College Searching and other Prep

[we3kings]

I am about to finish my junior year of high school. I am amid college search process and plan on majoring in music performance with tuba. The schools I am currently looking Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan Univeristy, and University of Michigan. I've visited Western and met with Dr. Swoboda, but unfortunately she is leaving. I live in Southern Michigan and I don't want to be farther 6 hours from home. Are there any other schools with reputable tuba studios I know about besides Inidana University in the area? How are the faculty at these schools and what is a basic description of type the studio they run?

I currently take lessons from an area band director who's main instrument was tuba (from IU). He currently has me working on orchestral excerpts and in the past he's had me work on Blazhevich and Bordogni etudes. Is there anything else I should prepare for auditions?

Any other advice that would help with the college search and preparatory process will be appreciated.

[joshwirt]

If you are serious about studying music as a career option, then do yourself a favor and get at least a Music Education degree. A Bachelors degree in Tuba Performance is the THE most useless piece of paper on the planet...2nd possibly only to a Euphonium Performance degree.

Dont go rack up a mountain of debt just so you can practice late at night in a tiny room in some basement and have a 'degree' that will do little for you in the future. There are plenty of good music ed programs out there at schools with very good tuba teachers. If, after 4 years, you decide that you've attained enough knowledge and success to move to the next level, then go for the MM at a top school with a top mentor. You can also apply for conducting programs or continue with a Masters in Ed....or even go out and TEACH! Bottom line, you'll have options with that Ed degree that wouldn't with some 'I Practiced The Ride...A LOT!' piece o' paper.

I'm pretty sure Andy Smith has an undergrad in Music Ed AND Tuba Performance. I'm sure he won't regret going that route when he's playing at the Lyric Opera this Fall...

But what do I know...

Josh Wirt

[we3kings]

Thank with your concern with majoring in performance. However, I've had two bad experiences with band directors and I think I will fall into that same boat of mediocre band directors. Also, the other part I should have mentioned was that going to duel major into an engineering or mathematics-based field and rather not go through the full extent of a music-ed program.

[PMeuph]

FWIW, Usually bigger cities have larger orchestras and larger orchestras usually mean better tuba players. You might want to look in to the larger metropolitan areas near where you are.

I know quite a few good musicians (many trombonists but also some tubists) who have gone to Northwestern in Chicago.
I have also heard some great playing from a Cincinnati Conservatory of Music graduate and from Cleveland institute of music grad.

That said....
I think you will need to make a checklist for what you want.You should consider:

-Money Matters (Tuition costs, Room and Board etc and possibility of scholarships)
-What you want with music (A larger studio might be great, but it might limit the chances you have of playing in ensembles)
-How well the school accommodates dual-majors...

[bentuba7]

You're in the heart of the midwest... In my opinion, most of the best teachers are within 6 hours from you!

In no particular order:
Floyd Cooley - DePaul University
Rex Martin - Northwestern
Fritz Kaenzig - University of Michigan
Phil Sinder - Michigan State University
John Stevens - University of Wisconsion Madison
Andy Rummel - Illinois State University
Mark Moore - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Matt Lyon - Ball State
Dan Perantoni - Indiana University
Mark Cox - Central Michigan University
Tim Northcut - Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
Ron Bishop - Oberlin and Cleveland Institute of Music

Thats a great big list of great schools with incredible teachers and ensemble opportunities. You live within very reasonable driving distance of all of them. I recommend you seriously consider some of these schools. I am just finishing my senior year and went through the whole process you're embarking on. What you need to start doing very soon is writing your college essays. Don't wait until the last minute, because they'll suck if you do. Also, start your apps SOON. Or else you'll be spending your Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks doing them (depending on due dates). When you feel like you've gotten a good start on those things, pick your rep. Most of those schools ore going to have very similar audition requirements, so find out soon so you can plan. The sooner you start working on things, the sooner you'll be done so you can practice and get into whatever school you want. I don't know what instrument/s you're playing on, but take a look at both the Vaughan Williams and Hindemith. If you only play CC or BBb, DO NOT immediately write the Vaughan Williams off. Pokorny just played it with CSO on his york, so why can't you? Anyways, those two solos are staple items for some of the schools on the list I gave you. You said you have worked on excerpts and etudes before. Most schools will ask for one melodic and one technical etude. Pick a Bordogni out that really shows off what you can do well. Find a Kopprasch book, and start working on a number that compliments your technique. I also recommend that you start working on the opening and soli section of Die Meistersinger, the B major section of The Ride, reh. 3 to 6 of Prokofiev 5, the Mahler 1 'solo' from the 3rd mvt, and Petrushka Peasant and Bear solo.

Make connections with teachers. Use your senior year to do some networking and get lessons with teachers on that list, or anyone for that matter! I recommend applying to 4-6 schools that have a good balance of teacher, ensembles, and atmosphere. Sometimes it isn't always best to go to the school with the "A+ studio" and an awesome teacher but has no depth in the ensembles. Pick schools that have: great teachers that you get along with, fascinating ensembles, and a thriving arts community. And getting lessons with teachers in the fall will give you a leg up on the competition in the spring. There is nothing better than walking into an audition and a teacher saying "Hey [insert name]! It's good to see you again. What are you going to play for me today?"

FINALLY. If you are very serious about going directly into performance for your undergraduate, the best piece of advice that I can offer to you is to look into attending Interlochen Arts Academy for your senior year. It is hands down THE best place for a high school student to learn the trade of music. The ensembles are that of a great college music program, and the teachers are world class musicians. Studying at Interlochen will give you a world of knowledge and put you far and above many musicians in struggling public school band programs. Two tubists are graduating this year, and there are 1-2 openings with wonderful scholarship opportunities. The teacher, Tom Riccobono, produces some of the most successful young low brass players out there. Just ask Matt Lyon at Ball State, Nicole Abissi of the Alabama Symphony, Nick Shwartz of the New York Ballet, Carol Jantsch in Philly, Kevin Sanders at University of Memphis, Ben Green with the Zurich Opera John Whitener of the Scottish National Symphony (the list goes on), or any one of his students who went on to Juilliard, NEC, Curtis and many other fine fine institutions. In the fall, I'll be attending DePaul University with Floyd Cooley and the other graduating tubist is going to Oberlin to study with Ron Bishop. Please just give Interlochen a quick look and email me (benjamin.darneille@interlochen.org" target="_blank) any questions you might have about it!!

Best of luck to you. I really hoppe this information helps. It's coming from someone who was in your exact same position one year ago.

Ben

[MSchott]

Ben's post is spot on. There are great teachers and music programs throughout the Midwest. I suggest you visit the teachers and campuses to see which feel best to you. I studied Euphonium at Michigan State (under Leonard Falcone) and was very active in the music program but got my degree in Marketing from the business school. Josh, thanks for the laugh about a Euphonium performance degree . I know Phil Sinder quite well and he's a fine teacher as well as a terrific person. And I love the atmosphere and campus at MSU.

I really think you should reconsider getting a performance degree. If your goal is to play professionally for a living that is a very long shot and the competition is tough. There were many very talented tuba players in the studio when I was there. As far as I know only one went on to play professionally (in a DC service band). Fortunately there are more tuba gigs than euphonium but you better be extremely talented to consider this route.

[pierso20]

UM, MSU, and OSU are fantastic.

Phil Sinder (MSU) is a stand-up gentlemen.

Visit schools and play with them in their studio is you get a shot. Also talk with the band/orchestra directors and conductors.

[BAtlas]

Feeling real good about my B.M. in Tuba Performance, thanks guys.

IMHO, If you have no intention of teaching band (at any level, ever) there is no point in getting a music education degree. It seems unanimous in this thread that music education is the more secure option, but I doubt I would've been happy with it as a career (I probably would've opted for computer science or something).

Just sharing my personal experience (which may be contrasting in this thread). Good luck in your search!

[pierso20]

Feeling real good about my B.M. in Tuba Performance, thanks guys.

IMHO, If you have no intention of teaching band (at any level, ever) there is no point in getting a music education degree. It seems unanimous in this thread that music education is the more secure option, but I doubt I would've been happy with it as a career (I probably would've opted for computer science or something).

Just sharing my personal experience (which may be contrasting in this thread). Good luck in your search!

I will agree with this. NO ONE should choose teaching as a "fall back" - that is one way we can end up with such bad teachers in the school systems.

As any career path, choose one you hopefully enjoy and then deal with the "consequences". Every job path has it's pros-cons.

BUT, I will say if you are getting a B.M. in tuba performance you should at least SOME ed classes because there will ALWAYS be a teaching element in your life (whether doing community reach out events, teaching at a university, etc.)