Getting back into the tuba after almost 30 years
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:09 am
Hi There fellow tubist!
I recently got my horn out and tuned up and am excited about playing again. I put my horn in the hard case 30 years ago and have been playing drums. I miss my tuba days and would now like to get back into it.
I took lessons in high school with Randall K Holmes of the USAFA and he helped me get my first horn. I really didn't know what to get as I really never liked any of the school horns. He was able to get a good deal on a new Mirafone 184-5U BBb. I played that horn through high school wining many honor band opportunities and 3 scholarship offers.
The scholarship I accepted my first year was to CalArts to study with Roger Bobo. I literally found his personal phone number in the T.U.B.A. directory and called him and told him I wanted to come audition for him in California. My parents loaded up the motorhome and off to L.A. we went. My audition went well and Roger wanted me to come to CalArts the next year. He made it clear I would be needing a CC tuba before school starts. More than any other reason, Roger liked the CC over the BBb because they generally play easier. He picked out my 186-5U CC and had Larry Minick put a 5th valve slide trigger on it and shipped it to Colorado. I had one week to get used to the horn and learn new fingerings for my senior concert but I was dead set on playing it!
My year in California (1980) studying with Roger was just amazing. Very humbling as well realizing how far I really had to go to be a great player. I played in several ensembles at CalArts and also had the opportunity to sit in on a regular basis with the USC Tuba Ensemble led by Tommy Johnson.
Roger was not going to teach at CalArts the following year so I came back to Colorado and spent the next 2 years at CU Boulder studying with James Harvey. I played in the CU Orchestra both years and was an alternate for the Boulder Phiharmonic. I played in the Denver Chamber Orchestra when they needed a tuba and played in several quintets. After college I kept playing for a few years in the Arvada Center Orchestra, the Centennial Philharmonic and the Chenango Brass Quintet.
In the 90's I went all out in exploring my musical interest playing the drums. The 186 was pretty much left in the case till recently. I am 56 now and growing tired of playing rock shows and bars. So its back to the practice room and I really look forward to playing the tuba again!
I recently got my horn out and tuned up and am excited about playing again. I put my horn in the hard case 30 years ago and have been playing drums. I miss my tuba days and would now like to get back into it.
I took lessons in high school with Randall K Holmes of the USAFA and he helped me get my first horn. I really didn't know what to get as I really never liked any of the school horns. He was able to get a good deal on a new Mirafone 184-5U BBb. I played that horn through high school wining many honor band opportunities and 3 scholarship offers.
The scholarship I accepted my first year was to CalArts to study with Roger Bobo. I literally found his personal phone number in the T.U.B.A. directory and called him and told him I wanted to come audition for him in California. My parents loaded up the motorhome and off to L.A. we went. My audition went well and Roger wanted me to come to CalArts the next year. He made it clear I would be needing a CC tuba before school starts. More than any other reason, Roger liked the CC over the BBb because they generally play easier. He picked out my 186-5U CC and had Larry Minick put a 5th valve slide trigger on it and shipped it to Colorado. I had one week to get used to the horn and learn new fingerings for my senior concert but I was dead set on playing it!
My year in California (1980) studying with Roger was just amazing. Very humbling as well realizing how far I really had to go to be a great player. I played in several ensembles at CalArts and also had the opportunity to sit in on a regular basis with the USC Tuba Ensemble led by Tommy Johnson.
Roger was not going to teach at CalArts the following year so I came back to Colorado and spent the next 2 years at CU Boulder studying with James Harvey. I played in the CU Orchestra both years and was an alternate for the Boulder Phiharmonic. I played in the Denver Chamber Orchestra when they needed a tuba and played in several quintets. After college I kept playing for a few years in the Arvada Center Orchestra, the Centennial Philharmonic and the Chenango Brass Quintet.
In the 90's I went all out in exploring my musical interest playing the drums. The 186 was pretty much left in the case till recently. I am 56 now and growing tired of playing rock shows and bars. So its back to the practice room and I really look forward to playing the tuba again!
