Getting back into tuba shape

[Kayla]

I have been having problems myself trying to revamp my practice schedule with working "part time" (McDonald's sure does like to keep you over your scheduled hours), and having other commitments such as church functions and a significant other. However, I have found enough time to do the mouthpiece work as mentioned in previous posts. For some reason I find bass trombone practice more accessible, so I have that as well.

I'm sure you already do this, but I like to listen to as many recordings of all sorts of tuba music and ensemble music. For me, it helps a lot because it reminds me of that "tuba sound" we all want to have all the time. I did this a lot in middle/high school since I couldn't afford lessons, and continue it just for love of the instrument and music itself.

[Kayla]

Yeah, I'll have 3-4 days of 8-9 hour shifts, then I'm off for almost a week.

I did clock in almost 70 hours (felt like 100) for two weeks, sucked working it but it looks nice printed with some $$$ listed by it.

[Nick Pierce]

Well done James, best of luck with the practicing.
Wade, thanks for the advice, I'm taking it to heart as well.
James, just one question, slightly off topic. You site an eleven hour work day, yet still say you only work part time. Unless things are different in Texas (they might be, I don't have a clue), by my math that puts you at working like three days a week, four tops, leaving you about half the week to make up for lost practicing time. Did I miss something?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

He has ADD,specific is good

Severe ADD...self-diagnosed...I'm still trying to figure that one out.

There's really good medication for that, especially for adults. Get to a doctor, get a referral to a psych, then get medication. It's not complicated, and you should have the extra $$$ since you're working those 40+ weeks part-time.

No more pitiful replies...go do it!

[MartyNeilan]

Quit whining.

My first serious tuba teacher used to use the phrase "Things are tough all over" whenever I would start down that road.
He was right.

Quit whining.

[MaryAnn]

As long as you don't have to work a zillion hours *during* the semester, frankly I wouldn't worry about it. Really. Not everyone has the same physical capabilities, and personally if I try to practice when I'm dead tired, it doesn't get me anywhere but frustrated. But I would get the plastic tubing to stick on the end of the mouthpiece, and buzz on your way to and from work. The dizzyness will go away in time, and working through that will be an advantage. I made great strides during a 3-month period when I was buzzing on my horn mouthpiece, learning to make a smooth transition over the "break" between the middle and low ranges. I did this...you guessed it...during my 30 minute drive to and from work.

When the semester starts, it will take you a couple weeks to get back up to speed, but what you have to do *now* is make the money so you can go back to school. Then when you get back to school, what you have to do *then* is catch up on your tuba playing.

My reaction is probably more laid-back than some, but only the very, VERY few get to be pro tuba players, and neither I nor James is likely to be the tuba in the Philadelphia Orchestra. I was absolutely delighted to get to play tuba for a while in a couple of decent community orchestras.

MA

[Kayla]

I liked the playing in front of the store idea. Maybe get a sousaphone and just go to town, haha.

[Jarrod]

James,

I've been reading this thread and staying quite entertained....then I got to the part where you said you worked at Central and Bush!! This is NOT a dangerous location, brother. Plano was #1 on the CNN list of best places to live in the country (as a function of income being high/home prices low). I thought you moved to Detroit or Harlem by the way you were talking.

What you do with my next sentence will determine whether you really want to solve your problems and be a tuba player or not. Ready??

When you get off work drive 10 minutes south on 75. Turn right on Mockingbird Lane. Turn Right on Hillcrest. Pass Binkley and make your first right into the metered parking lot (meters are off after 7pm).

You are at the SMU music building, it is open until 11pm, and there are hundreds of empty rooms waiting for a tuba player. If you hear a tuba player playing, come knock on the door, it's probably me. Play for a couple weeks and then lets play duets

~Jarrod Robertson

[TubaRay]

I think I turned out to be a great player.

And from what I hear...extremely modest, too!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

My brain hurts...you have 13 hours of overtime in 2 months? That's not very much. You should have time to practice. Any reason you can't practice in the morning a couple of hours? You only have to get there early one day of the week. Try going to bed early (you're tired, anyway) and doing some "sunrise" tuba routine...good stuff.

The ride home is dangerous whether you buzz or not...use the time to keep your embouchure strong.

I think some folks who are sincerely trying to help you are getting frustrated because you tend to exaggerate the difficulties you're facing...how much time you're working, how dangerous the area is (so you can't take your horn with you), etc.

[Jarrod]

What you do with my next sentence will determine whether you really want to solve your problems and be a tuba player or not. Ready??

When you get off work drive 10 minutes south on 75. Turn right on Mockingbird Lane. Turn Right on Hillcrest. Pass Binkley and make your first right into the metered parking lot (meters are off after 7pm).

You are at the SMU music building, it is open until 11pm, and there are hundreds of empty rooms waiting for a tuba player. If you hear a tuba player playing, come knock on the door, it's probably me. Play for a couple weeks and then lets play duets

~Jarrod Robertson

James, it now seems like you're looking for reasons to not succeed. Otherwise, you would have had no reaction other than "Sweet, a great place to practice for free for several hours a day!"

Hope to see you practicing

[TMurphy]

That means bringing my tuba to work sitting in my hot small car for 10 hours (in a gig bag) and then showering, fighting rush hour traffic at that time. I just practice at home (plus i need a SMU parking permit)

No, it means bringing your tuba to work, and keeping it somewhere you can keep an eye on it/know it's safe. Employee break room, maybe??

Plus, Jarrod suggested parking in a metered lot, which does not require feeding the meter after 7PM. No permit needed.

If you'd prefer to practice at home, that's fine...buy a good practice mute and you'll be able to practice whenever you want, as long as you shut your door. Not a straight mute, but a practice mute.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

i mean the drive is dangerous with all the weavers

Again, the weavers will weave whether you BUZZ YOUR LIPS OR NOT!!!

You are killing me with the excuses...What is wrong with you? I'm talking about buzzing your lips to keep your chops strong. An hour a day. While you sit on your a** and drive. No mouthpiece, no fancy tubes, both hands on the wheel...just buzz. It's exercise for the muscles in your chops, which is what I thought you were concerned about "losing." Now, is there a reason you can't do that to keep your chops up?

And my aunt sleeps in till 9 on weekdays, so I cant really practice then, but I am getting more in with my new microscheduling

Who said anything about practicing where your aunt can hear you? Wake up early, go to the SMU Music Building (or campus, for that matter). Apparently, it's not far out of the way. Take your work clothes and change there somewhere before going on into Plano for work. Don't like that idea? Go to a public place like a park with a nice covered little building for barbeques and such...you do have those in Texas, right?

Seriously...I'm old, gray-haired, and stupid, and I can figure out a way to practice. This whole premise is so ridiculous I'm beginning to wonder if you really are a troll. If so, color me guilty.

[The Big Ben]

Geez, James. You think you got problems?

1. I asked if I could join the community orchestra in my little town. They said "no" on tuba because they already have two and there are 40 in the orchestra. However, they said I could play trumpet.

2. I asked if I could join the community band. You know, one of those 'summer time play in the park" things. Again, 'no' on tuba. They already have four and no more would fit on the stage in the park gazebo. However, you guessed it. I was welcome to play trumpet. *F--k that.*

So, it looks like it's more Arban's and etudes at home. I still like playing and like the tunes in the back of Arban's. I have an ace in the hole, though. I talked a buddy of mine into doing a 'rent to own' on a nice piano for his wife. She hasn't played in a few years but, at one time, she did a lot of accompaniment work. I have a book of easy solos with piano so, as soon as the piano arrives, we're gonna give that a try....

So, James, what are you going to do when you get your degree and have to struggle to find a venue- even for free- for your talents? Unless you are very lucky, you will be working a day job to feed yourself and pay the rent. If you get lucky, maybe after awhile you could go to half time at your day job and make the rest with gigs, half of which will be music you don't really like. Maybe you will get really, really lucky and someday be able to support yourself entirely with your tuba. I hope so.

Point is, if you can't find a way to practice *at all* now, what are you going to do when you have bills and maybe a wife and some kids?

Jeff "Why do James' questions frequently end like this?" Benedict

[The Big Ben]

Good luck, James. Sounds like a plan...

Go for it!

[Biggs]

rachimonikoff.

I LOVE him!!!!!!!111

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Seriously dude, think long and hard about what Wade wrote earlier:
"Are you a laborer who is studying or a student who is laboring?"

FWIW, I work long, hard, hot days doing menial tasks and tiring physical labor in a garage, too. It sucks - especially if, like me, your friends have glamorous internships, salaried corporate jobs, or, at the very least, air-conditioned clerical work. Don't get down on yourself for working hard at something you hate - practicing tuba will seem that much more fun when you finally get to it!

My advice for maintaining sanity: After a particularly hard day (customers have threatened to kill me before..), forgo the practice time and sit down to watch your favorite show (Law and Order) with a big sandwich (salami and fried egg) and a cold beverage (iced tea or a beer) and relax. The tuba will be there tomorrow, and your playing won't have to be forced.

[MartyNeilan]

rachimonikoff.

I LOVE him!!!!!!!111

Is he related to the famous Russian composer Ivan Jerkinov?

[Biggs]

.....and the guys grabbing the balls and such

Ummmm....maybe our jobs aren't as similar as I thought...

[tubacrow]

Maybe I should keep my mouth shut, and maybe I should just let things slide, but this is not productive. I myself am guilty of this. Look at your day, and really look at it. We waste so much time, and instead of being on here I[ Should be practicing. Tubashaman, Elephant is right you have to decide what is important and make those things first in your life.

now I would like to address a couple things you have said. First, you are not alone we all have struggled in shitty jobs, that are in the worst part of the town. Personally I worked as a lifeguard in a low SES area. (and yes I am sure some may think this is a cake job) I do understand rough, we were robbed at gunpoint, twice. Once I had the pleasure of looking down a muzzle. I am not saying this to do anything, but to say I understand working in a rough area. Second, going straight through all three degrees may seem like a good idea, but like everything else sometimes it is good to get some experience before you go back. That way you can see what you don't know, and what you tools you still need to succeed. I personally felt like I knew everything when I got my BM, but the real world proved to me I didn't, and when I returned to school for my masters I truly was a better student becuase I understood as much as I knew there was always someone who knew more.
That said, Keep playing and dreaming.

[The Big Ben]

Second, going straight through all three degrees may seem like a good idea, but like everything else sometimes it is good to get some experience before you go back. That way you can see what you don't know, and what you tools you still need to succeed. I personally felt like I knew everything when I got my BM, but the real world proved to me I didn't, and when I returned to school for my masters I truly was a better student becuase I understood as much as I knew there was always someone who knew more.

I can understand this and agree. I was teaching a few years before I went back and got my master's in education. I knew better what I wanted and needed because I had a little experience.

James did not state if he was planning to go to the same school for all three degrees but, at least in my field, we were discouraged from doing that because it was felt that we needed a wider exposure to ideas than we would get just from one school.

In my field, I frequently go to conferences and have trainings in specific areas of teaching. To me, the sum of these trainings makes me a better teacher than if I had another advanced degree. I'm guessing that having a resume with many master classes with established tuba players/teachers might be more valuable to a working tuba player/teacher than advanced degrees.

Funny thing is, I once had that goal of a PhD. It would have been the 'ultimate intellectual achievement' for me but, after awhile, it didn't matter. I had been saving my money and was getting ready to begin chipping away at it, quarter by quarter, when I realized that the 'doing' of education was more important to me than the 'studying how'. I have about ten years left in my teaching career and, while it would have been cool to have a 'Post Hole Digger", I don't feel that I have let myself down. You can't get HS kids to call you "Dr. Big Ben" anyway. We had a band director who would flip out if the kids did not call him "Dr. ----". He was kind of a whack job anyway but he just made things worse for himself.

That's a little off the stated topic but kind of connected, too. If James wants to go straight through, good on him. I guess sometimes an old guy like me has a little different way of looking at it than a young fella working on his BA.