Why do we play the tuba?

[corbasse]

I wanted to vote twice: I like both the sound and the size and looks. I started on Flugelhorn 25 years ago, and my instruments got bigger ever since

[JayW]

I had the experience (that seems to be somewhat common) of being a trumpet player originally, then in middle school I asked to switch to Euph. However when I got to HS the band director (now my best friend for some reason) told me he needed me to play tuba since his only tuba player was in his senior year and it would be up to me to fill the void. I was very hesitant at first, but then armed up to the idea of being the only tuba player in the band (which was the case until my senior year). So much so that by the time I was a senior I had already purchased my first instrument and basically thats all she wrote.

[Wilco]

I double on tuba just about a year now (I play trombone). The youthband I was supporting lacked a bass, and there was a 2nd trombonist so I suggest to take up the tuba (playing tuba lines on tenor trombone wasn't working at all). After a few weeks of training at home I joined the group with the tuba. Now I'm playing tuba in the A-band as well. Much more challenging and I like the tuba lines/ rol in the band. It also improved my trombone-playing (go figure!!).

[TexTuba]

[Dan Schultz]

As I've said before.... it was 1958 and I was eight years old (yes... they started that early back then!) and when the message came to "go to the bandroom if you wanted to play in band", I was naturally lazy and got their last. All the good stuff was taken! What was left was an old Conn Eb tuba. It's been great ever since.

[Tortuba]

I was in grade 5, about 10 years old, when my teacher asked if I would like to be in the band. I said I was interested, not really knowing what it was all about. When I went to the rehearsal room, I was shown a large silver mysterious EEb tuba. It was the only instrument left to be assigned, and I got it. It can still remember the flute player, George, was the biggest, chubbiest kid in school!

[ai698]

From the old TubeNet-

"No one picks the tuba, it picks you"

I wish I knew who originally said that when a similiar topic was brought up.

[Rick Denney]

Don't exactly know which choice to select.

There are many manipulations that bring children to the tuba, but it's the sound that keeps them there. I started in 7th grade, and I played tuba because the band director saw a tuba player when I showed up in response to the call for those interested in joining the band. She manipulated the situation (and my mother) to connect me to the tuba.

I continued to play it because I was already along the path and switching would require backing up. I considered switching to baritone during one marching season, but I didn't really want to give up my position as THE tuba player.

I quite after my first year in college. I had not yet fallen in love with the sound, and playing music was too hard at Texas A&M, especially considering my other involvements.

Some years later, I was driving from Austin down to San Antonio many weekends to hear the San Antonio Symphony, and the sound that Mike Sanders put out there kept eating at me. I think that's when I fell in love with the sound. And that's what brought me back, more than anything.

So, I started because of band-director manipulation (that wasn't a choice), but I started again because of the sound. I'll choose "sound", because it was the second start when I actually made the choice for myself.

Rick "still in love with the sound" Denney

[Tubaman485]

I went to a Chicago Symphony concert and was blown away by that huge tuba sound, two years later my junior high band director said we need tubas and I raised my hand. Been lovin it ever since.

Josh

[tubatooter1940]

Eighth grade,band tryouts,we were invited to wander the band room and play any instrument we wished.I headed straight for the sousaphone.I wanted to see what it was like to blow that big sucker.At first toot,we lit up a 24'by48' band room.Wow!
Played trumpet and bone for 20 years.A trumpet cuts but a tuba overwhelms.I had to change from trumpet to cornet.I had nice tone but it was so pointed I was hurting people.A tuba does not hurt.Adding power to a tuba just makes people smile more.
tubatooter1940

[Joe Baker]

Let me start by saying I played trombone before I played tuba, and I play it better than I play tuba. But tuba got into my blood the way trombone never did. It is a part of my identity in a way that trombone never was. THAT is why I'm a tuba player today.

But in the beginning, I had no idea what a tuba sounded like. When I'd been playing trombone for three years, a new kid came to our elementary school who had played tuba somewhere else. Our band director managed to scare up a sousaphone (and wenger chair) from a local Jr. High for him. But in the few days before it was delivered, the boy was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease (from which he eventually recovered), and was never able to use the tuba. I heard the director talking about finding someone who would like to play it, and I BEGGED for her to let ME. It was huge, and it had shiny brass tubing (all our instruments were satin silver, for some reason). In my foolish, heady youth even the white fiberglass seemed attractive (thus my answer to the poll: 'the way it looked')! I had already picked up some trumpet, baritone, and percussion, and was anxious to add another instrument.

Just about that time, the movie "The Sting" came out. I heard those Joplin rags, with what I now know to be string bass and tuba playing together, and fell in love with that sound. I was obsessed! Then in Jr. High my director formed a swing band, and what was already an obsession became a religion -- getting that round, present sound, shaping it just right -- I heard other "background" players complain about not having the melody, but I never did! I just totally dug MY part of the sound!

As I got older, I kept playing 'bone and tuba, sometimes taking a few years off of one or the other. I love playing trombone, but I just don't feel any affinity for other trombone players. Tuba players, however, are family.
__________________________________
Joe Baker, who could no more quit being a tuba player than he could quit being a Baker.

[bigboom]

I can remember being back in elementary school always wanting to play the tuba. at that point in my schooling I was the biggest kid and I knew I was going to play in band because I loved music. I just kind of figured that I would have the easiest time carrying a tuba/sousaphone. I also loved low sounds and the only other instrument I considered was the bass. Started playing in 6th grade on the first day of band and have never switched to anything else. I have picked up the trombone and play that in my high school's jazz band but the tuba is the one that I really love.

Ben

[Tuba-G Bass]

It was the SOUND!

I love deep bass notes, I started in sixth grade in Key West, Fla.

I played through the rest of school, and kept playing since.

Nuff said!

[Robert N. Calkins]

My band teacher had my older brother, who started 3 years late on the tuba (normally starting in the 5th grade), as a student. My brother was very diligent and practiced daily. As a freshman in high school, he earned 1st chair in the All County Honors Band and in our school band, with just one year of tuba playing under his belt! The reason for the late start was the comment by the previous band director who told him he had "no musical talent". So much for those words of wisdom.... When I was in the 5th grade, students interested in band were called to the band room and were told to try out specific instruments. A monster Conn brass sousaphone was hoisted onto my shoulder and the rest is history. I got a good sound and really enjoyed the tuba from the get-go. I had some experience on the cornet before 5th grade, as I was self-taught, which gave me some music reading skills and a good start on an embouchure. I have been playing for about 47 years and feel I made a good decision in sticking with the tuba. To answer the question of the original post, my band teacher had me in mind for the tuba before it even touched my lips. I thank him for that decision!

[Captain Sousie]

All of the above, but mostly the size, the sound, and the interesting/unique factor.

Sou

[Hank74]

I voted for the sound, but would have voted also for the size. Those are the reasons why I've always loved the tuba and now have the opportunity to play them. Anyone who likes music should try out the tuba. You'll get hooked to it.

Hank74

[Charlie Goodman]

The band director came in to our fifth grade music class, and demonstrated all the instruments. Up to that point, I had my heart set on trumpet. However....

...he played the Imperial March from Star Wars on the tuba. I haven't looked back since.

[Captain Sousie]

middle school band director told me it was a saxo phone

Saxhorn maybe, but no saxophone that.

[Chuck(G)]

I picked up tuba (as an adult) because it was closest to my singing voice. I didn't know much about the literatiure (and still don't), but it was the closest thing to singing that I could find.

There are certain pieces of music that by themselves would make it worthwhile to learn an instrument--even if you never played anything else. For example, the Mozart quintet in A for strings and clarinet (K 581, I think) is one of those pieces for clarinet.

Does anyone have a similar feeling about a work for tuba?

[Arkietuba]

In sixth grade beginning band started. I wanted to play saxophone (but thankfully they had too many saxs). I decided to play the trombone and I became pretty proficient. Then in 7th grade our brass section consisted of 10 trumpets and 10-12 trombones. Our director needed a frech horn, euphonium and tuba player. I was the last to volunteer and of course I got the tuba. Now I play tuba, jazz trombone, bass guitar and piano.