general comments

[MartyNeilan]

13!

[Michael Bush]

- It's OK (maybe a good thing) to show up at college without a tuba.

Not least because studying music in college is different, even if you enter the studio of the professor who was your private teacher in high school. You might give it up and change your major within a few weeks, and be very glad you didn't drop a four or five figure sum on a huge brass doorstop.

[hbcrandy]

Bloke's words are sage advice to young students and the parents thereof. Read them and heed them.

When I ran a French horn pro shop, I regularly had parents/grandparents come to me with a student graduating high school, going to XYZ University/Conservatory the following Fall and wanting to buy the student a horn for a graduation present. I always asked them who their student's future horn teacher was and have they talked to that teacher to see if the the teacher had a prefernce toward a particular make/model of horn. Invariably, the parents/grandparents' answer was, "No." I would call the teacher, introduce myself and ask their preference, if any, before selling a horn. I also required that the student be present to try instruments to find one that best suited the student. Parents, students .... Do your homework before making an investment in a tuba!!!

I wish you all much success in your future musical education. By doing early research and preparation as I have described above, your chances of success will increase.

[Jay Bertolet]

I don't generally disagree with Joe on most stuff (maybe 90-95%) but on this one I would offer a different viewpoint. For me, it shows me a great deal about a student when that student has really good equipment and knows how to use it. You notice that the last part of that sentence is the real key. I get very excited when a student auditions for my studio and they clearly have command of the instruments in hand and obviously have thought out their selection with care. It shows me that the student has done their homework, made considered choices, and then applied their hard work to the task at hand. Such students always give me great hope for their personal outcome. That package usually carries with it the promise of a hard working, driven student that also has a brain they are somewhat accustomed to using.

Showing up without a horn isn't the worst thing in the world but, depending on the quality of the school you attend, there may not be a satisfactory instrument for you to use on hand. I know of many schools where the very best option you get for a school owned horn might be a Yamaha 641 BBb. This isn't a horrible instrument but every second you spend on it is another second you're not learning the intricacies of your own tuba, thus improving your performances. The very best students I have ever had either had their own instruments when they came to study with me, or they quickly acquired a good instrument soon after. The latter of those almost always came to me with some good experience testing horns on their own. This selection process is not a quick or easy one and starting that process in college usually slows down overall playing progress.

Start now and be ahead of the game.

[greatk82]

- Try out tubas while wearing no metal clothing. Move slowing, handle with care, and locate yourself away from obstacles. Do not dent or scratch the property of others - whether companies or individuals..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBjpeUjP ... ure=relmfu

The sound of his ring is quite annoying.

[daytontuba]

Pretty darn good advice Bloke!