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I've been playing tuba since I was 12 -- my band director knew I played bassoon and didn't need yet another clarinetist in the marching band, and so uttered the phrase that would change my life: "Hey, you know bass clef, right?"

And so it began.

That was 24 years ago -- since then, I've played in all-state ensembles in both full band and chamber settings at the high school and collegiate levels, principal chair at the community college and university level, been asked personally to record premiere pieces by some wonderful composers, arranged tuba choir and brass quintet pieces, conducted wind ensembles and pep bands, and generally had the time of my life.

I've taken some time off to raise my children and build my own business (non-music related), so I consider myself at an accomplished amateur level right now. I've never stopped loving my art and my private studio is full of instruments, both brass, woodwind, and string. My kids are all musical and my granddaughter keeps asking to play my bass guitar.

I've been on this forum in the past and have been a member of ITEA (and TUBA before it), so I've been in the scene but am diving back in now that my kids are growing up and my business allows me to have some more time to get back to my real work.

Feels so good to be back. :)

Welcome back! In my life, I'm around the midpoint of your story... I have a 1-year old son and I'm in grad school, so I'm not really playing very much right now. My son absolutely loves it when I play, and he constantly walks up to my tuba and puts his face on the mouthpiece. I think it's a good start!

Two questions:
-- Where in California?
-- What tubas do you have?

No real reason to need to know either of those, but hey, it's a conversation starter.

Thanks! My 18 year old daughter has fond memories of coming to my rehearsals after kindergarten -- she would sit in the back behind me and fall asleep. Hilarious. It's great to get them interested and show them how wonderful music can be. My youngest granddaughter does buzzing exercises with me -- she only has a handful of words, but she sure can hit a solid Bb!

I'm in the Central Valley -- I moved from Southern California 25 years ago when I was but a wee clarinetist. There's a strong music tradition in the school district here and my youngest daughter is taking advantage of it -- her room is full of instruments too, not to mention all of her colorguard equipment.

I'm actually in between horns at the moment -- I'm a Miraphoner through and through (started on 186 then got a really sweet 191 in college), but right now I've got my eyes on one of those Jinbaos. It's the only way to justify the budget to the wife -- she's really supportive, but trying to explain why I need that many zeros for a new horn only goes so far. My last horn was a Yamaha, but I can't remember the model for the life of me.

Right now I'm keeping my lips warm on a budget trombone I picked up a while ago -- it's one of the few instruments I actually don't know and it's been fun learning it while my daughter was rocking the trombone in jazz band. She's a euphonium player, and showing her the valve positions and how that related to the slide blew her mind when I showed her.

ValveSlide wrote:

iibagod wrote:I'm actually in between horns at the moment -- I'm a Miraphoner through and through (started on 186 then got a really sweet 191 in college), but right now I've got my eyes on one of those Jinbaos. It's the only way to justify the budget to the wife -- she's really supportive, but trying to explain why I need that many zeros for a new horn only goes so far.

New TubeNet poster, wants a JinBao. Hmm...

Two words: used Miraphone.

What Valveslide means is that he thinks you are or are shilling for one of the Jinbao dealers. It's more or less the way Tubenet welcomes newcomers. Hang around, though. There's a lot of good talk here as well.

Good luck!

Great suggestions! Thanks everyone -- just more info to add to my search. I appreciate it!

ValveSlide wrote:
Well, unless he's a shill as you're suggesting...

Cute. However, people can read.

If you need a place to play, the Ohlone Tuba Ensemble meets Saturday mornings 10-12 in Fremont, CA.

Welcome back! I would think about a used Miraphone as Valve slide has suggested. Consider also a Cerveny 861. Looks same as Miraphone 186 and plays well. Thinner metal but can be found reasonable in good condition. Some think the older ABB 861 plays better than the newer CBB 861 ( I think my CBB plays fine).