my diploma. I did not drop out. And yes, I already have found out that the real world sucks. But there's no reason to go back.

As far as the motorcycle vs the tuba... I live in the boondocks. I bike 8 miles into town, get on a bus, and bike back. I need said motorcycle to get to and from said job to get said tuba. It seems a car would be more practical, but its really not at this point. Please just trust me on that.

As far as what my parents think... My father never exactly "liked" me being a musician. But he's willing to sign the enlistment papers. That's enough for me. I'm not trying to obtain anyone's approval. The way he raised me, was that its my fault if I fail and I learn from it. That's stuck with me. So if I try to pursue my dreams (however farfetched they are), and I fail, then I learn from it. But at least I didn't give up before I even tried.

I apologize if this sounds childish and unrealistic... I know its foolish to follow your dreams these days. Then call me a fool.

Thank you all for the replies. It truly means a lot.

KiltieTuba wrote:
Ahem...

Alright then, you win this round.


Are those even legal on the road? Also, would you trust leaving a tuba on the back of that thing while you went to teach some lessons, or went to put gas in your car, or stopped at the grocery store?

If you are enlisting in the Marines, make sure it's because you want to be a Marine. Being a tuba player will always be secondary to that.

My opinion is that you should go away to college...it's a much easier place than the Marines to learn about yourself and figure out what you want to do with your life. I also say to move away, there are many good things about living in the boonies, but it simply doesn't have the number of opportunities that an uncertain teenager(?) needs to develop and figure out what to do with life.

You have a dream, go chase it. The only way you're guaranteed to fail is if you never try.

Oh, and get the motorcycle. A motorcycle riding young woman tuba major? Badass!

About the Marines... It's been said on here many times but I'll say it again:

Unless being a Marine no matter what is your real goal, and playing music would be nice if it works out, but it doesn't matter if it doesn't, then win the audition before you sign the enlistment papers.

If you don't, it's virtually certain that you'll be a Marine without playing music.

bort wrote: You have a dream, go chase it. The only way you're guaranteed to fail is if you never try.

Oh, and get the motorcycle. A motorcycle riding young woman tuba major? Badass!

Haha thanks

As far as the Marines...
I apologize for this topic being brought up again. Even if I didn't make the audition, I would still enlist. I would still like to become a Marine. I'm actually waiting for the day that women are allowed into combat fwiw.

talleyrand wrote:About the Marines... It's been said on here many times but I'll say it again:

Unless being a Marine no matter what is your real goal, and playing music would be nice if it works out, but it doesn't matter if it doesn't, then win the audition before you sign the enlistment papers.

If you don't, it's virtually certain that you'll be a Marine without playing music.

Where were you when I needed that advice back in 1995? Excellent point. Start running now and don't ever stop. When you think you are a decent runner get some bootcamp type combat boots and keep running.

Jeffrey Hicks wrote: Start running now and don't ever stop. When you think you are a decent runner get some bootcamp type combat boots and keep running.

Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna start running in my sister's old boots now.

With all the cuts recently announced by the Navy, I doubt the Marines are far behind. Add to that the impending, if not inevitable, major cuts due to the brick wall between legislative and executive branches, and the future of military musicians isn't exactly rosy.

PMeuph wrote: Alright then, you win this round.

Forget that contraption, which even if it is technically a motorcycle has none of the useful virtues of a motorcycle. Those who actually do this, ride medium to large motorcycles and carry small to medium, inexpensive tubas. Mine is an old Italian touring motorcycle with a spacious seat and rear rack, and the tubas in question are a couple Eb 3V top actions, one small, one large.

I won't say "forget the tuba", but agree that there's not much for someone dedicated to the tuba alone. A tuba player who has plenty of other music-related skills and talents that add up to making great music, living in the right area, has a chance to make a meager living, though hardly a guarantee.

On running ... do be careful, that stuff can be hard on joints that you'll need in years to come. Boots might not be such a bad idea, if the lack of cushioned sole keeps you running with the short, light cadence that's also typical with barefoot runners, supposed to be easier on the knees. Heavy or ill fitting boots would be trouble.

Donn wrote: I won't say "forget the tuba", but agree that there's not much for someone dedicated to the tuba alone. A tuba player who has plenty of other music-related skills and talents that add up to making great music, living in the right area, has a chance to make a meager living, though hardly a guarantee.

Tuba isn't my only instrument. I picked up quite a few others as well.

Thanks.