Re: Tuba Colleges


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Posted by Kenneth Sloan on April 14, 2001 at 13:24:09:

In Reply to: Tuba Colleges posted by Need to KNow on April 13, 2001 at 22:48:15:

I"m going to offer a contrarian view - at least it seems contrarian after seeing all of the advice offered so far.

90% of all high school tuba players need a well-balanced college education a lot more than they need a quality "tuba studio" experience. College years are a time for personal growth, exploration, and discovery. Many hot-shot tuba players will discover that they don't have the (whatever) it takes to be a performing star, and that they are also unsuited (or uninterested) in other aspects of music.

A realistic student, or parent, must always ask "what if Plan A doesn't work?" That's when you need to look at the total College or University environment. Don't look *only* at the individual tuba Professor. Ask about the math department, the English literature department, etc.

Consider the campus environment. Do you want something "just like home"? Or, do you need something "completely different"?

If your interests are primarily in performance - consider whether you really need an undergraduate degree in Music. If "Music Ed" is your "Plan B", but you aren't particularly enthused about it - how about Chemistry, or Political Science, or ... as a "Plan B" (combined with private instruction, or some other way to apprentice in performance)

If your interest IS in Music Ed - how much of the interest is in the "music" part and how much in the "ed" part? Would you consider being a History teacher?

If you need flexibility, and options (and, as I said - about 90% of all high school students do) then you must first consider the overall strength of the college, and the local living environment. You should apply to at least one school where you are sure you won't be admitted, several which are good bets, and at least two that are sure things.

Finally, consider this: what will you do if your favorite college prof moves on (he finally wins the audition/interview for a better job). If that one person is the only reason that you are there...now what?

The kind of personal attachment that I see in some of the advice offered here may be appropriate for your graduate school years (if that happens). Your undergraduate years should be based on much broader considerations!

Best of luck.


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