I had a student purchase a new 188 and it should be in this week.

Ironically, last time I tried one, I thought it was just OK for me. I thought the 186 and 291 were better, as the 188 was just in between both concepts—and I would rather commit to one of the others, personally. Then again, more of ...

Sidebar: I would be very hesitant to pay for an order where there was a wait longer than a credit card refund fee.

There was an instance on the other site of a guy who took money for Chinese clones. His business partner took all the money and left, then did other orders to try to compensate—horns ...

I saw something that looked like a 188 flash for an instant and then it went to that other tuba every single time.
Maybe that is a real188, and there isn't actually a Chinese 188...??


There was a (potential) scam on Facebook of a group trying to sell clones of high end horns for cheap prices ...

Piston or Rotor?

BBb or CC?

Both Disneyland and DisneyWorld offer it. Just got back from DW and the wife buys it on cheaper days. You wait in another line of people who bought the same pass and were able to secure that ride.

In the music world, I’ve found repair shops will sometimes expedite horns for those with deadlines or ...

yeah...They'll need an actual job to supplement this part-time job...and something that pays real money...not just something like orchestra librarian, or something of that nature.


When this job was “open” last time, for the seasonal contracts, I talked to a tubist who considered it, said he ...

re: previous comment


me - jazz combo gigs - I was paid (in dollars, last night) only about 160% of what I was paid to play similar jobs in the early 1980's. :red:
yeah...but it's a helluva lot more fun (and liberating) to play those types of jobs than to sit in the back in a monkey suit, count ...

Last Row Music, which go on official reports and notifications, support that Andy won. Congrats to him!

Before going to what I use now, I will retell my CC journey to get there.

My DMA professor had me try a Hammond Design XL Buckeye Brass had. I had used a Baer MMVI for years, I liked it, but after trying this Hammond, I had more brilliance and control of colors. I hated the rim, and as Bloke ...

I’ve been filling in when needed for a pro tuba quartet that does popular and polka music. An hour forty five drive, and normally get enough tips to cover the gas, standard rate for gigs, plus a free meal of German food. People sing, dance, and I learn how to be a more versatile musician.

If social media “story” I saw was correct, congrats to Andy Abel for winning the Hawaii Symphony position

the elephant Bolero was an OK piece, just the rest of the orchestra didn’t seem to care to play it.

My undergraduate professor, who is also a composer, who you may have gone to school with at NTSU/UNT said a phrase while I was there that I have continued to share:

“I’m sure it sounded good on ...

Bolero sure wasn’t a fan piece of the orchestra members when I played it last month.

As for composers’ attire, I thought a sports coat and blue jeans was the way to spot a composer in the audience. When did this change?

It’s potentially an expensive suggestion, but see if you can buy a few widely contrasting mouthpieces and try out to see what you like and sell the rest. I would recommend going to a conference or sitting down at Bloke’s place or Giddings, but since you are in Brazil, that will be tough. However ...

Played a gig today with a tuba quartet in a German restaurant, one I have played with many of times. We have a set list and an on call list, all of which I’ve printed. We have another 300 tunes on a Dropbox account.

We had some requests for pieces not on any of the lists that we do have ...

Sent this to my son... want to remind him that even the pros work things at reduced tempi..

Slow practice (starting at half speed for me) is one of the keys to cleaning stuff up so that people will pay to hear you play it. It is one of the cornerstones of solid playing, along with long tones ...

This post with Wade's comment makes me feel good about something--continue practicing and you can definitely get better--I have a mantra when I am behind the bell--always try to get better.

I do think it is the “stovepipe” design—hence why I mentioned in the other post about the Bruckner feeling like the same horn. But having the rotors further down on the bugle I think mandate that all pitches have to be exact as the change is later—I have nothing to back this up.

As I get older, I feel I have a better (not amazing) sense of pitch center--more in terms of playing "in tone" and how that is as important if not more than playing "in tune".

With that being said and the Rotor vs Piston post, I have not had as many low C issues on rotor F tubas I have played ...

I remember every time I have tried the Miraphone 281 Bruckner CC, I have stated that if I didn’t know it was a rotor horn (as in someone else pressing the valves), I would assume it was a Miraphone 1291.

Part of it is good horn design. It seems like some older models have taken rotors off of a ...