ITEA 2011

[dswoboda]

Hi Everyone!

I appreciate reading your thoughts about ITEA and the Journal. Serving as President, I have the distinct pleasure of leading the Association for the next two years. I certainly look forward to the opportunity serve the membership, to meeting a lot of folks along the way, AND to improving our offerings to the membership.

With recent changes in the structure of the organization we have more representation of the membership (more representation for everyone). This means that we intend to do a better job of defining the diverse interests of more tuba and euphonium players. We will have a new website (coming soon!) that will include even more interesting content and “stuff” for members. We also have plans to move some of the Journal content to the web, which will leave more room for articles and topics of interest. Here is where you come in….and we are listening.....

If you were in charge of the Journal or the Website, what kind of materials would you include? Who do you want to hear from? What do you want to see? Do you have something you would like to contribute to the Journal or the Web?

Please keep in mind that we are ALL “Ambassadors” of the instruments that we play, and the opportunities to educate the general population about them are plentiful. It is our job to share with the world just how absolutely wonderful our instruments are! Our tuba and euphonium forefathers were Ambassadors. They worked endlessly to popularize the tuba and the euphonium, to bring them to the forefront to be featured as solo instruments. They commissioned new works, recorded new repertoire, and took every opportunity talk about the instrument. It is now OUR job (of all tuba and euphoniums players) to continually improve the image of our instruments via what we do as players. Every concert that we play, we make more friends of the tuba and the euphonium. I remember my mentor, Sam Pilafian once said, “Be it a well played polka gig or a solo recital, we are all representing each other in an effort to popularize and celebrate our instruments.” Now I say to you, “Do what you enjoy, and enjoy what you do. Be an Ambassador of your instrument!”

ITEA would like to hear from you!

Share your ideas here or email or call me directly. Deanna.swoboda@wmich.edu" target="_blank
602-432-0981

I look forward to hearing from you.
Deanna Swoboda

[bisontuba]

Deanna-
Thanks for responding to the recent wave of comments about ITEA.

One suggestion-with the huge turnover rate of new tubists who have won symphony jobs in the last 10 years due to retirements, perhaps at least one -or two- ICSOM/ROPA/Seattle Orchestra(s) -have these new tubists be interviewed per issue for their thoughts, experiences, etc. Also, if they aren't in an orchestra currently-- the current major music conservatory/schools teachers on their experiences and the changes they see in students. If each ITEA Board member did two interviews a year via the web, it could add some spice and also give us different perspectives from questions asked, etc.

When I look at the roster of ITEA members, I don't see many of the major symphonic orchestral players as members-- reaching out to them could enhance revenues for ITEA ( maybe a special one time fund drive Life Membership special?--to Everyone) and also give the journal/ website some new ideas for the 21 century tuba player(s).

It would be very nice to have ITEA and Tubenet be inclusive to each other, as opposed to exclusive of each other. Each organization should exchange ads and encourage all tuba/euph players--young, old, professional, amateur, student, retired, etc.--to belong (with good reasons) to ITEA and use Tubenet. After all, both groups SHOULD have the same audience.

I, for one, appreciate your willingness to be open and listen. Thank you!

Regards-
Mark Jones
Jonestuba@Juno.com" target="_blank

[opus37]

I find the current website to be a bit cumbersome to navigate, especially trying to look for things in older journals. A search feature would be nice. I really like the pedology section and the power lessons. I would like more of those. I get my journal online. That works for me. I play an Eb, although less popular, you still could have fingering charts and exercises that include that version of the Tuba.

[Tom Coffey]

Bass World, the magazine of the ISB, features biographies of bass players in orchestra and sometimes entire bass sections--the Louisiana Orchestra (New Orleans) was the last featured section, I think. These biographies are interesting and sometimes offer a clue to how players are selected.
Bass Player has a feature on "ordinary" working string bass or bass guitar players. Sometimes, the jobs themselves are surprising.
A regular feature on traditional jazz players would be fantastic. David "Red" Lehr, the sousaphone player on the Pokorny disc (Memories of You duet), Alan Jaffe at Preservation Hall, and Rich Matteson would certainly qualify as subjects, to start. Articles about great teachers and players (maybe like the ITEA cover article I wrote about Sam Green for the Summer 2005 issue) sometimes make good reading, too.
An article per issue on symphonic or military band rep would also be good--this is often neglected in (exclusive) favor of orchestra rep.
Finally, how about a repair corner hosted by Joe Sellmansberger or Dan Schultz.

[J.c. Sherman]

Great idea to reach out!

I think the dominant paradigm of ITEA (ne T.U.B.A. and still in my mind that way) has been too often (and unconsciously) dominated by collegiate focus. That's who's involved, that's who contributes, that's who reads, and that's who pays. Makes sense. And I'm certain it's not intentional. But I'm not going to be writing about Atlantis from Utah.

I've been included in some content from time to time, so I don't wish to damn the content that's extant. That said, to be inclusive we have to recognize the journal will not be consumed by the general public; therefore, thinking of it in terms of ambassadorship is a little far-fetched.

As someone outside of academia, I love the historical section!

I love the ads, because it's the only content about the tools of my trade. More content about tools, from WWBW closing and the ways people can try instruments, to reviews of the industry from those unconnected, would be welcome.

Reviews of new recordings, sought from people outside TUBA, would be great! We should be evaluated on the same plane as any other instrumentalist for content and execution, so it's time to exclude tubists from reviews.

Articles made by people making their living in the "real world", outside the few in full-time orchestras, and how to get, keep, and solicit work would be valuable to students who need a reality check and a help in making ends meet. We should share ideas about how to make music your living. How do you learn to double? What shows are using tuba and euph now? What doubles are needed? When do you use the cimbasso in freelancing? Emergency repairs? There are only a pitiful few jobs for serious tubists out there... they could use some guidance and introductions to reality, even if it's how to find hourly work doing something else

The TUBA press is a wonderful, wonderful tool for composers and players... that is the core of the mission, I would assert. But, I think (don't shoot me) that because of Harvey and TUBA, we no longer suffer the grand misunderstanding and malignment tubists used to suffer through. We're accepted musicians and even championed now; from the "dotted I" at Ohio State University to Tuba Christmas, we are a permanent and accepted member of the bands and orchestras of the world, and the ridicule we suffer is less than that of violas and oboes... I think we need not be so worried about ambassadorship any longer.

Finally, scholarship. Peer-reviewed work. Coping with parts written for different instruments history of the cimbasso; Berlioz's actual use of the ophicleide; metal composition of the Chicago Yorks... whatever. Something which is deeply interesting! I can recall numerous such articles from Early Music, ITA, ITG and other periodicals. Not one article save for the occasional interview/bio do I recall from the journal. And while those are often inspiring and interesting... there could be more; and rather than reviewing what's being used, find out why? If more people are playing Thein “untertubas”, find out why, rather just post the regular survey results. Perhaps ask “Would a trombonist be interested in this? A horn player?” The journal is about music fundamentally and the tool we use specifically. I’ve been more than a little interested in reading articles in the wind and string journals because they deal with music in an interesting fashion. The Journal should do the same!

These are just quick thoughts. But when I see the disconnect between ITEA "faculty" and the TubeNet, and read the content of that disconnect in recent exchanges, I’m gladdened by this idea of approaching the larger (including tenor) tuba world. This is a great, great step! Just glancing at the 'net gives me a good sense of where the "other" tuba community's interests lie, and that may be a continuous guide for you going forward.

J.c.S.

P.S. change the name back to TUBA; creative and clear.

[dswoboda]

Thank you ALL for your wonderful ideas and suggestions!

This is exactly what we need to know about and figure out how to implement with ITEA. I have taken copious notes from your comments and plan to implement many of them within the next year. As you know, great ideas take time to implement and take time to find the people to do the work. However (I say), where there is a will, there is a way! We have an awesome (and expanded) Board of Directors who will contribute more content but please know that contributions from you are also welcome and appreciated. If you have something of interest to contribute to the Journal or Web, please let us know.

ITEA will have a NEW website by the end of September. Jason Smith has done awesome work as the ITEA Web Editor. It will be much easier to navigate and will have a bit more content in the membership area. That is something that the board is helping to increase and improve. Keep visiting the website this year for updates and new content. Another exciting thing about the NEW website is there will be space for advertising. You mentioned that the ads were a nice part of the Journal because it's nice to see what new in the industry. Now you'll be able to see that on the web as well.

As for making more of a connection between ITEA and TubeNet, I think it's a wonderful idea. The question is, how? Connecting tuba and euphonium players is a goal for both, this I do know. I don't yet have a clear thought about how to connect the two. Advertising is a start. If you have more ideas, let me know.

Again, thanks for listening and thanks for speaking your mind!

Best, Deanna

[king2ba]

While I totally appreciate what you are trying to do here, Deanna, it concerns me to see the president of an organization asking what the members would like to see in it's journal. It makes me wonder what that long list of people on the board are doing? I mean, if you need me or LV or worse yet, Bloke to tell you what to print, you're totally screwed!

Here are a few ideas....take them or leave them....in no particular order....

- Meet the pro's. I'm sure many would find it interesting to learn about the people that are at the top of this profession. Don't spend every issue on the big boys, either....let's hear about the guys that are paying their bills by playing in someplace other than Chicago or NY.

- Where Are They Now? Let's hear about how some of our idols have kept themselves active in ways other than being on stage. Floyd Cooley, Warren Deck, Charlie Villarrubia, Ron Bishop, Wes Jacobs, etc.

- From the Bench (Repair and Maintenance Advice) - find someone....one person....to have a recurring section where they talk about ONE THING per issue we should all be doing with our instruments to keep them in top condition.

- What's New in Instrument Design. - Get the manufactures to give out some teasers about what's going to be at Frankfurt or Midwest. Those are always great threads on TubeNet, they could even help conference attendance if people knew there was going to be some great new widget there for them to try out.

- Technology and the Tuba. - What new app, or software, or whatever that needs battery, or needs to be plugged in, could help anyone be a better player.

- Show Me the Money. - How to make your instrument pay for itself. Too many colleges are turning our performances majors that will NEVER play in an orchestra. What are some other ways to make some cash to at least pay off the loan for the 10,000 instrument you didn't really need to begin with!

- No Tuba Player Left Behind. - Make a pedagogy section that will actually help the masses. Most of us are teaching young kids. How's about covering STARTING someone on tuba or euph. Or, how to fix poor fundamentals in a player that was started by a sax playing band director that knew nothing! We don't need more info. on Song and Wind....I'm sorry Dr. Jacobs....we need info to help us with the students you're going to help us learn to get from the "Show Me the Money" section!

- That's Not a Tuba...Now THIS is a Tuba. - Instrument reviews. I know there isn't anyone that has enough balls to do this, and I'm sure the ITEA board wouldn't even consider this, but get manufactures to send "like" instruments to someone and have that person do an honest comparison. Ask that each manufacture send a 4/4 CC tuba in for testing. Talk about how different each manufactures take is on what it means to be 4/4. Have a "best buy" and "best overall" rating at the end. Hell, if they can do this with table saws for woodworkers, surely instruments could be shipped around. I know the board would be petrified to lose ad revenue when someone says that B&S isn't the end all be all instrument, but again, someone needs to grow a set!

- Accessory Corner. - What's new with accessories for our instruments? Tuners, Metronomes, Cases, Bags, Stands, Mics, etc. Once manufactures knew that people are reading about innovation, they'll innovate more....that's how Harvey did it all those years ago....it still works!

- A Picture is Worth 1000 Words, but a Good Recording of the Ride is Priceless. - Have someone talk how how to record the tuba and euphonium well. Again, have it be ONE TOPIC per issue and be something that is recurring. This would even be a good place to talk about what to do with those practice session recordings....what to listen for....how to evaluate them...etc.

- Tubas in the Wild. - What recordings are out that ever one should have? I don't want to hear solo tuba all the time....what gets talked about on TubeNet are things like the Planets recording with Bobo and Tommy. What should we be buying for our collections and WHY is it good playing.

The suggestion was made to involve TubeNet with ITEA....work with Sean. If he's game, this is an EASY one....ask a question in the journal and have people come to TubeNet to discuss it. (This could also work on Facebook or Twitter) Find out everyone's favorite valve oil or something....with the TubeNet crowd anything can turn into entertainment. To encourage participation, you simply pick someone at random from every one that participated in the thread and give that person a gift certificate to TUBA press.

One last suggestion....DON'T PUBLISH ANYTHING THAT HAS CITATIONS!!!!! Someone that truly has something to offer this community can prove that to a tenure board without showing that they can read and copy someone else's work!!!

There....that should get you started. I'm sure the college crowd will poo poo these ideas, but if you look at good mags and journals for other interests, these are the types of articles you'll see. Don't reinvent the wheel, just stop publishing crap!

[Biggs]

One last suggestion....DON'T PUBLISH ANYTHING THAT HAS CITATIONS!!!!! Someone that truly has something to offer this community can prove that to a tenure board without showing that they can read and copy someone else's work!!!

Yes! How dare writers try to support their conclusions!! What we need are more wild, baseless claims posited as gospel!!! AND MORE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[king2ba]

One last suggestion....DON'T PUBLISH ANYTHING THAT HAS CITATIONS!!!!! Someone that truly has something to offer this community can prove that to a tenure board without showing that they can read and copy someone else's work!!!

Yes! How dare writers try to support their conclusions!! What we need are more wild, baseless claims posited as gospel!!! AND MORE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude....we play the tuba....we blow hot air through a tube....we make farting sounds....most of us would be more interested in a review of what beer goes best with Mahler than we'd like to hear about someone's condensed dissertation.

I guess the difference is that I'd be much more interested in NEW and WILD ideas than reading about how someone believes what they believe because they read other's work before them. Yeah, there is a time and place for that, but again....we make farting sounds.



PS.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PPS.....

[Biggs]

....most of us would be more interested in a review of what beer goes best with Mahler than we'd like to hear about someone's condensed dissertation.

Amen! Though I think part of the problem lies in the lack of original (i.e. interesting) topics and flat writing in tuba doctor's dissertation...

Seriously, 'cultural' or 'light' items like this (yes, including beer reviews!) would go a long way toward improving the Journal!

[BAtlas]

I think Conference reviews and new composition listings should be moved to the internet.
Photos and sound clips seem to be much more manageable in this form, and you could actually include sound clips!
You're also eliminating content from the journal that only applies to specific members.

I'd like to see more history of the tuba. I'd like to know what the trends were and what they are today (by country, orchestra, etc.)
Maybe you could even do a "in 19_ _ this happened to the tuba" and include other musical and historical events

I'd like to see more articles comparing different styles of pedagogy, and critiques of pedagogy.
(Critiques that have honest feedback and don't feel sugar coated)

I'd like to see more orchestrally focused content (as opposed to Tuba-Euph only content)
-And Band
-Or anything that causes tubists to make money
-But really, I know brass players who will jump on any opportunity to improve their excerpts. Gene Pokorny
even has his nifty CD with commentary. Why couldn't commentary on excerpts like that simply be written
in the journal? I'm certain there are obscure excerpts people would love to look at for the first time as well.


More jazz, helpful hints on walking bass lines could serve many tubists and be a good start for uncomfortable classical
tubists. I know one of the hardest things in learning jazz is to start; it can be downright intimidating. A journal isn't going
to judge someone for their lack of knowledge, and readers won't feel intimidated learning about jazz.

Okay, I know I'm hopping back to orchestral excerpts, but why doesn't the tuba community have something like TromboneExcerpts.org?
Perhaps this is another place where the ITEA could fill in a gap. For all the various orchestral excerpt books out there for the tuba, I'm
surprised we haven't taken to internet excerpts like the trombones and horns have.

A story corner could be very interesting. A lot of people (professional, non-professional and otherwise) have had many mishaps during gigs
and rehearsals. Though this particular topic is a step away from the "professional journal," I think it's the type of thing everyone can get into
because it's easier to relate.

[Michael Bush]

I think

Thanks for this useful post, BAtlas. A lot of good ideas there.

[J.c. Sherman]

Why are non of these posts fitting on the screen anymore?!?

[sloan]

I think that material that is "only of interest to specific players" should be eliminated,
but material that is "only of interest to me, me, me" should be expanded.

[king2ba]

Why are non of these posts fitting on the screen anymore?!?

Because Biggs wanted more !...so I helped him out. With no spaces between them, the BBS software didn't put in a line break. Don't blame me, I was just helping Biggs out!

[PMeuph]

Okay, I know I'm hopping back to orchestral excerpts, but why doesn't the tuba community have something like TromboneExcerpts.org?
Perhaps this is another place where the ITEA could fill in a gap. For all the various orchestral excerpt books out there for the tuba, I'm
surprised we haven't taken to internet excerpts like the trombones and horns have.

If you read carefully on tromboneexcertps.org, you will realize that it was Sett Vatt's, the webmaster, doctoral dissertation. Maybe the same thing could be
done by an academic in the tuba community. (I even read that part of the funding was provided by an academic institution)...(There is also
a paper that explains his rationale behind the project that can be found on Proquest)

[Michael Bush]

I think that material that is "only of interest to specific players" should be eliminated,
but material that is "only of interest to me, me, me" should be expanded.

Speaking of suggestions, I wish this site had a "like" or "thanks" button, so there would be a way to appreciate a great post like this without piling extra posts into the thread.

[PMeuph]

Even though I have posted this elsewhere, I will post my idea again here.

I would see it as preferable to put the scholarly articles online and to put the "general articles" in print. This way everyone would have access to all the resources they need and there could be advertising with the the printed version. This would also entice people to subscribe to the printed version.

(If anyone is wondering, online periodicals are still considered as equal to printed versions if they are peer-reviewed. Also, the online format allows one to add sound clips, videos and more musical examples)

An example of this can be found with Society for Music Theory. They have two academic publications: Music Theory Spectrum and Music Theory Online. The later being accessible to everyone but also being a peer-reviewed publication.
The same model could be used by this community. The advantages of having scholarly articles in print online are numerous: It is Cheaper!; It is more accessible to everyone; It provides a medium in which more formats can be used. (Colour pictures, More pictures, Multiple sound files, Videos, Online Simulations....etc.

This would also leave more room the printed version of the journal to become more like a "Magazine" and less of a "Journal." (Which seems to be the direction that members on this board want to take)
(Fwiw, It might be worthwhile to contact other music scholars, (Musicologists, Theorists, Performance Practice Scholars, Ethnomusicologists and have them chime in their ideas on other publication venues for Tuba/Euphonium scholars. There are many other journals (ie. over 100 that could possibly fit the bill for some of the studies that tuba/euph scholars. (Although I have not looked at each issue in print, I have found very few articles in other journals that mention the tuba/euphonium))

Lasty, the conciliation between scholars, performers and academics in the Tuba/Euph community is not an easy task.(As everyone here surely knows) The only way I feel it is possible is by diversifying the target audience
of the main publication and making sure that everyone knows that. Some of the posts one this forum would/could make excellent articles, if tweaked slightly and made into an article. (I am thinking of a description of Brian Kane's Stealth Tuba,of Dan Oberloh's Repair's that are posted here, of Art Hovey's Shipping case... and many many others) These would/could be made into articles that everyone needs to have at home. Some of the topics on this board are treated over and over every couple months, which is fine, however, it would be great if someone could put them in a periodical that would be easy to access and that would provide a clear method for doing stuff.

Just my 2 cents.

[BAtlas]

If you read carefully on tromboneexcertps.org, you will realize that it was Sett Vatt's, the webmaster, doctoral dissertation. Maybe the same thing could be
done by an academic in the tuba community. (I even read that part of the funding was provided by an academic institution)...(There is also
a paper that explains his rationale behind the project that can be found on Proquest)

Yes I am aware of this, I actually did part of my undergrad at said academic institution. However, TromboneExcerpts.org is not alone. There is also HornExcerpts.org.
If the tuba community is so anxious to be as legitimate as the other instruments, then I would point to this as a shortcoming in our Orchestral Excerpt
Educational resources. I was just bringing it up that the ITEA could try to fill in this educational shortcoming as opposed to letting it fall to independent sources (because
when I'm getting to doctoral school if someone hasn't done it yet I might just have to).

If it makes anyone feel better, I still haven't found trumpetexcerpts.org.

[PMeuph]

Why not save a few trees and put it ALL online?


Ken

Or that.... But, I still think it could be good to separate the journal in 2 distinct streams. 1. Academic, Peer-Reviewed 2. General, Hobby-esque and as diversified as the membership.