Studying in the US

[Jazztuba]

Hi tubenet family!
It's a crazy time out there so I'm looking to shake things up when we reach the other end of this.
I am a bass-brass (Tuba, Sousaphone, Contra, Euph, Bass-bone) player in Canada looking to study in the states, either privately or at a college, but I'm not sure how to go about doing so or what sort of odds I'm up against.
I have worked with and played for artists like Herbie Hancock, The Heavyweights Brass Band, The Shuffle Demons, and the TSO, doing mostly jazz and contemporary, but recently trying to get back to classical work too.
I've been exploring grant opportunities for private study, but also never did music school in Canada and was considered and undergrad in the states, though I've heard that most schools are reluctant to give money to international students and are considerably more expensive than Canadian schools.
If it helps, I am most interested in studying with Howard Johnson in NYC, hence exploring the private study route, but there are so many great tuba programs and music programs in the states in general, it's a far more appealing way to go in debt than in Canada!
I don't know if anyone has any experience with this sort of thing, or any recommendations for resources to explore, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask!
Thanks in advanced!!

[cctubaneeds]

I don't have any resources for you, and no-one on tubenet is your career/education advisor. But here is what I ask all my students when they look to where they will study past high school. In my opinion, the first degree, or start of your serious study is rudimentary/fundamental and it is you in a practice room. I don't know if you need to do those years is NYC, but some people do.

What are your goals?
How can you achieve them?
Are they feasible?

For you... Have you exhausted all the training your can get in your area? Do you live/sleep/eat and breath music? Are you practicing more than you do anything else?
For the people that make it in music, I see a common thread of they just won't let themselves do anything else.

You seem have a grasp of the writing on the wall. That is that debt is a major reality of this route. Not all education has be linear in a direct career path, but having a goal is important. I think staying somewhere more affordable (mom's basement?) means less debt, less part time jobs and more time for music. If you stayed in Canada, studied with the best here and put your full effort and time into it. If you go to the USA, will you need to work more? will you be distracted by other things? are these other instructors/mentors that much better to justify the cost(money, time,strees,effort)?
The grass is always greener...

Don't let me say no or discourage. If you can honestly say yes to a lot of those questions, and you work really hard - Do it.

[Jazztuba]

Hi cctubaneeds!
These are all great questions that I have spent a long time considering before deciding this was the next move. I have been working professionally in Canada for nearly a decade now, and the next step a lot of my peers took was to study directly from artists who's voice they wanted to study directly, which is maybe more specifically a jazz thing in regards to improvisation. I don't think I am the best or even close to it in Canada, and I don't mean to indicate a lower standard of art, it's more about the specifics of what I want to study. Canada has plenty of amazing tubists with whom I've been honored to work with and study under, but there are very few who are accomplished jazz artists, which, while not abundant in the states, is a bit more prevalent.
I appreciate your words though, because it is not a move I take lightly, putting aside an established career, how ever green, isn't something to take lightly, but am striving for my own artistic and personal growth, and I believe that this is the next step to take.
Thanks!

[hup_d_dup]

I question whether after 10 years of professional experience, going back to school is the best place to advance a playing career. On the other hand, the addition of a college degree at any point in life can be useful for other reasons.

A school you might want to consider is Berklee. Besides having a great jazz program, the school has matriculation agreements with several colleges in Canada, so you could begin your studies closer to home, perhaps very near to where you are now located. Berklee also has on-line courses so you might be able to begin lessons at home before transferring to Boston.

Hup

[tmmcas1]

You need to look up Keith Walton in Ottawa for lessons if you haven't. Spectacular jazz tubist and person. For studying in the USA look into a Canada Council for the Arts grant. Good luck!

[tubajoe]

You need to look up Keith Walton in Ottawa for lessons if you haven't. Spectacular jazz tubist and person. For studying in the USA look into a Canada Council for the Arts grant. Good luck!

A BIG yes towards Keith Walton. He is OUTSTANDING. In fact... on the Howard Johnson tribute concert we did in NYC last September, Howard personally requested that Keith come in and play his parts... and of course he did an incredible job.

From what you describe you want to study, he's your guy. 100%. (he's also a great dude!)

Plus, as you probably know, Canada funds the arts better than the US does, so when it comes time, you will have financial resources to put projects together. In the US, you are on your own. Plus a private music school/conservatory in the US currently costs a ridiculous amount of money.... it will cost several times over what you can eventually make a as a pro musician per year... Do what you can to not start life with a massive debt burden on your back...!

Also, I'll throw an endorsement out there for McGill. I've played with some freakin outstanding musicians that have come through that school...


Joe

[tmmcas1]

Also, I'll throw an endorsement out there for McGill. I've played with some freakin outstanding musicians that have come through that school...


Joe

Yep. Keith was at McGill just before me...

Tom

[Jazztuba]

Thank you l for all of the information! I have had the opportunity to work with Keith before but I reached out to try and work with him some more when the storm blows over! He was fantastic when I played with him in the past, but I didn't have get to spend much time working and studying with him.
In terms of Berkee, unfortunately they aren't accepting non-standard (non big band) instrumentation for their program at this time!
Thanks again for all of the information!