TOPIC STOLEN FROM OTJ

[clagar777]

What big name tuba guys have you had a lesson with, that is, if you aren't at a school that you get a lesson from a big name guy every week. How was it? What made it a different experience than you are use to?

Clay

[MikeMason]

I had a couple lessons with Chester Schmitz last year,who is now living in Pensacola. He gave me a very useful range exercise and some great help with interpretation on some exerpts.I think knowledge can be had from a pro with a few lessons,but it's the implementation of the knowledge that's the daily hard work.It was well worth the time and money for me,and i will do it again...

[RyanSchultz]

(Comments below the bio blurb)

Here's the end of my bio from my website

http://www.geocities.com/rwstuba/index.html

Ryan studied primarily with Nick Keelan, Abe Torchinsky, Steve Fissel, and Chris Olka. His chamber music studies were with the American and Empire Brass Quintets. Ryan has also studied privately and/or in master classes with John Rojak, Matt Good, Per Brevig, Chester Schmitz, Kenneth Amis, Ed Diefes, Eric Ruske, Sam Pilafian, Dan Neesley, David Stull and Brian Martz.

I'm not sure what makes someone a big name so I'll just go down the list:

Nick Keelan (Lawrence Conservatory) is a master of fundamentals, pedagogy and music education. I spent four years with him and credit him with taking me to the point where I could begin thinking of working in this business.

I spent two summers and another week in Aspen and took a trip to Philly. "Mr. T." knows his excerpts cold and was always a joy to work with. I'll never forget listening to the recording of him playing Prokofiev 5 with the Philadelphia Orchestra and thinking that that had to be the sound that inspired Warren.

Steve Fissel plays bass trombone in SSO. I worked with him for a year when I got out of the 56th Army Band and for another year while I did my MM. His work ethic was humbling and a great example. He really helped me focus on getting my sound up to orchestral quality after all the marching with the sousaphone.

Chris Olka has phenominal command of the tuba. He communicates very clearly and has excellent things to say. He teaches at the U of Washington. I'm working on my DMA with him--I highly recommend him.

John Rojak, Bass Trombone ABQ. . ., is a great player and a hell of a nice guy. He is one of the kindest/most selfless people I have ever encountered. He is a great inspiration for those of us who have choosen to go down the freelance path.

I took one lesson with Matt Good while on vacation from the Army in '97. I was considering doing something else for a career and his gentle reminder of what my standards should have been turned my playing around. I highly recommend him.

I took one lesson with Chester Schmitz while I was at Tanglewood. It was a great experience and, like many of my studies, I still draw on his teachings today. I highly recommend him.

I worked with Ken Amis and Ed Diefes while I was at Tanglewood. They were both great and helped me to realize just what this whole music scene is about. They're both great fellows, players and teachers.

Sam Pilafian is a riot. His playing, teaching and intensity are not to be missed. Like John (and a lot of these other folks) Sam great example of
how to make a living in this business. I played for him several times while I was an undergraduate.

I worked with Dan, Brian and Dave when I was pretty green and a much bigger pain-in-the-butt. They deserve medals for the stuff I pulled. Dan plays in the Milwaukee Ballet and has a computer business. Brian Martz teaches at the U of WI-Stevens Point. He is probably one of the most patient teachers I ever had. I had this funny habbit of showing up with a different instrument every lesson and Professor Martz just laughed. David Stull is Associate Dean at Oberlin Conservatory. He taught me a lot about the tuba, the business and helped nurture my administrative interests. He is very good at what he does and I benefited from working with him.

OK, my fingers are tired.

[Arkietuba]

This past October, I had the opportunity to have a private lesson and a master class with Brian Bowman (he was our guest artist @ the Univ. of Central Arkansas's OcTUBAfest). He really didn't have much to criticize about, mainly b/c I only had a 30 minute private lesson with him. He mainly helped me fix my embouchure. He said there was nothing wrong with my tone it's just that my embouchure "moved" too much. At my master class w/ him, I played "Air and Bouree" b/c I had just started my concerto. He told me that I needed to put a little more weight into the Bouree and a little more dynamic contrast in the Air. At the end of the master class, he suprised everyone and said that I had "virtuosic ability". It didn't really sink in until after the class when I talked to my professor and I asked him "did he say what I think he said?". I never like bragging openly about my ability but, I can't get over that. I'm gonna put that on my resume.