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For a moment, I thought someone broke into my tuba room at my house and was trying them out. But it's not coming from downstairs. It's a serious tuba practice session coming from outside, from a house nearby, sound coming in through my windows. I've actually missed hearing other people's practice sessions since leaving the AF. Oh boy, I can't wait till the girls fall asleep so I can get to work. It will be like tuba maiting calls into the night!

Often, especially at concerts, people tell me about tuba players they know in the area. I'm not good with names, so I haven't kept track of who they are, but it seems like there's a lot of tuba players around. Now there's even one in my mountain neighborhood. Tuba density is expanding exponentially.

Do you live near Asheville? Know any tuba players around here?

I live near Asheville, and there are others near there that you probably know. There's Ron Carpenter (Asheville, last I heard), Mike Schallock (WCU), Will Talley (Asheville High School, just left to get his masters at USC but will return to the area), Kermit Washington (Smokey Mountain Brass Band), David (can't remember his last name, also with Smokey Mountain Brass Band), Jamie Hafner (Brevard), David Nelson (currently playing in Chicago Civic), Robbie Johnson (Robinsville), and Dr. Bill Bryant (retired-AC Reynolds) to name the few I know of off the top of my head.

The person you heard could be the former tuba of the Firecracker Jazz Band whose name escapes me since I only met him once. Matt Anderson (who you should know) used to teach him in college.

There used to be more in the area actually, but Asheville has a way of isolating itself from the rest of the area.

What neighborhood are you in? I've seen 2 buskers with tubas pretty regularly downtown lately (this year and last, same 2 fellows). If either of you folks are in need of a teaching, recording, or rehearsal space downtown, I'd be happy to trade some studio time for some time on a horn- I've been away from the tuba for nearly a decade now but would like to start making my way back.

A guy who plays barfonium in the local German band in Evansville, Indiana also owns a condo in Asheville. I think he takes his accordion along when he goes to Asheville... 'bout as bad as the barfonium though. If you hear some God-awful sounds on the streets there it's probably him!