--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@...> wrote:
>
> Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and meaningful 2007. Good luck in
> all your endeavors.
>
> Ken F.
>
Same to you and yours Ken!

Dave P.

Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and meaningful 2007. Good luck in
all your endeavors.

Ken F.

Hey,

I've been neglecting this place as well. With one brass forum
already closing shop, there gets to be fewer places to talk shop.

Ken


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "dave" <dplowman56@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Ken.  How goes it with you guys?  I've been neglecting both
here
> and the brass forum.  I just got a message from Dr. Fox that the
brass
> forum is closed.  I was wondering if anyone here had any info.  If
I'm
> stepping on any toes, please let me know.  Seems a pity that a
fun,
> active group like that should close.
> I've had a lot going on, so I'm out of touch.
> Thanks in advance.  If Doc Fox gets this, I'm sorry to hear about
the
> closing, and I hope and pray everything is ok with you personally.
> Dave P.
>

Hi Ken.  How goes it with you guys?  I've been neglecting both here
and the brass forum.  I just got a message from Dr. Fox that the brass
forum is closed.  I was wondering if anyone here had any info.  If I'm
stepping on any toes, please let me know.  Seems a pity that a fun,
active group like that should close.
I've had a lot going on, so I'm out of touch.
Thanks in advance.  If Doc Fox gets this, I'm sorry to hear about the
closing, and I hope and pray everything is ok with you personally.
Dave P.

I wholly agree, Seth. As a teacher, I would do a disservice by
dissuading any student from their desire to be a musician. We know
going in that most kids who sign up for band or choir or art will
not end up a Arnold Jacobs or Josh Grobin or Van Gogh. Gosh, if
everyone who started in choir or on an instrument had 'the gift',
how crazy would that be? Sometimes a simple appreciation of music or
that rare experience that being in band offers is a realistic goal
that I have with my students. And so far that has been the case. Of
course I get those rare cases where a student is working beyond
expectations and at the right time we discuss their goals beyond my
class. I will talk to parents as well. Many times they already know
and just need pointers on where to go from square one. None of my
students are ever discouraged from this experience. It's hard work
sometimes and I sense some frustration day to day. But the
expressions of joy and relief after conquering a particular
difficult passage seems to more than make up for all that.

Ken F.


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Seth Jervis"
<sj189104@...> wrote:
>
> Hmm, after reading all of the posts thus far, I'd say that it is
more
> important to inspire everyone to do their best than to judge
whether
> or not they will be the best.  As corny as that sounds, it is
> impossible, and I do mean IMPOSSIBLE, to judge the level of one's
talent.
>
> While I admit that my experience in this field is limited at best,
I
> have known people that were promising, said to be among the best
> players in the state in his age bracket when entering college (for
> lack of a better term), and now in grad school he has made little
> improvement and has come to encounter several mental blocks and is
> unable to surpass them.  On the other hand, I have also known
people
> that were told all throughout grade school that music was a carreer
> out of their reach and that they should aspire to something that
> suited them better like a carreer in mathematics, and yet here they
> are blowing past the competition and making dramatic improvements
in
> as little as two years.  Who can say where someone will be in a
few years?
>
> In any case, even if someone does not become the best I would
> encourage them to pursue their heart's desires.  I find music very
> fulfilling and I am certainly no Carol Jantsch, and I think that by
> telling kids that they don't have a chance when we really don't
know
> what they will be capable of in time is a fairly harsh thing to
do, as
> well as convincing them to do it because they look like they could
be
> the next best tuba player.  In the end, it should be a decision
that
> they make for themselves and we have no place but to encourage
them in
> that decision and show them the realities of it.
>
> Back to the point at hand, I would say that the situation with
Carol
> is rare, but that is due in part to her understanding of music and
> hard work.  Generally, music isn't something you understand without
> being taught, sure, you might be able to play some, but it's
abstract
> and has been defined in some ways by the human ear over time.
What is
> the job of our teachers if not to put the right "sound" in our
ears.
> What do marcato, staccato, and legato mean?  How are you taught?
It's
> short right?  How short is short?  It's not short!?  We eventually
> agree on something that sounds right to both our ears and the
> teacher's ears.  Again, it's still possible to discern the correct
> sounds from recordings, but not as likely.
>
> In the end it boils down to both ways exist.  True talent (although
> more rare than people believe it to be in my humble opinion) does
> exist and I would say that it simply takes the form of great
> intellect.  If a person is naturally great at an instrument, they
> could be great at nearly anything, because they are smart enough to
> easily see the idiosyncracies of whatever needs to be done and
apply
> principles that work towards their goal.  More commonly, people
have
> to work hard to discern the differences in sounds to make a great
> sound (articulation, style, tone, intonation, etc.) and do so
through
> strong will and determination (and I'm not saying they're dumb,
music
> is highly taxing on the brain, think of all the multi-tasking!).
> Either way, everyone works, and most enjoy it.  :)  That's my two
> cents, whatever it's worth.
>
> Seth
>
>
> --- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@>
wrote:
> >
> > A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets
selected for
> > one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will
this have
> > in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is
possible
> > or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying
tubas and
> > dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to
give
> > mine.
> >
>

Hmm, after reading all of the posts thus far, I'd say that it is more
important to inspire everyone to do their best than to judge whether
or not they will be the best.  As corny as that sounds, it is
impossible, and I do mean IMPOSSIBLE, to judge the level of one's talent.

While I admit that my experience in this field is limited at best, I
have known people that were promising, said to be among the best
players in the state in his age bracket when entering college (for
lack of a better term), and now in grad school he has made little
improvement and has come to encounter several mental blocks and is
unable to surpass them.  On the other hand, I have also known people
that were told all throughout grade school that music was a carreer
out of their reach and that they should aspire to something that
suited them better like a carreer in mathematics, and yet here they
are blowing past the competition and making dramatic improvements in
as little as two years.  Who can say where someone will be in a few years?

In any case, even if someone does not become the best I would
encourage them to pursue their heart's desires.  I find music very
fulfilling and I am certainly no Carol Jantsch, and I think that by
telling kids that they don't have a chance when we really don't know
what they will be capable of in time is a fairly harsh thing to do, as
well as convincing them to do it because they look like they could be
the next best tuba player.  In the end, it should be a decision that
they make for themselves and we have no place but to encourage them in
that decision and show them the realities of it.

Back to the point at hand, I would say that the situation with Carol
is rare, but that is due in part to her understanding of music and
hard work.  Generally, music isn't something you understand without
being taught, sure, you might be able to play some, but it's abstract
and has been defined in some ways by the human ear over time.  What is
the job of our teachers if not to put the right "sound" in our ears.
What do marcato, staccato, and legato mean?  How are you taught?  It's
short right?  How short is short?  It's not short!?  We eventually
agree on something that sounds right to both our ears and the
teacher's ears.  Again, it's still possible to discern the correct
sounds from recordings, but not as likely.

In the end it boils down to both ways exist.  True talent (although
more rare than people believe it to be in my humble opinion) does
exist and I would say that it simply takes the form of great
intellect.  If a person is naturally great at an instrument, they
could be great at nearly anything, because they are smart enough to
easily see the idiosyncracies of whatever needs to be done and apply
principles that work towards their goal.  More commonly, people have
to work hard to discern the differences in sounds to make a great
sound (articulation, style, tone, intonation, etc.) and do so through
strong will and determination (and I'm not saying they're dumb, music
is highly taxing on the brain, think of all the multi-tasking!).
Either way, everyone works, and most enjoy it.  :)  That's my two
cents, whatever it's worth.

Seth


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@...> wrote:
>
> A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets selected for
> one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will this have
> in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is possible
> or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying tubas and
> dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to give
> mine.
>

Hi Seth, Welcome to the cooler. Look forward to your input and
insight.

Ken F.

--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "zeign77"
<sj189104@...> wrote:
>
> Whoops, forgot to introduce myself!
>
> Hi, I'm Seth Jervis, a sophomore euphonium performance/composition
> major at Ohio University.  Some of you might know me from the
> tuba-euphorum before it died.  I've played euphonium for about 3
years
> now and composed for about 5 years, and played tuba for about 1/2 a
> year :).  That's about it I guess, if your interested my
composition
> website is http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~sj189104.  I'll probably be
> around a lot.
>
> Seth
>

Whoops, forgot to introduce myself!

Hi, I'm Seth Jervis, a sophomore euphonium performance/composition
major at Ohio University.  Some of you might know me from the
tuba-euphorum before it died.  I've played euphonium for about 3 years
now and composed for about 5 years, and played tuba for about 1/2 a
year :).  That's about it I guess, if your interested my composition
website is http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~sj189104.  I'll probably be
around a lot.

Seth

I hate to rain completely on your comments, Cassie, but my
statements are based on having been associated with low brass for
20+ years, seeing the great players and the decent players, both
with high levels of committment to their craft. The players
with 'the gift' always seemed to rise up above the rest.

I read this article on Carol and got the same feelings for this kid.
Even she admits that understanding of musical concepts always seemed
to come easy to her at an early age...definition of a prodigy.

http://www.jaxnews.com/entertainment/2006/as-music-0315-0-
6c14t5350.htm

And again the hard work(she says 3 hours per day during college)I
say elevated the talent that was already there. At Interlochen,
Carol was just beginning to tap this talent. She started on euph in
9th grade and was a quick study, according to her, playing on it
almost immediately after holding it.

KF


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, Cassie Black
<euphba@...> wrote:
>
> I disagree, her playing ability did come from hard work and
determination. When she first came to interlochen, she was last
chair in band. Tom Riccobono watched her work hard, he told us all
how intense her practice was. Humans are not made to play
instruments, the body must be trained, there is no way around it.
There is no such thing as talent, there is only hard work (doesn't
always mean lots of time, just very efficent practice). What Caroll
achieved is reachable, somebody else can do it. She worked very hard
to get where she is, and it is ignorant to think otherwise. (sorry
ken, I mean no offense) Saying she didn't have to work her ass off
is like not giving her credit for what she has been doing for the
last 8 years of her life.
>
>
> Ken <knuxie35@...> wrote:
>   Well here goes......
>
> In my very dim opinion, to say Carol's talent is purely based on
hard
> work and practice is like saying Superman got his strength from an
> intense workout regimen. Hard work and practice only served to
bolster
> an already much advanced virtuoso tubist. Very few have that. It's
a
> rarity or anomaly.  You can't seek to be like her, just enjoy
hearing
> her and be happy for Philly's discovery and addition.
>
> Ken
>
>
> --- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@>
> wrote:
> >
> > A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets
selected
> for
> > one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will
this
> have
> > in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is
> possible
> > or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying
tubas
> and
> > dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to
give
> > mine.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Well here goes......

In my very dim opinion, to say Carol's talent is purely based on hard
work and practice is like saying Superman got his strength from an
intense workout regimen. Hard work and practice only served to bolster
an already much advanced virtuoso tubist. Very few have that. It's a
rarity or anomaly.  You can't seek to be like her, just enjoy hearing
her and be happy for Philly's discovery and addition.

Ken


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@...>
wrote:
>
> A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets selected
for
> one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will this
have
> in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is
possible
> or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying tubas
and
> dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to give
> mine.
>

Well here goes......

In my very dim opinion, to say Carol's talent is purely based on hard
work and practice is like saying Superman got his strength from an
intense workout regimen. Hard work and practice only served to bolster
an already much advanced virtuoso tubist. Very few have that. It's a
rarity or anomaly.  You can't seek to be like her, just enjoy hearing
her and be happy for Philly's discovery and addition.

Ken


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@...>
wrote:
>
> A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets selected
for
> one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will this
have
> in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is
possible
> or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying tubas
and
> dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to give
> mine.
>

I think it is most important for the person at hand to believe in
themselves, whether they make a competition or not, as long as they
know they are improving there is hope.  One is only as good as one
believes his/herself able to become.

It is most about self-image, and self-actualization.  While you can
believe that you are number one, without sufficient work and and
pushing as hard as you can, you cannot be number one in the eyes of
others.  I myself am among the weakest competitors, but I am proud of
what I have been able to accomplish in a few years!  While not
everyone can become the next best tuba or euphoniumist, we can all
enjoy what we are capable of.  :)

Seems to me that 1 very talented kid does not a fad make, though I
wish it would.  A role model for young musicians is great, but based
on my experiences with my own kids and their friends, I don't hold out
much hope <sigh>.....--- In
low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@...> wrote:
>
> A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets selected
for
> one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will this
have
> in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is
possible
> or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying tubas
and
> dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to give
> mine.
>

Good point Cassie . Something to think about ..


Tommy .

I wouldn't get my hopes up about a wave of blind little followers
buying tubas because caroll got a job. With our culture, we are raised
to want to get as rich as possible with the littlest of effort. It is
common knowledge musicians are generally poor, and have to work hard.
And, playing the tuba/euphonium isn't considered cool in our society.
The news isn't that big of a deal to non-players (just because it was
in the newspaper doesn't mean people read it. And, if people did read
it, it doesn't mean they were impressed). Unless their band directors
(or maybe private teachers) have #1 heard the news, and #2 think it is
important enough to tell them, most young tuba players won't hear this
news. I don't think it will have much effect at all. Any effect
caroll's job winning could have had on young tuba players will be
counteracted by our society. That is what I think.
~cassie


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <knuxie35@...> wrote:
>
> A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets selected for
> one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will this
have
> in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is
possible
> or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying tubas and
> dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to give
> mine.
>

A 20 year old tubist with 8 years on the instrument gets selected for
one of the premier orchestras in the world. What effect will this have
in the world of low brass? Does it give hope that anything is possible
or a delusion resulting in a flood of wide-eyed kids buying tubas and
dreaming of their shot? I'll get your opinions then I'll try to give
mine.

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the cooler. I look forward to your wisdom.

Ken


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "dave" <dplowman56@...>
wrote:
>
> Hey Tubachris, whatever your smoking.....Share!!!  Seriously, one
> wild dream!Also, Hi Knuxie, Doc Fox.  Good idea for another group!
> low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "tubachris85x"
> <tubachris85x@> wrote:
> >
> > So, whats up? Not too long ago, I was just wandering around my
> school,
> > when all of a sudden, I was smacked upside the head, like a
> > PuertoRican mother would her wise son that talks back would.
> Despite
> > the intense swelling of my cranium, I dreamed a thousand dreams.
> The
> > last one turned out to be a nightmere. I was trying to save a
town
> > from a Nuclear power plant meltdown, but no one would listen to
me
> as
> > to why I question why the town glowed like a giant acne zit. As
I
> > tried to remoe the cooling rods, it sparlked a chain
reaction...at
> > that moment, I was awoken with the words, "Dorothy, wake up!"
> >
> > And here I am. For I am TUBACHRIS
> >
> > -tubachris
> > (who has nothing else to do ight now)
> >
>

CASSSSIIEEE  !!!!

  Contact DEG : http://www.unisonmusical.com/  They are the North
American distributor for Willson

Tommy ..

Hi Cassie.  Try Baltimore Brass (web), Dillon's Music (web).  Also
the Willson website might list dealers.  Google Willson.  Oh yeah,
Music123 (web) carries them, but they are part of wwbw, so I don't
know how they are.  Good Luck!--- In
low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Cassie Black" <euphba@...>
wrote:
>
> so, I was wondering if anybody knew how to locate music dealers who
> sell willson euphoniums? I am hoping to find some place in (or near)
> Michigan. I am not asking if you know a place in michigan, but if
you
> knew of a website online that could search for the dealers (like the
> B&S tuba website). I already know of woodwind brasswind, but I don't
> trust that store to get an order of valve oil right....
> thanks
> ~cassie
>

so, I was wondering if anybody knew how to locate music dealers who
sell willson euphoniums? I am hoping to find some place in (or near)
Michigan. I am not asking if you know a place in michigan, but if you
knew of a website online that could search for the dealers (like the
B&S tuba website). I already know of woodwind brasswind, but I don't
trust that store to get an order of valve oil right....
thanks
~cassie

Hey Tubachris, whatever your smoking.....Share!!!  Seriously, one
wild dream!Also, Hi Knuxie, Doc Fox.  Good idea for another group!
low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "tubachris85x"
<tubachris85x@...> wrote:
>
> So, whats up? Not too long ago, I was just wandering around my
school,
> when all of a sudden, I was smacked upside the head, like a
> PuertoRican mother would her wise son that talks back would.
Despite
> the intense swelling of my cranium, I dreamed a thousand dreams.
The
> last one turned out to be a nightmere. I was trying to save a town
> from a Nuclear power plant meltdown, but no one would listen to me
as
> to why I question why the town glowed like a giant acne zit. As I
> tried to remoe the cooling rods, it sparlked a chain reaction...at
> that moment, I was awoken with the words, "Dorothy, wake up!"
>
> And here I am. For I am TUBACHRIS
>
> -tubachris
> (who has nothing else to do ight now)
>

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the cooler. Up to the word 'sudden', you were making a
lot of sense.  Hmmm....

Ken F.


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "tubachris85x"
<tubachris85x@...> wrote:
>
> So, whats up? Not too long ago, I was just wandering around my
school,
> when all of a sudden, I was smacked upside the head, like a
> PuertoRican mother would her wise son that talks back would.
Despite
> the intense swelling of my cranium, I dreamed a thousand dreams.
The
> last one turned out to be a nightmere. I was trying to save a town
> from a Nuclear power plant meltdown, but no one would listen to me
as
> to why I question why the town glowed like a giant acne zit. As I
> tried to remoe the cooling rods, it sparlked a chain reaction...at
> that moment, I was awoken with the words, "Dorothy, wake up!"
>
> And here I am. For I am TUBACHRIS
>
> -tubachris
> (who has nothing else to do ight now)
>

So, whats up? Not too long ago, I was just wandering around my school,
when all of a sudden, I was smacked upside the head, like a
PuertoRican mother would her wise son that talks back would. Despite
the intense swelling of my cranium, I dreamed a thousand dreams. The
last one turned out to be a nightmere. I was trying to save a town
from a Nuclear power plant meltdown, but no one would listen to me as
to why I question why the town glowed like a giant acne zit. As I
tried to remoe the cooling rods, it sparlked a chain reaction...at
that moment, I was awoken with the words, "Dorothy, wake up!"

And here I am. For I am TUBACHRIS

-tubachris
(who has nothing else to do ight now)

In the old days, before bright silver plate, the finsh went a long way
towards protecting the instruments. Buying a s/p instrument in those
days (1930's onwards)could be expensive. Hawkes & Sons offered 3
different quality plate finshes, with 'triply s/p' being their finest.

A lot of old instruments have servived thanks to a generous coating of
this stuff!and the old matt or frosted finsh still holds up well on
used instruments today.

The old thick lacquer of the early days was a mess and looked awful,
but nowadays, is certainly my preferred finish. I can't stand the
bright s/p with gold trim!

CB

I have been looking to buy my own euphonium, and I have noticed that
the higher quality euphoniums are pretty much all silver. If you go
to buy one (generally) the default finish is silver. Getting a non-
silver euphonium takes more time than just buying the silver one in
front of you because the non-silver euphonium has to be ordered
(unless you are buying straight from the source). Silver euphoniums
ARE cool looking also ;)  Did you also notice the trumpet players
and their silver bach strad. trumpets? The trombones and their
laquer edwards trombones? Pretty much every high school tuba player
I have met who owns his own tuba has a miaphone 1291. Older tuba
players are just wierd ;)

viva-la silver euphonium!!


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Tommy Yandle"
<jty05@...> wrote:
>
>  This is a timeless gem that most people are tired of but .....
> My real qusetion is this : " Why the fascination with silver
finishes
> in the world of euphonium players ? " It seems to me that the
euphonium
> has the highest percentage of silvered instruments of all the
brass .
> Go take a look at the pictures of the euph. students at UNT .
Yup !!!
> All of them have silvered horns . I once asked a well known
student
> there why she chose to have a silvered finish horn and she just
> commented " It looks cool !!" A frank answer from a no nonsense
person.
> I believe that is real reason why silver is popular . What do you
> think ?
>
>  I bought a silver horn for the very same reason . If I ever get
to buy
> another one it will be lacquer . Silver requires to much
maintance and
> is just a pain to keep clean .
>

This is a timeless gem that most people are tired of but .....
My real qusetion is this : " Why the fascination with silver finishes
in the world of euphonium players ? " It seems to me that the euphonium
has the highest percentage of silvered instruments of all the brass .
Go take a look at the pictures of the euph. students at UNT . Yup !!!
All of them have silvered horns . I once asked a well known student
there why she chose to have a silvered finish horn and she just
commented " It looks cool !!" A frank answer from a no nonsense person.
I believe that is real reason why silver is popular . What do you
think ?

  I bought a silver horn for the very same reason . If I ever get to buy
another one it will be lacquer . Silver requires to much  maintance and
is just a pain to keep clean .

Hi Cassie,

Welcome to the cooler.

As a teacher who has to place students with instruments to fill out
a balanced band, I find it is a challenge to access needs of the
student vs. needs of my band. But I also remember back to when I was
in jr. high and on the brink of quitting band. I was not getting any
better on cornet. I had great range, but the technical side was
lacking. The director saw that the band needed euphoniums and placed
me. It couldn't have been a better fit.

Sometimes we get lucky. Sometimes it's the worst of decisions. I
think for the secondary student, you give them the few years of
their school lives to enjoy the experience of playing, maybe
encourage doubling on like instruments to make them more rounded,
and at the same time seeing their futures as potential professionals
and where the demands are.  For euphonium players who want to take
that leap of faith and pursue a degree in performance, they need to
see the reality of what that means. Have them find 10 prominent
professional American euphoniumists and follow what they are doing
career-wise. It is eye-opening, really.

Ken F.

--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "Cassie Black"
<euphba@...> wrote:
>
> I totally agree the uk has better euphoniums players. The musical
> culture over there is completely different (first of all...it is
> musical!). Most Americans who have somehow heard a band play, and
> know a small tuba does exsist call it a "baritone" and not a
> euphonium (not that this has anything to do with playing
ability..it
> is just an example of culture). There is also the fact there are
> basically no -functioning- brass bands over here, so there are no
> examples being set to younger players. I am a senior in high
school,
> and have played euphonium since I was in sixth grade, but I still
> have never heard a good euphonium player perform live (not because
I
> don't want to, but because I haven't had the chance to). In most
> high school bands(in america), the euphonium is the instrument you
> put trumpet players who can't play high enough, tuba players who
are
> too small, and trombone players who can't handle the slide
> positions. With most band directors(that I have met), the
euphonium
> is viewed as the easy instrument you can put a terrible player on,
> and they won't be heard because it is mellow sounding and will
blend
> in. I started on trumpet :)    There is also the lack of jobs
after
> school, a fact I have been reminded of every time I tell somebody
I
> am going to go into euphonium performance next year. I think a lot
> of our playing deficency comes from our (dying)musical culture. If
> young euphonium players could see what some euphonium greats like
> adam frey or (of course) Brian Bowman could do, I think they would
> be inspired to be better. The euphonium could also be considered
> heavy, and you know how lazy amercians are ;) (kidding)
> ~cassie
>
>
> --- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "knuxie35"
> <knuxie35@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Doc,
> >
> > Welcome to the cooler. I will agree that in the UK the euphonium
> (and
> > baritone for that matter) seem to be more up to the demanding
> > challenges of music of King, Grainger, and Holst, among others.
I
> > think possibly this is due to the influence of brass banding
where
> > with some 1000 performing bands there, the demand for all brass
is
> > greater. I'll get a taste of this bading phenominae when I go to
> > Louisville this weekend. I'll see ya there.
> >
> > Ken F.
> >
> >
> >  --- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "docfoxbrass"
> > <docfox@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Tonight, at Old Dam Community Band practice (I am the
director --
> > &#13;&#10;www.olddamband.com ) we played a Philip Sparke piece
> > titled "Merry Go&#13;&#10;Round".  It is a killer for the
euphs.
> Much
> > like Karl
> King's "Melody&#13;&#10;Shop."&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Doesn't it
> > seem that in the UK the euph is much more used,
> demanded&#13;&#10;of,
> > and appreciated than in the US?&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Jim&#13;&#10;
> > >
> >
>

I totally agree the uk has better euphoniums players. The musical
culture over there is completely different (first of all...it is
musical!). Most Americans who have somehow heard a band play, and
know a small tuba does exsist call it a "baritone" and not a
euphonium (not that this has anything to do with playing ability..it
is just an example of culture). There is also the fact there are
basically no -functioning- brass bands over here, so there are no
examples being set to younger players. I am a senior in high school,
and have played euphonium since I was in sixth grade, but I still
have never heard a good euphonium player perform live (not because I
don't want to, but because I haven't had the chance to). In most
high school bands(in america), the euphonium is the instrument you
put trumpet players who can't play high enough, tuba players who are
too small, and trombone players who can't handle the slide
positions. With most band directors(that I have met), the euphonium
is viewed as the easy instrument you can put a terrible player on,
and they won't be heard because it is mellow sounding and will blend
in. I started on trumpet :)    There is also the lack of jobs after
school, a fact I have been reminded of every time I tell somebody I
am going to go into euphonium performance next year. I think a lot
of our playing deficency comes from our (dying)musical culture. If
young euphonium players could see what some euphonium greats like
adam frey or (of course) Brian Bowman could do, I think they would
be inspired to be better. The euphonium could also be considered
heavy, and you know how lazy amercians are ;) (kidding)
~cassie


--- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "knuxie35"
<knuxie35@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Doc,
>
> Welcome to the cooler. I will agree that in the UK the euphonium
(and
> baritone for that matter) seem to be more up to the demanding
> challenges of music of King, Grainger, and Holst, among others. I
> think possibly this is due to the influence of brass banding where
> with some 1000 performing bands there, the demand for all brass is
> greater. I'll get a taste of this bading phenominae when I go to
> Louisville this weekend. I'll see ya there.
>
> Ken F.
>
>
>  --- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "docfoxbrass"
> <docfox@> wrote:
> >
> > Tonight, at Old Dam Community Band practice (I am the director --
> &#13;&#10;www.olddamband.com ) we played a Philip Sparke piece
> titled "Merry Go&#13;&#10;Round".  It is a killer for the euphs.
Much
> like Karl
King's "Melody&#13;&#10;Shop."&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Doesn't it
> seem that in the UK the euph is much more used,
demanded&#13;&#10;of,
> and appreciated than in the US?&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Jim&#13;&#10;
> >
>

Hi Doc,

Welcome to the cooler. I will agree that in the UK the euphonium (and
baritone for that matter) seem to be more up to the demanding
challenges of music of King, Grainger, and Holst, among others. I
think possibly this is due to the influence of brass banding where
with some 1000 performing bands there, the demand for all brass is
greater. I'll get a taste of this bading phenominae when I go to
Louisville this weekend. I'll see ya there.

Ken F.


  --- In low_brass_coolertalk@yahoogroups.com, "docfoxbrass"
<docfox@...> wrote:
>
> Tonight, at Old Dam Community Band practice (I am the director --
&#13;&#10;www.olddamband.com ) we played a Philip Sparke piece
titled "Merry Go&#13;&#10;Round".  It is a killer for the euphs.  Much
like Karl King's "Melody&#13;&#10;Shop."&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Doesn't it
seem that in the UK the euph is much more used, demanded&#13;&#10;of,
and appreciated than in the US?&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Jim&#13;&#10;
>

Tonight, at Old Dam Community Band practice (I am the director
--
www.olddamband.com ) we played a Philip Sparke piece titled "Merry
Go
Round".  It is a killer for the euphs.  Much like Karl King's
"Melody
Shop."

Doesn't it seem that in the UK the
euph is much more used, demanded
of, and appreciated than in the
US?

Jim