Schools that require proficiency on CC

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:01 am

Any that require proficiency on CC, much less F/Eb, are merely limiting the applicants that CAN apply. It would be interesting to have someone go in and absolutely blow the socks off on a BBb, and get admitted. What kind of lawsuits could there be from someone who was less skilled on CC?

heck, I did start playing CC in early undergrad, but had never even SEEN an F until grad school. Right now, that's all that I really have as far as useable horns. Funny how that worked out.

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:02 am

oops...sorryh for the dupe

Quicksilvertuba · Post by **Quicksilvertuba** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:42 pm

When I auditioned in the summer of 2005 I can remember asking Don Little (UNT) and Dr. Wass (Texas Tech) about this subject. They both RECOMMENDED that I get a CC during the summer or, at the latest, before my sophomore year in college. I'm sure it wouldn't have mattered that much if I would have played better thought...

quinterbourne · Post by **quinterbourne** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:49 pm

Sometimes teacher's want all the students on CC because it's easier to tune instruments of the same pitch. That being said, I've definitely played with BBb players who are easier to tune to than some CC players.

Also, if the teacher plays CC, the CC fingerings are probably the ones they are most familiar with...

Perhaps the teacher thinks/believes/knows that they will be a more effective teacher if the student is on CC.

I don't necessarily agree with everything that I've said, but would like for you guys to take these factors into consideration.

Note: if you're a fabulous BBb player, you won't really have many major problems getting where you want to go. You may have to work harder to get it. In my opinion, life is generally easier on CC.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:37 pm

The question is: what is the reason behind such a requirement?

If the reason is to say that IF you're serious, then you should be able to play multiple keyed instruments, so that that is NOT a limiting factor in your development as a musician, then yes, I'd agree. I disagree that the exact key specifications are necessary, but then, I'd say that if you don't want to do it simply becasue you're lazy and don't like HARD WORK, than cool! That's just more work for the REAL tubists...

Likewise, if it's just an arbitrary key specification that was made years ago, then I'm with bloke in waving to the best future buggy whip makers...

Chriss2760 · Post by **Chriss2760** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:30 am

Wow! You go, Doc. I couldn't have said it better or agree any more, (i.e., don't expect me to fuel your CC fetish.) I'm paying and I'm calling the shots. Get over it.
(Let me play a little BBb for ya.

)

fpoon · Post by **fpoon** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:09 am

A lot of it (not just at IU) may stem from the fact that "back in the day" (perhaps when a lot of instructor aged dudes were young and impressionable) BBb just were not made as well as most CC horns.

Of course, today, there are tons of different horns in all four keys that are exellent. But if its the teachers studio and he wants all CC, its his call.

A friend of mine is at UT Knoxville and is having issues cause his prof. wants him to have a CC by X date. That seems sort of lame. He has a BBb and is pretty darn good on it...

But the key of the horn doesn't really matter, its the dude (or dudette!) putting the air into that does.

sc_curtis · Post by **sc_curtis** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:46 am

Is it wrong for someone who wants to be taken seriously to be expected to be proficient in all 4 keys? Why not? (Proficient=acceptable, not meaning perfectly spectacular in all 4 keys)

Even if you don't have access to all 4 keys, you can still figure it out. Transposition should be required!

Up until now, I have managed to conjure up the mental capacity to learn 3. BBb growing up, CC when I got my own (because I wanted a CC), and F eventually. Now that I am in a brass band, I would like to use it as an opportunity to learn Eb as well. I just got a clunker to fool around with, so it may be fun.

Why can't we be expected to be versatile enough for all of it?

As a pre-requisite, it seems silly to expect certain things about equipment such as key. But once in, I would not only hope that my teacher wishes me to learn other keys, I would expect it!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:48 am

I remember when I auditioned for the Army band program, I took my C tuba and played the music put in front of me. The proctor told me I played everything wrong--my fingerings were completely off. I told him that I was playing a C tuba and that confused him so much he gave me a perfect score. (I auditioned for the First Sergeant of the band at Fort Ord in 1978.)

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:51 am

I never had to learn C or F tuba but I would get to work and do it if I had to. A lifetime in music has me going places and playing music and instruments I never dreamed of early on (even lead singing).
It has been fun and well worth the effort.

djwesp · Post by **djwesp** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:04 pm

sc_curtis wrote:Is it wrong for someone who wants to be taken seriously to be expected to be proficient in all 4 keys? Why not? (Proficient=acceptable, not meaning perfectly spectacular in all 4 keys)

Even if you don't have access to all 4 keys, you can still figure it out. Transposition should be required!

I would think (although that gets me into trouble) that by virtue of being a performance major the ABILITY to transpose would be assumed (via a lot of hard work). I would also figure that versatility would be expected and easier to come by as a facilitation of your practice regime.

I have a hard time associating this versatility and ability to transpose and switching keys with a requirement to play a certain pitched tuba. It would stand to reason that with the ability to transpose, that almost any keyed tuba could be facilitated by someone trying to get their degree in it (as long as an underdeveloped embouchure for the range wasn't an issue).

(not saying a BBb tuba player should be able to pick up a G tuba and be a virtuoso, but saying that his ability to overcome these obstacles would be very small if he was a serious performance student)

---just realized how sexist that sounded, replace he with she if need be---