What makes a tuba player?

[Toobist]

I first posted this on another thread. I think it was a misplaced post as the original poster didn't really want or require a long-winded answer like mine. Instead, I'd like to start a discussion unrelated to that topic.

Here's my original post:
Actually I addressed this very question with one of my more advanced students several months ago.

I asked him, "Are you sure you want to become a tuba player?"
He responded, "Yes."
"Then you have to play the tuba."
He didn't quite know how to take that so I asked him another question, "What does a tuba player do?"
"He plays tuba."
"That's right. He plays tuba." I replied, "He's a musician who has chosen tuba as his instrument and he plays every day."
He thought about that for a second and I put him at ease with that 'yes, tuba players take days off, of course, but that's what they are - days off.'

Since then, he's been practicing nearly every day and has an entirely different outlook on his practice time. It's less of the Oh! I have a lesson coming up! I have to cram! and more of the, I'm a tuba player, so I play the tuba.

The truth is, it's a struggle that I and many of us have when justifying what we do. I have a day job, but I'm a tuba player. I sell instruments during the day but I'm still gigging and organizing projects constantly. I play every day (but for my 'days off') and am very close to not needing the day gig any longer. It's a goal I'm on ther verge of achieving and it's positively exhausting, social-life destroying, wife-alienating and sleep depriving but I'm a tuba player.

Because I play the tuba, I'm a tuba player.

It's a little philosophical and poorly expressed probably, but I hope as you read it, you understand and perhaps you can even relate.

[windshieldbug]

A musician who has chosen tuba as [their] instrument

[LoyalTubist]

A musician who has chosen tuba as [their] instrument

...and plays it.

[LoyalTubist]

I have a little bit of trouble with that one. The tuba didn't beckon me: "Billy, Billy! Come try to play me!" No, my music teacher at school couldn't stand how I sounded attempting to play the trumpet so he lent me a little tuba. I took the little eefer home. When I got back to school he was very pleased.

The rest was history.

[Wyvern]

I willingness to largely be in the background supporting the ensemble, rather than a soloist.

[Leland]

I willingness to largely be in the background supporting the ensemble, rather than a soloist.

And, while feeling comfortable that the ensemble sounds significantly deeper and nicer with me playing.

[TubaRay]

I willingness to largely be in the background supporting the ensemble, rather than a soloist.

And, while feeling comfortable that the ensemble sounds significantly deeper and nicer with me playing.

Verdad!

[Steve Inman]

A musician who chooses to play the tuba, and who can't NOT play the tuba -- at least, not for very long!

As a college engineering student, I chose not to get involved in the band program, having the misconception that marching band was required, and not being confident I would have enough time for other studies were I in the marching band. In hindsight, I regret that decision.

As an adult amateur, I found a decent tuba as soon as I could, after graduating from college, and have continued to play. Tuba, and guitar, are two instruments that I have played since Jr. High / High School and that I can't not play, lest I soon find myself suffering withdrawl symptoms. I have taken a few years of lessons on piano, I have purchased several other instruments now and then and can dabble on a few with credible results. But I don't actively play them, and don't miss playing them. Not so with tuba (or guitar).

Cheers,

[Leland]

I willingness to largely be in the background supporting the ensemble, rather than a soloist.

While listening to all the bad jokes and sexual comments of the tuba, trombone, and percussion sections. Gotta love being the estrogen of the section?

And we can do that because we're all the way in the back, too. I'd lose my mind if I had to sit in the first row!

[windshieldbug]

someone who loves playing their tuba and does it to be an example for others

Remember: One can be a bad example, too!

[tubeast]

This is a really great topic.

The reason being, that it can be able to Edit: re-focus one´s approach to what one (me) ha[edit:d] been doing for quite a while.
Tuba can be played
-for worship (recommended literature: Bach Chorals arranged for trombone choir. The simpler the better. This guy obviously LOVED the tuba LONG before its invention).
- for the fun of it. No further comment necessary.
- for therapeuthical purposes. This seems to me the instrument more closely related to Hatha-Yoga than any other.

here´s a more profane (but true) reason:
The tuba, played with a given amount of musicianship, will get you an easy A in ANY school program, easier than any other instrument. Just because of the horn´s image.

[Wyvern]

Have you ever noticed how often the tuba player is on the committee of the musical group keeping it running. Must be something about our character

Jonathan "who is currently on the committee of two orchestras and was at one time chairman of a band"

[Rick Denney]

Have you ever noticed how often the tuba player is on the committee of the musical group keeping it running. Must be something about our character

Jonathan "who is currently on the committee of two orchestras and was at one time chairman of a band"

Yup. The band in which I play was founded by a tuba player, is currently conducted by a tuba player, has two tuba players on the board, and the president (me) is a tuba player.

I was also president of an amateur orchestra in Austin, even though I probably played the least of any member of that group.

When the TubaMeisters played at Fiest Texas, the headliner group at that venue was the Sauerkrauts. Their leader was Gary Trumet, a tuba player. And the TubaMeisters themselves always seemed to be the grownups (okay, maybe not always) among the street entertainment people we worked with. Another hard-working beer garden group in Texas is Alpenfest, led by tuba player Mike Barker.

Several of the pro tuba players that are or have been on this list have served in a administrative leadership roles in their orchestras. Considering tuba players are outnumbered by all other sections, it does seem an unusually high likelihood.

Yes, tuba players seem to be willing and able to organize and lead their bands. But I never see any of our names on the sign-up sheet for bringing refreshments for social events.

Rick "who doesn't do cookies" Denney

[Leland]

Yes, tuba players seem to be willing and able to organize and lead their bands. But I never see any of our names on the sign-up sheet for bringing refreshments for social events.

Rick "who doesn't do cookies" Denney

Well, what would we sign up for bringing, other than beer?

[tubatooter1940]

Having tooted every wind instrument, you gotta admit, tuba is far and away the most fun to honk on. We may not woo the women on tuba nut a thousand laughs and beer guzzling friends are guaranteed.

[Leland]

After seeing me drag my case or tour crate up & down the stairs, people have asked, "Don't you wish you that you played flute instead?"

To which I respond, "No, because then I'd have to be a flute player!"

[kegmcnabb]

...not everyone drinks beer and eats barbecue.

WHAT?!?!?!?

"Go on...pull the other one..."

After seeing me drag my case or tour crate up & down the stairs, people have asked, "Don't you wish you that you played flute instead?"

Ya know, when my wife and I owned a campground one of my morning jobs was AM pool duty. Yeah, it was the kind of job I could have assigned to someone, but I really enjoyed the break early in the day to stand by the pool (while cleaning) and think through my day and plan ahead. The only bad part was invariably, someone would come up while I had the skimmer in my hands and ask, "Caught anything yet?" and then laugh...as if it were both funny and original.

It made me feel the same way as when someones says, "Betcha wish you'd played the flute!"

"Why I oughta...."

To which I respond, "No, because then I'd have to be a flute player!"

Good answer!

[LoyalTubist]

One of my first professional experiences I had as a tuba player was as the second tuba player with the Riverside Bicentennial Band in Riverside, Califonia, in 1975-76. The first tuba player was J. David Holder (whom I would love to know where he is now), a Seventh Day Adventist who was a teetotalling vegetarian. He referred to 7Up as "booze." Dave had the tubist's personality and fit in with any group of tuba players.

I was a teetotaller myself until my divorce two years ago--and, no, I haven't turned into a lush.

If you tote your case around with you when you go out, people will make the ubiquitous flute comment--"Makes you wish you played the piccolo." If you use a gig bag and don't make a big deal about carrying it, it lessens those comments.

[LoyalTubist]

Yes, tuba players seem to be willing and able to organize and lead their bands. But I never see any of our names on the sign-up sheet for bringing refreshments for social events.

Rick "who doesn't do cookies" Denney

Well, what would we sign up for bringing, other than beer?

I bring cookies but not everyone is happy with my choices. The last time I did this back in California, I brought durian sugar creme wafers. I love these! If you don't know these cookies, go to an Asian supermarket. For those who live in Southern California, Las Vegas, Atlanta, or a few other places I can't think of right now, the 99 Ranch Market is a good place for people looking for authentic Asian food of several nationalities, and the prices are comparable to your regular supermarket. A package of durian sugar creme wafers will probably set you back about a buck and a half.

You might also consider bringing a durian--a hulled fruit that hails from Southeast Asia... Durians are also sold at the 99 Ranch Market when they are in season in Thailand. But heed the warning below:

[MichaelDenney]

Leland wrote

then I'd have to be a flute player!

Not only a good answer but right on the mark, although the guy flute player in my big college band did get to know well and date some lovely girl flutists. Whereas we low brass players lived a monastic life in the back row.