New Tuba Player in the PNW

[The Big Ben]

Hello:

I'm a new tuba player in the PNW, specifically Port Townsend, WA.

I've played brass instruments since grade school. I have mainly played the trumpet but have spent a number of years also blowing the French horn and baritone horn (treble clef in school band). I played in an orchestra in college and have played in the community orchestra here in the past but not for a few years now.

I have thought of the tuba often in the past and finally started to think of getting one when a guitar playing friend suggested I get an electric bass and play along with him. Why not an air bass? Why not indeed...

I started reading up on different aspects of the tuba including here and other places on the net. I started watching tubas on eBay about two months ago to try and get a handle on possible costs and types of horns available. I also found Dan Oberloh's site and was happy to find that he was only a two hours drive from me.

Well, I kind of stumbled into the horn I bought... It was one of those eBay things... I had been following a few horns for awhile and a King which was a refugee from a high school and looked to be not too badly thrashed (as school horns go) drew my attention. I came home from work and saw that the bids were at $310 with about 30 min. to go. "Seems awful low..." So, I put in $350, thinking that someone would probably grab it from me at the last minute... The time expired and I'm now the owner of a King 1140 tuba. Whee.

It was shipped to me and it was indeed used. It came with a case that needs to be patched together but I can do that. The horn obviously had been beat and thrashed about quite a bit and repaired poorly here and there but the valves worked smoothly and all of the slides work fairly well. There was one big bash in the bottom bow (which I had known about) but the bell was much more straight than crooked and the leaderpipe had some dents in it but looked better than the one on the baritone I had to play in the 8th grade so I was kinda pleased with my purchase. I decided that I would have this thing repaired as far as $500 would get me and that's it. So, it's off to Dan Oberloh's..

Turns out one of Dan's cousins is a school friend of mine... What a friendly fellow. He approached getting my tuba sorted out with a great deal of enthusiasm- like he actually wanted to work on it. Of course, he's a businessman and wants to make a living but I don't believe "not having work to do" is one of Dan's problems. He gave it a blow and said that it would be a nice tuba when sorted out and he pointed at various problems it had and how he would not only would it play better but look better, too.

He took me on a short tour of his shop and, even with the little amount of tuba experience I have, I could tell it was tuba heaven. There was a horn in there which made me glad I will have a case for my horn. Seems a fellow was carrying his Meinl Weston in a gig bag and it slipped off his shoulder. The tuba landed hard right on the valves. Poor Tuba! The valve block was bent and there were a number of dents made. Dan was busily making it right but that certainly makes the case for a case. He pointed out a few of his custom projects in progress. We also talked over some problems with my trumpet which might be solved in the future.

My tuba should be in my hands in about 3 weeks at a cost just a little higher than my budget but within parameters for what I will have in the end. I have a Rubank Elementary Method and a tuner on order. After I feel my way around for awhile, I might try and find a teacher. Or not. I've never had any lessons other than band class at school and practicing at home.

Will I like playing the tuba? We'll just have to wait and see. I plan on playing with my guitar friend, maybe get in the orchestra again, learn some solos and amuse myself in the back yard or form an oompah band with my buddy the accordian player. Any excuse to wear funny hats and drink beer. I think the King will probably be fine for now and maybe for a long time.

The people here seem like a lot of fun and I will be enjoying participating here.

Happy New Year.

Jeff Benedict

"The Big Ben"

[chipster55]

Welcome aboard !! Have fun playing the tuba !

[scottw]

Always a welcome for a trumpet player over here on the dark side! Enjoy!

[trseaman]

Great story Jeff!

Goodluck with the tuba and you're in the right place for tuba information... Keep us posted with your progress and don't get discouraged!

I have thought of the tuba often in the past and finally started to think of getting one when a guitar playing friend suggested I get an electric bass and play along with him. Why not an air bass? Why not indeed...

Sometime last year after hearing a Leon Redbone song, I also found the urge to play along with a guitar player and drummer! It was a somewhat strange feeling at first but I soon settled down and found a grove!!! It's something I'd like to try again!

Tim

[bort]

Welcome!

I have to admit though, it took me a good minute or two to figure out what "PNW" meant. Oops.

[Mark]

I'm a new tuba player in the PNW, specifically Port Townsend, WA.

You should try to go to this:

Fellow Tuba and Euphonium Players,

I am pleased to announce that the second annual Northwest Inter-Collegiate Tuba/Euphonium Symposium (NITES) will be hosted at the University of Washington in Seattle on Saturday, January 27th.

For those of you who do not know about this symposium it is the brain-child of Devin Otto, assistant director of bands and instructor of tuba and euphonium at Eastern Washington University. The idea was to create a one day event where college tuba/euphonium instructors and students from the Pacific Northwest could meet and exchange ideas as well as play for one another. The first NITES was hosted by Devin at Eastern Washington University in January ’06. It was a tremendous success with many schools being represented by students and or instructors from throughout the region as well as a wonderful recital and masterclass by Deanna Swoboda.

The format for the symposium is roughly as follows. The day will start with two masterclass time slots of between 60 to 90 minutes in length. There will then be a short lunch break followed by a college student recital of approximately 60 minutes followed by two more similar length masterclass time slots. Then, there will be a dinner break followed by an evening recital of the attending college professors culminating with a performance by the guest artist.

It is my distinct honor to announce that this year’s guest artist will be Peter Link. Pete is a top call freelance tubist from the Chicago area and one of the most in demand substitute orchestral tubists in the country. He has played and recorded with some of the top orchestras in the US as well as having studied with many of the world’s premiere tubists. He has a wide and varied musical background and I think that he will bring a lot of great knowledge and playing to this year’s symposium.

I should point out that though NITES is primarily targeted towards college level students, PLAYERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!!!!! This event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC and is being presented by the University Of Washington School Of Music.

The exact schedule of masterclasses and recitals is not final yet so more information will be coming along as the details are worked out. As of now, there are plans to have a table of instruments by YAMAHA and possibly other area vendors at the event. For now, please mark January 27th in your calendar and stay tuned for more information.

I eagerly look forward to seeing all of you at the UW for the 2007 NITES and hope that you have a safe and happy holiday season.

Best wishes,
Chris Olka
Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera
University of Washington

Also, any relation to Tyler Benedict, a pretty good tuba player and UW grad?

[The Big Ben]

I'm a new tuba player in the PNW, specifically Port Townsend, WA.

You should try to go to this:

Fellow Tuba and Euphonium Players,

I am pleased to announce that the second annual Northwest Inter-Collegiate Tuba/Euphonium Symposium (NITES) will be hosted at the University of Washington in Seattle on Saturday, January 27th.

<cut>

Thank you! That *does* sound like something I should attend. I haven't heard much live tuba with the exception of pep band blatting and a little bit of orchestra stuff.

Also, any relation to Tyler Benedict, a pretty good tuba player and UW grad?

Not to my knowledge. Benedict is a rather common name. Not in "Smith" or "Muhammad" class or anything but there are many of us.

I knew quite a few Wisemans in West Seattle. Have any relatives there?

In a world growing smaller, I remain,

Jeff Benedict

P.S. My apologies to the group for my Amerocentric titling of my original post. Ths is truly a world wide group. Really dug the Portuguese tune in another post.

[tubatooter1940]

Hi Jeff Benedict,
I guess I'm from the MBSE. (That would be Mobile Bay South East)
I also took a flyer on a 1940 E-bay King Eb and got a good playing tuba for a similar investment.
I played tuba through college and trumpet/guitar/trombone in bar bands until I was in my 50's.
I have a sailing buddy who is a very polished singer/strummer. The first time I played tuba with his guitar something clicked. It worked well.
He can fire up a crowd all alone but he has worked by himself 20 years and he , a former trumpeter from New Orleans, loves the sound as well as the Leon Redbone-type novelty appeal.
We hired a third sailing buddy to play harmonica/rhythm/vocals (who also owns a 39 foot sailboat) and we are now John Reno and The Half-Fast Creekers playing tropical rock (trop rock), jazz and a mix of origionals with cover newbies and oldies.
We cut a live c.d. two years ago and are now in studio cutting our second.
I am 65 years old and having more fun than a geezer has a right to expect.
I hope you have major fun and get to wear your old King "slap out" as we say around here.
Dennis Gray
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/

[Chriss2760]

Hey Jeff, welcome to the PNW. Once you get those chops back together, come and look us up in Leavenworth. The Musikapelle always has a chair open for a visiting tubaist.
Chris.

[EQueg]

welcome and congrats on the tuba, sounds like it will be a good player. nice to have another PNW tuba player. I didn't know what it meant till i read the post but i guess i am one. not as many of us on the west side of the sound so the more the merrier!