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Quite true, especially with the tubists.

I'd like to invite you to a score study sectional for our university's Symphonic Band. We all bring our music folders and walk directly into S.U.D.S. (Student Union Drinking Spot) order some mozza sticks and have at it (the beer, not the scores).

I find the Euphonium player actually lands somewhere in between the Tubists and the Trumpeters, they're not complete slobs, but they are generally nice and fun to be around.. however, give them a solo, and they WILL play very quickly and in a high register for extended periods of time... Euphs also share that trumpet Mantra.. higher + faster = better.

You should read, "Gentlemen, More Dolce Please!": an irreverent memoir of thirty years in the Boston Symphony Orchestra by Harry Ellis Dickson. He has a wonderful description of the instrumental personalities.

Among other things he says that the tuba player is the only member of the orchestra who is friends with the stage hands and that he always returms music with a print of his dirty shoe on it.

Alex C wrote: Among other things he says that the tuba player is the only member of the orchestra who is friends with the stage hands and that he always returms music with a print of his dirty shoe on it.

I resemble that remark.

I resemble that remark.[/quote]

Who doesnt

Well.... my instrument chose me. I was the last kid to the bandroom and an old Conn Eb tuba was all that was left!

It was love at first toot. I could see the "rock the room" potential from my first honk and couldn't wait to do it again.

I was converted from the Dark Side. I started as a Trumpet player back in elementary school. The band director we had at the time really had no want to be a band director, but that was the job he had so he pretty much half-assed the program. The band never consisted of more than the few standard instruments Yamaha would sell for cheap. (flute clarinet sax trumpet and bone) When I hit eight grade we had a new band director, a great young guy who actually cared about the program and wanted to see the band do well. First we needed conical low brass. at all the other brass sectionals he asked for interest in playing the school-owned euphonium. (pretty much came up to me and said, "hey, big guy, you're not very good at trumpet, why do you try this, you'll be the man!") So I picked it up, played it for a couple of months, and really enjoyed it. A few months later he told me that yes, Euphonium playing had made me the man, but if I wanted to be really cool I should play the beat up Amati 3-valve in the storage room. And I did. I soon developed a love for that 'back-row lifestyle' and never looked back.

the elephant wrote: Folks, if you are a "performer" just getting a MUED degree to fall back on and do not have a burning desire to educate children then please just take private lessons and get your degree in another field!

Thats what I finally decided on, started at Ithaca as a perf/ed double, wanting to play. realized how I didn't want to teach, was told by the Dean that in that situation the school would rather not make me a teacher. Now I'm just performance (i know, a degree that is 'useless') with a minor in English, its undergrad, I've got some time left.

For stereotypes, I think we should defer to a definitive article written by, Kevin Miller, a member of this board.

http://www.theyellowboard.com/

Truly, groundbreaking work.

My advisor told me that a music ed teacher needed a doctorate or could be rolled for his job by the first PHD that came along. I asked him what degree I needed to perform music. He asked me if I could play. I said yes. He said go play-save your money. I did.

the elephant wrote:You only need that degree if YOU WANT TO TEACH CHILDREN TO PLAY MUSIC!

I did, but there wasn't any work, so I did something else to make money, and played as well as I could.

And I had a pretty good life until I screwed up. Still do!