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After about 50 years I've decided to take a few tuba lessons. The teacher is a college level trumpet player, but does teach other brass instruments. My question is, how do I approach this? I think I need work on phrasing and tone, especially in the high register. I suspect breathing will also be on the agenda. We have agreed to meet. He said bring a few things I like to play and we would go from there. Any advice from the TNFJ?

I'm certainly not the TNFJ, but if breathing is on the agenda why a Trumpet player as a teacher? I took some lessons from a MMP student Tubist a few years back. A Tubist's approach (or at least a low brass person's) to breathing and knowledge of what I needed to focus on made a big difference.

I wouldn't go into lessons with things that I thought needed work. A good teacher will identify what you need to work on and help you with those things. We are usually poor judges of our own playing.

To get the best out of lessons (which I still take regularly, I hired my instructor because he is a low brass expert) I put ultimate trust in his evaluation of my playing and areas he suggests that I work on. He should be the subject matter expert, that's why you selected him right? If he is a college level brass instructor he probably has developed a process that he uses to determine where you strengths and weaknesses lie. Do as he suggests pick some pieces to play for him, go in with an open mind and take his advice. If after a while things aren't improving then try another instructor, if you're happy with how things are progressing keep going until you aren't making progress anymore, when that happens move on to something else.

I have been fortunate to have taken lessons from trumpet and tuba instructors, both very high-level. The core fundamentals from both teachers were essentially the same. For a student who is transitioning from intermediate towards professional level, there are techniques specific to each instrument, and at that point you need a specialist.

Whether you will do well with a teacher who primarily concentrates on trumpet, depends on how good the teacher is, and what your level of competence is. if you are still solidifying the basics (as many of us are), you can do fine with a trumpet instructor.

Hup

Thank you all for your insight. I really like the idea that I should let the teacher analyze and tell me what to work on rather than have me dictate what is wrong with my playing. I will not be offended if he tells me to stop at anytime. I watched Oystein Baadsvik and Alan Bare give master classes and they both did that a lot. I will work on avoiding my natural tendency to impress which will be hard for me. (A bit of a control freak). I chose a trumpet teacher out of expedience, he is close and the school I'm trying suggested him. He has a lot of experience with teaching and playing so I thought it would be a good start. If this don't work out, they have a low brass guy (a trombone player) as a second option.

Interestingly enough, when I talked with him on the phone to set things up, he said just bring your horn and something I like to play and we will go from there. I think, based on your comments, he has the right approach.

(And no Bloke, I am not going to your school of hard labor. I'm retired. I've lived in Tennessee, You don't want my lazy yankee kind anywhere near you.)

You are close to Paul Maybery, he taught me through 3 years of college, back 'when. He could be messaged on this site. If things don't work out with your selected teacher, there's a plan B for you.

A good trumpet player might give a very good lesson too.

I never meant this as a troll. I am truly curious on the proper approach to lessons. I've never met Paul and didn't know he would give lessons. I've learned a lot from this thread.