Buying Instruments

[tubaguy9]

One huge worry (maybe it's been stated before) is that of repairs and such. All other instruments usually include a case. Tubas do not (usually). Cost of a case? at least $500. Awkwardness of carrying a case around if the student decides to take the horn home? It's quite a job to do that around a high school...
If the student can't afford a case and goes for a gig bag, how do you "promise" that the horn won't get damaged?
That was the biggest deal I had when I had my own horn in high school. The horn I had, when used, included a gig bag with it. Later that year, on this forum I was able to find a case for $50, but that was pure luck. (and happens every once in a VERY rare time). Unless as the director, you're willing to keep the horn in your office or have some other way of having protection for it (can you say "band lockers"?) there's not much that can really be done. And in a high school, there's things that happen. People move things around, they horse around in the band room, etc, and very easily damage a tuba. Gig bags are already infamously called dent bags...

[pgym]

One huge worry (maybe it's been stated before) is that of repairs and such. All other instruments usually include a case. Tubas do not (usually). Cost of a case? at least $500. Awkwardness of carrying a case around if the student decides to take the horn home? It's quite a job to do that around a high school...
If the student can't afford a case and goes for a gig bag, how do you "promise" that the horn won't get damaged?
That was the biggest deal I had when I had my own horn in high school. The horn I had, when used, included a gig bag with it. Later that year, on this forum I was able to find a case for $50, but that was pure luck. (and happens every once in a VERY rare time). Unless as the director, you're willing to keep the horn in your office or have some other way of having protection for it (can you say "band lockers"?) there's not much that can really be done. And in a high school, there's things that happen. People move things around, they horse around in the band room, etc, and very easily damage a tuba. Gig bags are already infamously called dent bags...

Ah, but he never SAID that the tuba should be used in school; he said it would give them a horn to play/practice on at home.

[iiipopes]

But if band directors expect students to buy tubas students would plain and simple probably just stop playing.

And there you have it.

[pierso20]

[quote="hrender
FWIW, I lugged my horn home, in the case, at least a couple of days a week. I tried it on the bus once, and that was a mess, so I walked it home the 1.8 miles or so, thankful it wasn't longer. Plus, the band directors would let students practice after school in the band room for an hour or so, although I realize that may not work for everyone.

I recall that over the summer, I could check a horn out for the entire summer. Likewise during concert season, I could check out a sousaphone and keep it home to practice.

I am not really disputing the point that a student should be encouraged to buy a horn if s/he is serious and if s/he has the means. I am saying not doing that does not necessarily prevent the student from practicing.[/quote]

I won't dispute you on that. It won't necessarily prevent student from doing so. However, I'd bet it'd increse the chance. I am just in a state of wishful thinking.

[pigman]

Most kids Rent in the begining. Have a horn in school and have the kids rent. If your dealer doesnt rent tubas( like the big national chain) DUMP them and find a dealer that will invest in your program. I own a rental business. I rent 85 tubas Yes I loose money on them but I more than make it up on the rest of the instruments



Ray

[Rev Rob]

When I started in elementary band, I wanted to play tenor sax. My parents, being dairy farmers, could not afford to purchase me such an instrument. So I was directed to the tuba. The school allowed me to take home a sousaphone during the summer for me to practice - much to my parents dismay, at times. The school did not purchase new tubas until I was in high school and we had Holton 3 valve tubas.

If the student is motivated and talented, I would definitely recommend purchasing a tuba. While I enjoyed playing, I was not that dedicated or talented. I was glad our school had fine Holton tubas for me to use, otherwise I would never encountered the joy of playing a fine instrument.

[danzeman]

I have read posts in this thread from band teachers pointing the finger at parents but I think they need to also step up and help parents to help their kids (the young musicians). A tuba, because of its size and price, presents a certain set of challenges. Sources to purchase or even try out a tube at are very far and few between.

I am not here on TubeNet as a Tuba player or a Musician. I am a parent of a Tuba player and TubeNet is one of my best sources of information to keep pace with what my son needs as a tuba student and what he will need to prepare for a future as a music student in college and beyond.

My son was moved up from baritone to tuba by his middle school band teacher. He was sent home with what was left of an old beat up fiberglass sousaphone for practice at home. After a week or so of this, my son was getting frustrated with this. I knew I either had to jump into this with both feet or get him away from tuba. I went down to the music store from where we were renting his baritone to return it and ask if we could rent a tuba instead. They took the baritone back and said they would have a tuba brought over from their main shop for us to rent (at $100 a month). The price was a bit steep so I didn't feel so bad about the busted up piece of junk the band teacher sent home with my son to practice on, it was free to use. The following week I went to the music store to get the tuba. The clerk brought the tuba from the back room to the front counter. At first I thought it was some kind of joke. The bell was torn, dents covered the entire horn and the slides would barely move. As a bonus, there was no case, just a cloth tent bag (not a gig bag). I told the clerk he was sadly mistaken if he thought I was going to shell out $100 a month for this piece of junk. This is when I decided that I needed to try and learn everything I could about tubas and what a student would need to get through school and possibly into college.

I called over to the middle school and had a long talk with the band teacher. I asked a lot of questions not only about that year in school but beyond as well. Then, I spent a great deal of time researching on the WWW for equipment. The middle school had a Yamaha YBB321 4/4 Bbb tuba for him to play at school. The busted up Sousaphone for home practice had to go. I decided the best solution would be to find a used tuba of the exact same model as he was using at school for practice at home. At that young age it didn't seem to make sense to have a different style of tuba including size, key or even number of valves. I found one on Ebay that was listed at a very reasonable (Buy it now) price. This was do to the age, dents and other damage the tuba had. I kept my fingers crossed Baught it and brought it into a shop that advertised repairing tubas. After $550 in repairs and $700 from the Ebay purchase, my son had a tuba at home that was the exact same as the one he was playing at school. This was only the beginning. Maintaining the instrument seemed to be a major part of owning a tuba. The equipment one needs to clean and maintain a tuba is similar to other brass instruments but much larger. Dent and ding removal is also common for a tuba used by a young musician. I wound up buying a lot of equipment and supplies. For training I would search out other brass instruments from garage sales and other low cost markets so I had things to practice on before I did things on the tuba. Some of these instruments were kept others we sold and used the profits to buy other instruments. Occasionally as my son got older I would come across a tuba or other large low brass instrument that was really worth restoring. The work I could not do I had a shop do for me on these horns. This helped out as my son took up the bass trombone for Jazz Band and still used a baritone or Euphonium as well. He also will spend some time on a trumpet/cornet and french horn. All of which we have at home. None of these are new and shiny but are quite playable. Don't get me wrong, I still take his main Tuba to a very highly skilled Tuba repairman for its yearly maintenance. I do clean it several times a year but I think it is important for the tuba to go into a shop once a year to have a real professional work on it.

Sheet music, Music books and recordings are very important for young musicians. I found a parent needs to get very creative sometimes to keep up the level of interest in their child so they practice their music on a regular daily basis. New sheet music and books can be a good motivator. It helps to spend time with your child looking for the music. Occasional trips to the music store are a great activity for cold and dreary winter weekends. We have taken time on some of our vacations to stop by music stores that are in these far away destinations to browse for new things.

Private lessons are a real big deal when students get into High School music programs for tuba. Our local High School still has only a trombone musician teaching tuba. We had to find a good tuba musician for private lessons on our own. It really does make a big difference. The private lessons teacher has to be someone your child can work well with. Not every teacher can connect well with every student. It does happen and a parent needs to monitor this closely.

My son is now a junior in High School. He has recently changed from Bbb to CC tuba. In addition to the Miraphone 1292 (New Yorker) tuba we bought, we had to find an older CC tuba for him to leave at the High School for daily Wind Ensemble practice because our High School does not have a CC tuba for students to use. The High School does have Bbb tubas but I do not think there are many High Schools that do have a CC tuba around for the students.

I know this seems to some people to be a lot of money. It has also been a lot of hard work with quite a few mistakes along the way. I guess because we did it together it has been worth it.


P.S. My thanks to all of the people here on TubeNet. Without you, it would be a lot harder. And a lot less fun.