Posted by Joe on October 04, 1999 at 17:07:49:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Who buys Yamaha on EBAY ? posted by morris (CLUELESS PARENT) Schneider on October 01, 1999 at 10:22:08:
1)Talk to the band director to get the name of a local university-level tuba instructor. Make sure it's someone who's main instrument is tuba!
2)Call and see if you can get your son a couple of lessons on whatever kind of horn you can get your hands on. Ask this list for advice to prepare him for his first lesson.
3)Let him know that you are in the market, and let him help you find a horn that is in your price range and that suits the needs of your son. IMPORTANT: If possible, now what the other students in the band will be playing. Even if they are cruddy, the sounds must be able to blend or your son's band director will not be happy.
4)Please be prepared to pay him the same hourly rate for conducting this search that you would pay for him to give lessons. It will likely take him only a half hour or so to locate an appropriate instrument. He may well immediately know 'just the right horn', which would be better yet.
End result: your boy gets a couple of sessions of superb instruction from a real tuba player, you get superb advice, an initial introduction to a really good instructor (your son may 'outgrow' the trumpet playing tuba teacher available through the high-school), and you're out maybe $100-$200. Such a deal! Good luck.