College prep! What do I need to bring?

[TheDancingSousa]

As it stands, I currently own my own tuba, a Miraphone CC186. I have a wire stand, a gig bag, oils, greases, a cleaning kit with a polish cloth and tube snakes, and all the music I need for the moment.

My question for this is: What accessories should I bring for added comfort, if any? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Thank you for your time!
TheDancingSousa

[TheDancingSousa]

I need all that for my studies on... tuba?

[David Richoux]

Those light duty wire stands are usually a joke - get a good solid folding/telescoping stand if you can afford it. Nothing worse that a stand tipping over in the middle of a performance

[TheDancingSousa]

I also forgot to mention I own a metronome/tuner in the form of a Korg TM-40.

[eupher61]

Black suit/tux, bow tie. Black shoes and socks. Pencils. Lots of #2 pencils.

a recorder to record lessons. And.of sufficient quality that you can record yourself in practice and listen back.

[TubadudeCA]

Ramen, LOTS AND LOTS OF RAMEN.

[bort]

Bring a couple mouthpieces. You're probably going to lose/drop/damage/have something stolen along the way...

Not to mention, if you want/have to do marching/pep band, you won't want to have to remember your mouthpiece all the time, it's a real hassle to rely on one piece for multiple instruments.

Totally agree about pencils too. College directors love to bust kids' chops about not having pencils. NEVER be without one.

[bort]

Actually, get one of those pencil clips that is meant for music stands, and clip that on the back of your 4th valve tubing or some other place out of the way. Then you will have a pencil as long as you have your tuba.

I always prefer to have a supply of sharpened wood pencils, for me they are easier to write with than mechanical pencils, especially in quick bursts of marking things as they come up. No, mechanical pencils don't break, but it's *very* embarrassing to rip a hole in a piece of music.

[Bob Kolada]

A different focus in studies.

[TMurphy]

Contact your teacher about what sort of methods and etude books he wants you to use. Buy them, and get a backpack or messenger bag specifically for your music. Keep all your music in it, and keep it with your tuba.

Be wary about Wade's advice to bring pop tarts for Tuba Tuesday's. Some universities prefer that you bring fig newtons.

[MikeW]

I need all that for my studies on... tuba?

and a toasting fork

[Brian C]

Buy two umbrellas, one to keep in your gig bag and the other in your backpack. If you have a car, keep at least one umbrella in the glove box. Have a larger umbrella that you actually carry on rainy days. If you are in marching band, buy a poncho for practices.

Most universities forbid professors from fraternizing with the undergrads to some degree. Frequently this means that the professors cannot provide alcohol to students. These same universities rarely forbid students from providing alcohol to professors, even if they forbid drinking together. So find out your teacher's favorite brew or vintage and ask the older students how to get it. (Just don't break the law.)

Buy a travel toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, and many individual dental flossers. Keep these in your backpack or gig bag or both.

If you buy a tuxedo, consider buying one that can be let out (if you get bigger (fat or muscle)). Buy a black cummerbund, a black vest, a black bowtie, and a black tie. These will carry you through virtually all formal situations. Buy two white shirts, preferably non-iron, one a standard point collar with barrel cuffs and another just for your tux with a bib or ruffles, depending on what local tastes dictate. Since local tastes vary with time and geography and setting, it is better to mix things up with your shirts and your accessories that with your basic tux. Go to a tux rental place and offer to buy two sets of their rental studs and cufflinks. Buy at least one blue blazer and a tie in your school's colors. A blue blazer can be dressed up with wool trousers or dressed down with khakis and is useful for those times when you do not need a tux (plus it is cheaper than a suit). Get your feet measured at a reputable place (both length and width), before buying shoes for your tux. Oh yeah, get the pants and jacket tailored, even if you buy off the rack.

[Michael Bush]

When I was at that stage I could have benefited from bringing a little more openness to learning with me to college. My teacher was not that much older than I was. A little more than a year after I started we were both in our twenties. Back then we had what you might call clashing maturity issues. I just wanted what I wanted dammit and wasn't really open to learning, and he didn't yet quite have his legs under him as a teacher and tried to make up for it in other ways. But it was mostly me. Mostly by far.

So I'd say bring with you a willingness to take your teacher's ideas at least as seriously as you take your own. That makes a big difference.

[DonShirer]

Credit card, or debit card with a big enough balance for emergencies.

[GC]

Above all, bring your brain and leave your preconceptions at home. Don't be shocked by culture shock.

[Biggs]

Humility. I didn't get some until my third semester and I'm still paying for it.

[we3kings]

A planner so you know when all the stuff you don't want to do needs to get done by.

[mbell]

I'll also echo the recommendation of a navy blazer, a tux and some decent black dress shoes (plain toe or cap toe). You have a few weeks to hit up thrift shops for these items or keep an eye out for good sales. A navy blazer should be easy to find used. A tux could be a bit more of a challenge depending on where you live. Check Craig's List and eBay too. If you put this off until you need them then you might end up having to pay full retail.

mike

[Michael Bush]

I'll also echo the recommendation of a navy blazer, a tux and some decent black dress shoes (plain toe or cap toe). You have a few weeks to hit up thrift shops for these items or keep an eye out for good sales. A navy blazer should be easy to find used. A tux could be a bit more of a challenge depending on where you live. Check Craig's List and eBay too. If you put this off until you need them then you might end up having to pay full retail.

mike

A quite serviceable tux can be had on eBay for $5 or $10 more than one rental.

[MaryAnn]

And here I'm using to seeing people wearing flip flops on stage.

MA