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Good morning,

I just started my Master's in Tuba Performance with plans of continuing my studies further after graduation in a DMA program. Next Summer, I plan to go on a Eastern U.S. road trip to tour some schools with solid DMA tuba programs and meet tuba professors/ maybe take some lessons. My private instructor is awesome and knows a lot of great people/programs and I will definitely be following his recommendations, but I wanted to ask for advice of where you would tour and anything else you would like to add.
Some more about me and what I want to do (because background would probably help): I received a Bachelor's in Music Education and wanted to be a band director up until my senior recital. After my senior recital, I knew that the tuba was my passion... moreso than teaching band. I would really like to play professionally and I am working my butt off towards that goal, but I realize those jobs are difficult to earn and that I can still play wherever I am or whatever I am doing. Teaching collegiate tuba/euphonium is also something that I would love to do. I grew up in North Florida and now I am studying in Southeast Kansas and I would like to study at a school on the "right" (east) side of the country or the midwest. When I was studying my undergraduate I told myself that I would not want to be more than 6-8 hours from where I grew up and I'm currently about 16 hours away so I got over than pretty quickly.

Thank you guys!

Tuba is so short of music to play, you would do well to address this in whatever way you can. Learn what music you need to get your degree, and if you can add to the repertoire by arranging, composing or transcribing, more power to you.

When you go to get a college teaching job, they aren't really going to care where you got your DMA, just as long as you have one. It's more about you, what you personally bring to the table, what ideas and accomplishments you have that set you apart. Get a DMA from the program that takes the least amount of your time and money.

I received a Bachelor's in Music Education and wanted to be a band director up until my senior recital.

You have started your educational journey well. You have your Bachelor's Degree in music education. You have built yourself a "safety net" making you employable in the music field.

If you really want to take a shot at making it as a professional performer, my suggested next step is to get with a teacher who is, or was, a professional performer and is a good teacher also. Not all great performers who teach are good at teaching. Also, try to be in a major city where there is a lot of world-class musical activity such as Philadelphia, New York, Boston, etc. It is in places such as the aforementioned that your instructor will be performing under major guest conductors from throughout the world and are sometimes asked by these guest conductors if he or she has a student worth considering for an orchestra opening in the conductors' respective countries. You will also be in very competitive educational environments which will inspire you to be your best at all times. I had the privilege of studying in both Philadelphia and New York. Thoughts in this paragraph are from my personal experience.

You can get a playing job without a college degree. But, because of the "safety net" I recommend all of my students build in today's job climate, the degree/s is/are heartily recommended. If you want to teach at a college/conservatory level, unless you have or have had a major playing job, The advanced degrees, including the Doctorate are required. I find it hard to believe that where you get your Doctorate is not important. The competition for college level teaching positions is stiff. If two persons are being considered for a position where one person has a DMA from Juilliard and the other from Fred's School of Music and Refrigeration Repair, the Juilliard DMA will have a major advantage.

Right now, your main focus is to select a performance teacher that is a GREAT player as well as a GREAT teacher and immerse yourself in learning and polishing your repertoire. When you are making your tour of the east coast, bring your tuba and book trial lessons with the instructors you want to visit. But, DO get someone who has played for a living and knows what it is like to WIN an audition.

Best wishes in your endeavors. Keep us posted on your progreass.

Be sure to ask each teacher about their previous students who have won jobs. Count and weigh the answers.

Thank you guys for the advice! I have planned my schedule this semester so that I can take a day to travel and visit campuses/ take trial lessons every now and then. I don't think I would get an accurate picture of what a college is like by visiting in the summer months so this is probably for the better. I have a few colleges on my visit list!