Posted by Doug Whitten on February 26, 2003 at 00:52:14:
In Reply to: Band Directing posted by Jon B. on February 25, 2003 at 19:16:11:
I am just finishing up my doctoral degree right now, so I guess I am neither a pro tubist nor an employed band director. However, I have pursued both career paths at different times in my past. For a long time I thought I'd be the next Roger Bobo. Then, after much frustration, I began teaching band and really enjoyed it, but I let my tuba playing fall to the wayside. I went back to school to get my doctorate in hopes of building a career where I can be both an artist on the tuba and a quality band director. Somewhere along my professional development it dawned on me that I could not be happy in a career unless I got to both teach band and play tuba seriously. Interestingly, the the stronger I become as a tubist, the stronger my conductor and teacher chops get. There is clearly a correlation between being a strong musician and being a decent band director.