TubeNet

Do

I believe that your answer lies not in trying (and most likely failing) to find a person to buy you a tuba, but in the consideration that you can work your tail off, and be able to afford your own horn. A Gronitz PCK is a very specialized (and large!!!!) tuba, really for somebody who has a major job, and who can afford it. If you aren't in college yet, save your pennies for now. Julliard and the Manhattan School are wonderful and extremely prestigious institutions, but the odds of getting into one are slim, simply because of all the tubists auditioning.

When I figured out that I wanted to go to music school, I initially was dead set on trying to get into the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. The reality was that I was a clueless high schooler with no idea about how to get into a music school, play an audition, or anything thereof. I had gotten accepted to my current school academically, but since I was clueless, I hadn't actually gone and auditioned. Through some stroke of serendipity, and the advice of some very helpful Boston area tuba players and my band director, I ended up taking a year off, studying privately, and successfully auditioning for the University of Massachusetts Lowell. I am now going into my Junior Year, and have had some tremendous musical experiences, and study with an awesome teacher (Jerome Stover) even though I'm not at a major conservatory.

My message to you is that it isn't an impossible dream to attend music school, but be open to the reality that the major conservatories are quite difficult to get into. I would advise you (from personal experience of course) to consider some local state schools. You'll save money, travel expenses, and a whole lot of stress. As for a tuba, it's perfectly fine to want your own horn, but your best bet if you want to purchase sooner rather than later would definitely be to work your tail off and to save up for something like a used Miraphone 186 CC tuba, or something thereof. Tubenet is of course a great place to find a horn, and odds are something that is used and of good quality will pop up for 2-3 grand. Perfect for an undergraduate. Then as time goes on and you get better and better you can save for a nice F tuba.

To wrap this post up, it's important to have dreams, and it's also important to remember reality as well. If you have your heart set on being a music major, if you feel down to the very roots of your being a deep desire to create wonderful sound, if you can't imagine doing anything but music, then by all means make it happen.

If you would like some more advice, or stories about the road to music school, feel free to PM me.

Best of luck to you!

-Ben Ruesch
UMass Lowell '15

A couple of thoughts:

1. You might do some research about what music schools have a track record of placing graduates in jobs as professional tuba players. I think you'll be surprised at what you learn. Some state universities will be high on that list.

2. Every philanthropist has a "stop and think" line, below which they'll make a gift fairly easily, and above which they'll only give based on good information, belief in what you're doing, and hard-earned trust. There are very precious few for whom $15,000 is below that line. And because one named individual benefits, there is no tax deduction. In all seriousness your chances are probably better with your state lottery than with looking for your donor.

It seems to me you've got some good advice from others here. Some people do end up with jobs, and perhaps you could be one of them. I do suspect you're going to have to depend upon your school and your own hard work for sponsorship, though.

ColbyHworth wrote:Does anyone have any ideas on how I could find a sponsor/donor/philanthropist who could help me buy a tuba. You see, going into my senior year i've decided I want to go to college for music. A top arts school such as; Juilliard, or the Manhattan School of music. But most professors have told me I need a Gronitz PCK. And my family can't afford $15, 000. My moms a single parent with three kids. So if you have any ideas please let me know.

A few more thoughts and questions:

1) What are you playing now? If you own a tuba (any tuba), you're fine for right now. If you don't own a tuba, you'll need to buy something, but can do that in the $3,000 to $4,000 range. A nice Meinl-Weston 32 just sold here for just over $3,000.

2) Don't let anyone here convince you to not go to school and be a tuba major. Have a backup plan (double major?), but do what you want to do. Yes you will have student loan debt, but it's only money (you'll make more).

3) Consider a different school. You will have more options for second majors/backups, and the tuba instructors are still *excellent*.

4) Juilliard and MSM are great schools, but NYC is an expensive place to live. If you're trying to save money for a tuba, you will have a much harder time doing it here. Maybe consider the Peabody conservatory in Baltimore. Great school and Baltimore is a cheap and good place to live, especially as a college kid.

Good luck. Go be a tuba major and do your mom proud, and don't let anyone change your mind.

ColbyHworth wrote:Does anyone have any ideas on how I could find a sponsor/donor/philanthropist who could help me buy a tuba. You see, going into my senior year i've decided I want to go to college for music. A top arts school such as; Juilliard, or the Manhattan School of music. But most professors have told me I need a Gronitz PCK. And my family can't afford $15, 000. My moms a single parent with three kids. So if you have any ideas please let me know.

If you are serious about going to Juilliard or MSM, talk to the teachers there. Take a lesson with each of them. See what they think.
Marty "who spent plenty of time in both of those buildings two and a half decades ago"

Curmudgeon wrote: ColbyHworth wrote:But most professors have told me I need a Gronitz PCK.



The PCK is a great tuba, but you don't need one.

If that caliber of instrument is a requirement for study with a particular teacher, they are using it as a filter to weed people out. Look elsewhere. Talk to other students and their respective teachers.

+1
"...most professors..." According to the web sites, Alan Baer is the teacher at both schools. He is also listed on Meinl-Weston website as one of their Artists. He's saying a potential student needs a Gronitz PCK? This sounds very odd to say the least.
Pete

The Baer tubas are like good PCKs on steriods, and a Gronitz is what Mr. Baer won all of those auditions on, so it's not surprising that he recommends a 15K tuba over a 26K tuba. IMO, the economics of scale don't support that kind of purchase of a specialized tuba for an incoming freshmen. See the referenced article from the WSJ

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB1 ... ttop_email" target="_blank