Comeback

[Steve Inman]

As an adult amateur today, I played tuba from grade 7 to 11, and only sparingly in grade 12, and not at all at university. I was very surprised that all of the fingerings came immediately back when I purchased my own instrument after a 6 year lay-off, a year out of university. I had played BBb in high school and started back up with a BBb. So, if you stick with the same key of tuba as you previously played, it should be quite easy to get back into it. Over 20 years later, I'm still glad I did.

BTW, I currently own a CC and an Eb tuba, and I'm quite keen on the choice of a large Eb bass tuba as a very versitile instrument for someone who is an adult amateur, unless all your playing will likely be with large ensembles (in which case a larger contrabass horn is probably a better choice). If your playing might favor smaller ensembles, quintet, or brass band types of groups, you might consider taking this opportunity to "re-enter" with something like a Besson 981 Eb, or the Willson 3400 5V piston Eb tuba. Unless you plan to be the only tuba in the band/orchestra, you'll still get a very decent amount of sound, and will probably find the upper register playing to be slightly easier as well. You will have to learn different fingerings, but you might find the benefits to be worth the "investment". This is an option available to you that you may not have considered.

If I had had the funds available a few years back to purchase a Willson 3400, when I was playing Eb exclusively, I would still be an Eb-only player today, I'm virtually certain. (Of course, there is that BAT-temptation thing, since a local friend just took posession of a BBb Holton 345 . . . !!!]

In summary, "Come on in, the water's fine!"

[kontrabass]

Hey Jinxxster,
I'm in Toronto too. I'd be happy to chat with you sometime if you want.
I'm 22 years old and just finishing up a performance degree. So, you could say that I'm on the way to a career. I'm going to give it my best shot and I'm quite confident that I'll make some sort of musical career for myself even if I don't land a symphony gig. I've been thinking a lot about the 'problem' of making a career as a tuba player, so I can share some observations with you. (forgive my long-windedness)

People ask about 'getting back into it' fairly frequently, and most people on this board will encourage you to go for it. They're right - you're still young and you have plenty of opportunity to enjoy playing the tuba - in community groups, at a semi-professional level, whatever. Most people when they ask this question, however, are not thinking about PURSUING A CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL TUBA PLAYER. This is a different matter.

You ask "what are the chances for a comeback, late bloomer player to make a career out of playing tuba at this stage?" None of us could give you an accurate answer without hearing you play - but I think you know that the odds are likely to be pretty slim. This is because the chances for ANY player to make a career out of playing the tuba at ANY stage are pretty slim. BUT if you are talented, motivated and downright obsessive about making it happen, you can do it. You will need to weigh the options and decide for yourself.

If you are serious about making a career for yourself, this is what you can expect:
(by the way - these are the same challenges that every tuba player faces when they start this journey, including myself)

- purchasing a high quality contrabass instrument very soon, and a high quality bass tuba within a few years
- about a year of really solid practicing with a good teacher, and then some auditions at music schools
- attending a music school - university, conservatory, whatever. Just be in that environment for a couple of years and practice your arse off. You're not too old, by the way.
- these days it is almost a necessity to do a master's degree or some other postgraduate work in performance, if you want to be competitive
- you can then expect a few years of general poverty while you attempt to make a name for yourself.
- if you stick with it, and you have luck on your side, you may find yourself with a successful career as a tuba player.

I don't want to shatter your dreams of rain on your parade. I just want you to be aware of what you'd be getting into. It's not easy. In fact, if you have a wife and kids to support and you're holding down a day job, it can become damn near impossible. That's why I would never try and PERSUADE someone to attempt a career as a tuba player. If you're not going to go for it 100%, then you'll probably be far happier pursuing another career and playing the tuba at an amateur level (a course that many players on this board have followed).

But if it really is a deep, burning passion for you, if you can't possibly imagine any sort of life for yourself in which you were not playing tuba ALL THE TIME, then by all means go for it. You only have one life after all.

Good luck to you. E-mail me if you want - kontrabass64@hotmail.com

[Rick Denney]

...what are the chances for a comeback, late bloomer player to make a career out of playing tuba at this stage?

Probably no worse that they are for anyone. The chances of surviving as a professional tuba player are pretty slim for anyone.

Actually, I should modify that statement: For those who are remarkably good to the point of being prodigies, or for those who have an unfailing commerical sense and the willingness and versatility to play in any style that pays (and to go where those styles find paying audiences), the chances are better than for anyone else. I don't really see an age component there.

The only professional avenue I know of that does have an age component is playing in a military band. I don't know if that is even a relevant consideration for you, but you are still young enough in any case.

The owner of this forum left a lucrative job in the IT industry to go back to his first love playing the tuba, and that led, through hard work (I'll let him describe it if he chooses), to a position with the U.S. Army Band. So it can be done.

Other considerations include how much family you might be dragging into this decision as well.

The competition is severe enough to demand that anyone who hopes to be successful needs a healthy dose of talent and an absolute determination to work all day every day towards success. (Some would define "talent" as being that determination, but I think it takes more than just hard work. Even so, without the hard work, hope fades.)

Rick "suggesting that being a pro tuba player is as much a lifestyle choice as a professional pursuit" Denney

[tubatooter1940]

Welcome Jinxxster,
If you want to work at music you have to take what's out there or create your own new situation.Your local music scene could provide opportunities to play music that interests you or you could make you own position.
I played tuba in school thru college but found it necessary to play trumpet and rythm guitar/vocal for 20 years in the local bar scene.It was a living but playing bars at 39 with two kids and no health insurance spooked me so I carried the mail on a rural route until I qualified for a pension.Then I planned to work as a single on vocals and guitar at least on weekends.
For fun I would sit in with my friend John Reno (guitar) and blow my old Russian tuba.John encouraged me and even got down on his knees and helped me find the parts of the rotary valves that used to fall off my tuba in the middle of a gig.I later bought a King recording bass and we cut a C.D.E-flat tuba and a guitar with a capo on the first fret go tother so well
because the tuba can play in F,E-flat B-flat and A-flat and the guitar can do the open string stuff they love so well.
I believe that if you personally are having so much fun doing tuba,(I refuse to play electric bass when everybody,including me would rather hear it done on tuba)then the money and credits will come in thier own good time.I wish you the best of luck,sir.
Tubatooter1940 C.D.at www.johnreno.com