Private Lessons

[jjmusicnotes]

Register or Login to Remove this Ad

Alright, so, I have been taking private lessons as part of my degree program at my university for the past couple years. My university does not have a "tuba professor" but a "low brass professor" who is a grad student. Tuba is not their first instrument, and they admit to not practicing tuba (usually during my lessons.)

Am I missing out?



I have my own opinions about this, but I'm curious to see what other people think.

Oh, and I pay as much for private lessons as other students do for legitimate professors of their particular instruments.

[rodgeman]

In my opinion it would be better to have a tuba player as a teacher. I would hesitate to study with someone who did not share my primary instrument. I went to college as a music ed major and always studied with a teacher who played my instrument.

You might want to check with a local or nearby symphony.

Again this is only my opinion. Good luck!

[jjmusicnotes]

Thanks a bunch for sharing you opinion! I was worried this topic was forgotten about.

Does anyone else have any insight?

[cwarren]

I am also at an institution that does not have a tuba teacher. We have a Low Brass Professor that plays the Bass Trombone and teaches all of the Tuba and Trombone students in the studio. We also have an adjunct Euphonium teacher who teaches all Euphonium students.

In my studies so far I have noticed that even though I am not being taught by a Tuba player, I am gaining musical skills and abilities just as quick as if I were if I would have been studying with a Tuba player. I have taken lessons with tuba players (Dan Perantoni, Gene Pokorny, John Reimund, ect.) and have found that they are certainly more specialized since they are tuba players.

If you do not feel that you are getting adequate or professional teaching, however, this may be something you should talk with the Chair of the Music Department about. If nothing happens past that, maybe a change in institutions is best for you.

Hope everything works out well for you!

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

[jjmusicnotes]

Thank you very much for sharing your insight! I really appreciate it. I can't believe you've had lessons with Dan Perantoni and Gene Pokorny!

At any rate, I'm not sure what I'm going to do because it looks like things are getting worse for the brass department at my university next year. I'm two years into my program, and I can't really afford to go anywhere else.

Unless of course I get into Curtis...or win the megabucks. I'd probably actually have a better chance of winning the megabucks.

At any rate, thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[cwarren]

No problem at all, my friend. I'm glad I could help.

Look at other universities and institutions close to where you are now. As small college students, we sometimes get in the habit of seeing how fortunate some of the people at larger colleges are.

Hang in there!