The legend of the short tuba kid

[Bandmaster]

Don't confuse his getting down on himself for you hurting his feelings. It is apparently how he handles criticism. Just encourage him to improve and do his very best. Pat him on the back when he shows improvement and tell him what he wrong when he messes up. Sometimes these kids are self-motivating and will work on things away from rehearsal. We had a freahman who was a real clutz that couldn't march or play very well back when I was in college. He locked himself in the practise room and when he finally came out he could outplay half of his section. Just make sure you try to treat him like a normal guy outside of rehearsals. This will show him that, with you, your criticism is nothing personal.

[cjk]

Take the kid under your wing and help him outside of band camp/rehearsal/whatever. Take a legitimate interest in him and help him out in a positive way. Think of what you would want someone to do for you if you were in his shoes, then do that.

The kid sounds like he could use some confidence building experiences. He could hit a growth spurt and be 6 feet tall in a year or two.


Christian

[tubatooter1940]

I was 5' 3'' and 110 pounds as an eighth grader starting on Sousaphone.
I had a stand to sit behind and was allowed to play snare drum in the long Mardi Gras parades. I grew into the horn and was marching with the sousie but,sucker that I am, allowed the cute majorettes to throw the goodies they caught from the floats down my bell until the parade ended. My generosity got the best of me when all that stuff down my bell finally clogged the sound down to almost nothing.

[Joe Baker]

Dear Sam, as a former California state champm, I wast to say that first No band takes steps longer then 22 1/2" ...
as to what tuba sissy said no you cant go ten yards in six steps without leaping so think before yoy type. (try five in eight)

Imagine ME defending T4S... but the days of 8 to 5 are long gone. I came from a similar background (we also marched 6 to 5 sometimes) but corps style marching has blown all those measured steps out the window. My son's band will indeed, at times, call upon students to make 5 yards in 3 or 4 steps. It won't be the whole band doing that, but in order to hit the sets on time a few of the students will have to take these mongo steps. The directors carefully select the taller students for those spots so they can make it.
_______________________________
Joe Baker, who can remember some times when T4S deserved derision, but suspects he's on the up-and-up this time.

[Joe Baker]

I may not have been 100% clear; no one does this for the whole half-time show. There are just short little bursts in some of the shows where a kid that's been taking normal-sized steps for most of the show suddenly has to get from way over here to way over there really quick, and it takes huge steps to do it. During the few seconds when they are taking these extremely longs steps, typically they are not playing. They'll keep their horns in playing position, but they generally will just lay out for a few seconds, which is about all they ever do these very long steps. With the whole band pointed at the stands all the time (remember how in our day we'd march back and forth pointed at the end zones much of the time?) any player can afford to lay out for a few bars when the physical demands of the drill require it.

If you haven't done so lately, go have a look at a top HS band. They are, to my tastes, much more entertaining than they were back in our day.
________________________________
Joe Baker, who is looking forward to his son's marching band season.

[Lew]

Two words, baritone horn.