Getting back in the saddle...

[tuba-tuba]

Hi Tubenetters,

I'm hoping y'all can give me some advice.

I graduated with a MMus in performance in 2009 from a great school. After graduating I got a full time job (not in music) and did some freelancing (which I found very intimidating and frankly, I sucked at it and was often super nervous -- something that was never an issue when I was in school.) I got depressed, started playing less and less, moved across the country, and then stopped playing completely about a year ago.

I now have an awesome job in arts admin, am not depressed, and have started practicing again. My question is twofold:

1) My current plan is to join a community band in September, with the goal of meeting more musicians in the city and getting a better feel for "what's out there". When I get closer to my former skill level, I'm planning to take lessons with the local orchestra guy, and start trying to get some smaller paid jobs. Does that sound like a reasonable plan? Any suggestions?

2) I'm also looking for suggestions for books and etudes. I'm sick to death of the classics (Bordogni, Arban's, Kopprasch, Blazevich, Tyrell, Vasiliev, etc etc etc...) I'm looking for undergrad-ish level stuff (doesn't need to be for tuba) that will help me get my chops back. I know the classics are classics for a reason, but I'm just sick of them. (Am I breaking some sort of tubist code by admitting that?)

Thanks in advance! I'd really appreciate any advice you have to give.

[Tubaman2365]

I was in a similar situation a few years ago only my layoff was a lot longer. I would say any opportunity you have to play, go for it!! I waited a long time to start studying with someone and I wish I hadn't. I was hung up mentally on not wanting to "embarrass" myself and not feeling ready for that step. Of course, in retrospect, I would have improved faster with more regular goals to work toward in lessons and quality feed back from someone other than myself. So I would advise taking some lessons from local pros and college professors as soon as possible. Pick one that matches your playing philosophy and goals, and do it. Do it sooner rather than later! I have found most tuba players aren't judge mental when taking people on as a student. They just want to help you reach your goal.

Regarding method books, I know what you mean about being tired of them. However there is something to be said for playing some of those etudes again. You will remember what they should sound like and I found that helps to "get back in shape." You might look into 12 Brilliant Etudes by Gallay and some of the Verne Reynolds books. They are for French Horn but work well on tuba. That would fit the bill for finding new étude books from which to work.

Good luck and I hope this helped.

[swillafew]

The part about getting contacts is so important.
Bach Cello Suites will keep you in shape.

[tuba-tuba]

Thanks for your feedback!

The reason I want to wait to take lessons is because I want the local pros to hear me play, and to think of me when jobs come up. I feel like there is a better chance of that happening if they hear me in a few months when I'm closer to my former skill level. Does that make sense?

Re: etude books... sight reading is one of the reasons I want something new. Another reason is because it feels discouraging to struggle with something that used to feel easy! I just wonder if the learning curve would feel less steep if I were playing something that was unfamiliar with no internal judgement attached to it.

[Carroll]

I would add one more aspect to your plan... TEACH some lessons. Find a high school kid who could benefit from spending a half-hour with you once a week. Don't charge them (or do...whatever) and get back into the groove of thinking about what you do to a point of being able to verbalize it. Most of my students, who teach low level lessons themselves, progress at a much higher rate once they have that experience.

Get trumpet method books and go to town. They have so many more, anyway.

Good luck on what sounds like an exciting journey!

[Biggs]

Very reasonable plan. I had some success with a similar method for 'staying in playing' after I got a full-time job somewhere else and you seem much more deliberate and organized than I was (am!).

One tip: When I was in a new city/coming back to playing after a 4-month cold turkey break, Craigslist was a significant factor in finding new jobs/contacts. I'm not sure where you're located, but it takes 30 seconds a day to search 'tuba' in your area and, if you're like me, you'll be surprised at what is advertised. I ended up with some of my best gigs (i.e. high-paying and/or fun) by checking craiglist regularly and being willing to at least call each ad before deciding. One church orchestra vespers service turned into a regular thing, complete with a separate brass choir check and a music director who would remember/recommend me. It took time and persistence, but if you've got a way to pay the bills in the meantime, then time and persistence are easier to come by. I tried never to play for free, but I definitely didn't overlook gigs that only paid $20 or required me to drive a little farther. I thought of these less-profitable opportunities as building contacts and building my own confidence - and some of them ended up being pretty fun.

As far as new etudes, I recommend Snedecor. Ledger lines and key signatures make for tricky sight reading and, anecdotally speaking, I believe this book caused me to rehabilitate/improve my sound quicker than any other book. If I go on vacation for a few days, I make sure to work a Snedecor study into my warm up when I get back to practicing. I can't guarantee it will work for everybody, but I swear by it.

[bort]

Good plan, just be patient with the community bands. For too many people in too many groups, the only playing they do all week is at rehearsal.

[Phil Dawson]

Getting back into playing is great, the community band will be lucky to have you. As for personal playing get yourself a fake book or song book of some kind. I assume you can read treble clef. I use a Dixie fake book and I just play the tunes. They are fun and you are playing SONGS. Pick the style of music you like (rock, jazz, blues, pop, whatever) and get back into making MUSIC. Christmas carols are great too. There are also many music minus one type of recordings for brass quintet. I understand you feelings about yet another etude but you might find yourself going back to a few to deal with specific issues. Just make music, Good luck, Phil