This Place is Great!

[Schedonnardus]

Howdy TubeNetters,

You might have seen me posting around here the past month, I'm new to this forum. I'll have to say i really enjoy reading through the posts in this community.

A little background on my tuba-playing self: I was born and raised in a small town in Texas. I began playing tuba in 5th grade and loved it. I feel tremendously out of my league reading some of the posts on here, but i enjoy the discourse, and i google terms i am unfamiliar with. I guess i was tought how to play, but not "why, or how, theory, etc." In 1997 and 1998 I was in the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) All-State Concert Band (as well as being first chair in my TMEA region and district Symphonic bands, and getting grade 1 in State solo and ensembles).

In college, I majored in Ecology, but was an active member of the "Fightin' Texas Aggie Band" (military-style marching band) from 1998-2002. From 2002-2009 I was absent from Tuba Playing, but in 2009 I bought a cheap 3/4 tuba on craigslist so that I could participate in the local tubachristmas. After reading these forums, I'm pretty sure i got a crappy chinese horn, but that is neither here nor there.

Other than playing some Christmas carols, my tuba remained mostly dormant, until a "community" band started up at my local Methodist Church last fall, and i joined this year (i'm not Methodist, but what the hey). Its a group made up of High School, College and "retired" folks. Living in a college town, we have a pretty diverse and talented group for a "Church Band." For the past few months I've been working on my fundamentals the best i can with my cheap horn. I've really enjoyed really playing with a group, and have begun saving up to get myself a more respectable horn.

Anyways, I thought i would formally introduce myself to the forum. I would like to thank Mr. Chisham for hosting this site (i wish i had found it sooner), and would like to thank The Elephant for sharing his Christmas Carols. I feel like i have learned a lot from you guys (and gals?) and hope to discover more over time.

-Ed "Sched" Schedonnardus

PS, "Schedonnardus" is a genera of grass. Nothing spectacular about it. I'm an ecologist, and it is my favorite plant name.

[Dan Schultz]

I'm glad you decided to pick music back up after a bit of an absence. I try to tell kids that there is 'music life' after high school. They are certainly not going to be playing sports when they are in their 70's. But... music is forever.

You mentioned that you played in a 'military-style' marching band in high school. I think the Texas marching bands are the greatest! With these darned 'northerners'... the entire program seems to be based around the production instead of music and marching.

[Schedonnardus]

You mentioned that you played in a 'military-style' marching band in high school. I think the Texas marching bands are the greatest! With these darned 'northerners'... the entire program seems to be based around the production instead of music and marching.

Thanks!

I tried looking on youtube for a video from my time, but all the ones from then are shaky-cams, so here is a link to the drill the current band did last week. Pay particular attention from 5:00 to about 6:50. This is the Aggie Band's signature maneuver known as the "4-way cross through." Its typically performed once a year, and once the crowd figures out that its coming, they go bonkers. Its hard to tell what's going on, but its a lot of tight weaving, that usually ends up with some bloody lips when its all said and done.

If you click on "HD" in the bottom right of video, you can get high def.

http://vimeopro.com/barkerproductions/a ... dhalftimes

[jmerring]

I'm glad you decided to pick music back up after a bit of an absence. I try to tell kids that there is 'music life' after high school. They are certainly not going to be playing sports when they are in their 70's. But... music is forever.

You mentioned that you played in a 'military-style' marching band in high school. I think the Texas marching bands are the greatest! With these darned 'northerners'... the entire program seems to be based around the production instead of music and marching.

+1