Posted by Steve Dedman on March 05, 2000 at 15:31:05:
In Reply to: need help with tuba comparisons posted by Denise on March 05, 2000 at 12:47:46:
Denise,
It sounds like your son is a fairly accomplished player for bring 12 years old. My suggestion would be to get him some lessons with the nearest professional player, and decide what horn to get based upon his/her recommendations. After 3 or 4 lessons, a good teacher should be able to get a handle on the level of playing that your son is capable of acheiving. Remember also that as your son grows, his needs in a horn will also change. So the horn that best suits him now probably won't be the best horn for him in 3 or 4 years. This is where a pro can make a big difference in making sure that you and your son have the correct guidance for this large of a purchase. Boston has lots of good players, so if you make use of that resource before you make use of your financial resources, I think that you will be more comfortable with the choice and investment that you make. Also, a pro will probably know of some used horns that cost considerably less than a new one.
Good luck!