Posted by Rick Denney on February 26, 2001 at 10:03:12:
In Reply to: Re: Percussionist seeks info for tubist son posted by Chris on February 25, 2001 at 21:49:38:
Okay, I'm going to argue this point a little bit.
Most musical folks do not become professional musicians. Even good players as schoolkids do not turn pro. Why? Because there aren't enough pay gigs to feed them. So, only the most talented, most committed, and most determined kids will make it. These are the kids for whom that sort of investment is warranted.
The problem is, you can't always tell whether your kid will have that kind of talent and drive when they are a beginner. And when you buy them a pro instrument that exposes all their weaknesses, you are imposing an expectation that may not be reasonable or appropriate.
The reason we have BBb vs. CC wars on this forum is because of statements like yours, made in good faith, but from the somewhat narrow perspective of one with professional aspirations. There is no way that buying a good BBb tuba is "wasting money." There is no way that the kid is wasting time playing on a BBb tuba. If he's good enough, the eventual switch to CC will be no problem for him. If that switch is a big problem for him, then he isn't good enough. (That ought to draw some flames.)
Nearly every single working pro on this forum has had to make that switch. How long did it take? Anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, tops. Even I learned F tuba in just a few months, fighting limitations of talent and time all the while.
But used BBb tubas, and even good new ones, are at least a thousand dollars cheaper than an equivalent CC tuba, and sometimes the margin is much greater. We think of the Conn 52J as a good CC that's a steal at over $5000, but BBb tubas of similar design and usability (from the perspective of a schoolkid) are less than two-thirds that amount.
And BBb players who are prepared to buy that sort of an instrument on the used market are far more numerous than pros looking for a CC, and so such an instrument can be disposed of quickly and easily should the time come.
But there's a greater chance that the kid will become like most school-age tuba players, and either give up music after school, or pursue an amateur career in community bands and ensembles. The used Miraphone or King that their parents bought for them in school will serve that application admirably. When they are ready for something different, they'll be old enough to pay for it themselves.
Rick "defending common sense for non-pros" Denney