OK, so this new "Boy Wonder"...............

tubiker · Post by **tubiker** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:04 pm

Going back to where we started from..............

Has anyone suggested to the kid in question that he consider converting to Judaism

or becomes a humanist

Andrew M

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:44 pm

Too many responses to read; I'm too behind to catch up. Hopefully I won't be repeating exactly what others have said.

I remember playing the Poulenc Gloria with a church in Austin many years ago. I came in with my tuba and set next to the trombones. In the opening of the second movement, the two trombones play a duet of alternating eighth notes that require a consistency of sound and concept between the two players to produce a musical result. I heard only half of the duet, and glanced to my left. The half I heard was Donald Knaub (possibly the most famous trombone teacher in the world at the time), and there was a young kid who attended that church sitting next to him.

Dr. Knaub could have played both parts himself and done admirably. He could have complained to the music minister that the kid wasn't up to the Poulenc. He could have told the kid to shut up and stay out of the way. But he didn't do any of that: He told the kid, "WE are going to get this lick" and worked with him during the break and at other rehearsals to nail it down. And in the performances, they indeed nailed it.

It is true that the kid recognized he was in the presence of greatness not his own. But why did he know that? Because Dr. Knaub delivered the goods when the time came in that first rehearsal, and because Dr. Knaub knew he was better than thus didn't need to act like he was better.

I would look on this as a teaching opportunity, especially since it's a church group where it would be mighty innappropriate to return the kid's obnoxiousness back to him.

So, if the kid wants a chair competition, tell the music minister that it's okay with you. What do you have to be afraid of? If the kid thinks he sounds great, the ask the music minister to program something that has a tuba solo, and give the solo to the kid. Work with him until the solo sounds good. Again, what do you have to lose? If the solo is too hard for the kid at his current stage, it will be obvious to everyone including him, and he'll give it back to you. If he's unable to recognize his own inability to play it, then it's up to the music minister to ask you to play it, so that your authority is not based on what you say, but rather on what the music minister says. If he plays it well, he will have reason to be proud of his accomplishment and it will turn your relationship around.

Never forget that playing music in a church is a worship activity that has to be approached as a servant, even of others don't do likewise. And never forget that your responsibility is to God who is far more interested in what's inside the kid's heart than what comes out of his tuba.

Rick "who has seen more juvenile behavior from grownups than kids" Denney

Doug@GT · Post by **Doug@GT** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:43 pm

Rick Denney wrote:Too many responses to read; I'm too behind to catch up. Hopefully I won't be repeating exactly what others have said.

I would look on this as a teaching opportunity, especially since it's a church group where it would be mighty innappropriate to return the kid's obnoxiousness back to him.

So, if the kid wants a chair competition, tell the music minister that it's okay with you. What do you have to be afraid of? If the kid thinks he sounds great, the ask the music minister to program something that has a tuba solo, and give the solo to the kid. Work with him until the solo sounds good. Again, what do you have to lose? If the solo is too hard for the kid at his current stage, it will be obvious to everyone including him, and he'll give it back to you. If he's unable to recognize his own inability to play it, then it's up to the music minister to ask you to play it, so that your authority is not based on what you say, but rather on what the music minister says. If he plays it well, he will have reason to be proud of his accomplishment and it will turn your relationship around.

Never forget that playing music in a church is a worship activity that has to be approached as a servant, even of others don't do likewise. And never forget that your responsibility is to God who is far more interested in what's inside the kid's heart than what comes out of his tuba.

Rick for President.

Seriously.

Doug "always glad when Rick posts on a topic like this"

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:16 pm

I like the valve switching approach. No sound and hard to trace to anyone.

And yes, Tabasco is too thin. Try Wasabi..

Ralph

Doug@GT · Post by **Doug@GT** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:09 pm

TexTuba wrote:I like the valve switching approach. No sound and hard to trace to anyone.

If it's a Yamaha (I know Wayne said, but I'm too lazy to go back and check), you don't even have to switch the valves around. Just turn one of the plastic valve guides backwards.

Doug "who did this by accident once in middle school, which made for an interesting weekend"

Carroll · Post by **Carroll** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:23 pm

I was not gonna...

I just keep thinking "whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me". I think we have all sat by that kid - I think I probably was that kid - and yet, we all survived.

We do not play in worship for our own glory, and I am sure he will get to that place, as well.

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:05 pm

Soooo ....
How is the boy wonder doing now?

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:19 pm

Now, ain't that a big surprise!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:18 pm

schlepporello wrote:I figure the kid (providing he stays with the tuba) will finally have his reallity check moment when he goes to high school and finds he'll have to learn to be comfortable sitting in the last chair position.

Maybe he'll have to move "up" to drummer, then...

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:52 am

I think the important thing is to understand that this kid just probably needs to be noticed.

Introduce him to the wonders of playing the baritone saxophone or Eb clarinet.

He'll get noticed--and he'll be someone else's problem.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:20 am

I didn't really read every post....

But, I just wanted to add that I have known players with undergrad degrees who have nearly the same attitude. Granted, they are better players than a kid... But, you know the type--the kind that ask for advice--"Come listen to this, tell me what you think..."

They play for you, you listen, and offer some advice... And they say "No, I think it sounds good the way it is..." or "no, I don't think I am doing that..." I just smile and say "Yeah, you're probably right." Some people only want to hear how amazing they are...

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:18 pm

zoro wrote:Schlep's Amish?!

I dunno, but you ought to see the team of horses and wagon he drives!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:49 pm

harold wrote:Looks like everyone missed the point on this post.

Was just watching a documentry on the Amish. They have a higher than average incidence of birth defects that are probably a result of inbreeding.

So do Funamentalist Mormons:

The Colorado City/Hildale, Utah area has the world's highest incidence of fumarase deficiency, an extremely rare genetic condition which causes severe mental retardation. Geneticists attribute this to the prevalence of cousin marriage between descendants of two of the town's founders, Joseph Smith Jessup and John Yeates Barlow; at least half the double community's roughly 8,000 inhabitants are descended from one or both.

Just doin' the good Lord's work, I guess.

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:33 pm

I got to thinking ( dangerous ), the kid's real problem is that he is in the wrong band. Put him in with a pipe band, and his personality will perfect.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:36 pm

Maybe he took up viola!

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 10:50 am

schlepporello wrote:
zoro wrote:
harold wrote:Looks like everyone missed the point on this post.

Was just watching a documentry on the Amish. They have a higher than average incidence of birth defects that are probably a result of inbreeding.

Their philosophy on the individuals that have these problems is that this is "God's way of teaching the community". They feel that this is an instructional moment from above to teach them patience and tolerance.

Perhaps this is someone's way of teaching Schlep...
Schlep's Amish?!
No, but I swing a mean hammer.
Hey! There's my answer!
It's hammer time!

Cain't touch that!

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:44 pm

The point is: He's gone but not forgotten.

There is no longer a problem. He's someone elses problem now.

Schlep must feel like a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

TubeNet

OK, so this new "Boy Wonder"...............

key conversion