Heads up..Army Tuba Conference

[BopEuph]

That was one of two conferences that we put on while stationed with the Army Ground Forces Band in Atlanta. Held in the Georgia World Congress Center and we had a wonderful lineup. I learned a whole lot about conferences, mostly about how not to make some mistakes again. We did a second one in 2002, shorter but I believe a better schedule. Still a lot of work and lots of great music. I got sick as a dog from trying to do too many things but we all had a great time.

Who knows what will happen with the AB show or any of the ITEA events scheduled to be a "catch-up" to this year's events. Only time will tell.

Man, that took me from "just" a music education major to actually have a very real interest in my euphonium. It was my sophomore year, and my freshman year was having Paul Ebbers try to find a way to get me to practice on a regular basis. Sometime in September or October, I cracked open a copy of the Bach Suites I'd just bought from Borders, and realized three hours just breezed on by. An upperclassman noticed my sudden interest in the woodshed and convinced me to ride up to Atlanta for the conference. There was so many "aha" moments that weekend, and hearing Pat Sheridan blew me away. Enjoyed David Zerke's masterclass. The Tuba Christmas with 400+ members, and seeing my first double-bell and first serpent.

There is just so many great aspects to the Army-sponsored conferences. The main thing being that they're free. A student (or freelancer, as it were) has very little disposable money, so it's difficult to want to attend ITEC; even the regional ones sometimes. And the students that have a more passing interest in tuba are more likely to attend. Discovering a Pat Sheridan can inspire some younger players to practice more.

The building also had a really neat pub inside the food court where we ate a number of our meals. That was such a cool weekend, and pretty much gave me everything I needed to want to attend the ITEC in Greensboro shortly after.

I guess, in short, I'd love to see that conference come back!

[LeMark]

I really like the army conference. It's more intimate, cheaper, and you don't feel like you have to be there for a week to see everything. I think ITEC goes on for WAY too long

[BopEuph]

I think ITEC goes on for WAY too long

Totally agree. By Wednesday I'm tired of hearing tuba/euphonium.

[LeMark]

the last time I went (2016) I had to look at the schedule and figure out which days had the concerts was MOST interested in. I missed some good stuff, but there is no way I wanted to stay 5 or 6 days.

The trombone conference does it right. If they can do it, why can't we?

[BuddyRogersMusic]

That was one of two conferences that we put on while stationed with the Army Ground Forces Band in Atlanta. Held in the Georgia World Congress Center and we had a wonderful lineup. I learned a whole lot about conferences, mostly about how not to make some mistakes again. We did a second one in 2002, shorter but I believe a better schedule. Still a lot of work and lots of great music. I got sick as a dog from trying to do too many things but we all had a great time.

Who knows what will happen with the AB show or any of the ITEA events scheduled to be a "catch-up" to this year's events. Only time will tell.

Man, that took me from "just" a music education major to actually have a very real interest in my euphonium. It was my sophomore year, and my freshman year was having Paul Ebbers try to find a way to get me to practice on a regular basis. Sometime in September or October, I cracked open a copy of the Bach Suites I'd just bought from Borders, and realized three hours just breezed on by. An upperclassman noticed my sudden interest in the woodshed and convinced me to ride up to Atlanta for the conference. There was so many "aha" moments that weekend, and hearing Pat Sheridan blew me away. Enjoyed David Zerke's masterclass. The Tuba Christmas with 400+ members, and seeing my first double-bell and first serpent.

There is just so many great aspects to the Army-sponsored conferences. The main thing being that they're free. A student (or freelancer, as it were) has very little disposable money, so it's difficult to want to attend ITEC; even the regional ones sometimes. And the students that have a more passing interest in tuba are more likely to attend. Discovering a Pat Sheridan can inspire some younger players to practice more.

The building also had a really neat pub inside the food court where we ate a number of our meals. That was such a cool weekend, and pretty much gave me everything I needed to want to attend the ITEC in Greensboro shortly after.

I guess, in short, I'd love to see that conference come back!

Even twenty years on, I am so glad to hear that the event was a success for you. Unfortunately, the Army Ground Forces Band is no more. It was inactivated after it moved from Atlanta to Ft. Bragg, NC. It was a wonderful duty station with some monster players and great opportunities to perform, tour, and host events like the two tuba/euph conferences. Times are very different now, DOD money a lot tighter, and bands fewer in number. The DC workshops will probably be the only ones you'll see unless someone gets a wild hair and coordinates with a local university.

We wanted to highlight as many local artists and groups that we could and I think we were successful. Don Strand, Michael Moore, Zerk, Georgia Brass Band, the AGFB, and I've probably forgotten some.

[BopEuph]

Even twenty years on, I am so glad to hear that the event was a success for you. Unfortunately, the Army Ground Forces Band is no more. It was inactivated after it moved from Atlanta to Ft. Bragg, NC. It was a wonderful duty station with some monster players and great opportunities to perform, tour, and host events like the two tuba/euph conferences. Times are very different now, DOD money a lot tighter, and bands fewer in number. The DC workshops will probably be the only ones you'll see unless someone gets a wild hair and coordinates with a local university.

We wanted to highlight as many local artists and groups that we could and I think we were successful. Don Strand, Michael Moore, Zerk, Georgia Brass Band, the AGFB, and I've probably forgotten some.

Disappointing and understandable. If that conference never happened, I might have been a music educator. Nothing wrong with that, but the kind of career I've had (while paid even less than a teacher) has been so much cooler. The list of names I've worked with, the places I've traveled, and I am still excited to see what happens to my career after this pandemic passes. I can place a bunch of that solely on that one weekend 20 years ago.

I was a euphonium player throughout college, and graduated with a jazz bass degree. Probably one of the best things to happen was having my euphonium stolen. Instead of buying a new euphonium with my insurance money, I reinvested it and started working on tuba. It's opened so many more doors since it's a dying double, and very few people my age play it. It's even upset some of the better local bassists that I get some of those opportunities.

One of these days, I might work on trying to get an orchestral position. But that's a different skill, and the competition there is probably too much effort for too little payoff. It's getting almost as bad as the cattle call audition for euphonium with the President's Own in like...2001 (whenever it was Mark Jenkins won)?

[BuddyRogersMusic]

We did a second conference in 2002 but it almost didn't happen. Budget and staffing issues were rearing their heads and we couldn't pull off another full conference with success. But six weeks prior, we decided to pare down the even and do it. It was a more intimate setting at West Georgia College and we still had a lot of great artists and groups. Got to do all of Todd Fiegel's cartoons with tuba/euph/perc ensemble. My face and brain were toast after that but I still had a blast.

[BopEuph]

At least you got that last hurrah.

And I know that some of the big wigs in DC think the armed forces band is a good place to look at spending cuts for the DOJ, which is disappointing...but that probably goes a bit too far into political discussions.

[Three Valves]

Nothing beats the bowling alley for food and entertainment!!

[TubaRay]

Don't forget the hats and THONGS to complete the strutting ensemble...

What a great, make that good, OK, an idea. Please post a warning if and when you decide to actually WEAR the thong.

[TubaRay]

Nothing beats the bowling alley for food and entertainment!!

The bowling alley has a couple of things going for it: 1)It's close to the action & 2)Something that's kinda like food.

[bloke]

Nothing beats the bowling alley for food and entertainment!!

The bowling alley has a couple of things going for it: 1)It's close to the action & 2)Something that's kinda like food.

'ray for Ray !!!

[Three Valves]

Harsh, so harsh!

[graybach]

February 5 - 6, 2021
The 2021 Tuba-Euphonium Workshop(TEW) is now a two day virtual event. More information coming soon. Check this page for updates. Thank you!

The Euphonium Solo competition will be postponed until TEW 2022.

https://www.usarmyband.com/tuba/index.html

[kingrob76]

A few of us had dinner with a member of Pershing's Own last year during the conference and he told us they were considering folding this in with the Trombone workshop, which is usually 5-6 weeks later. I guess it's getting harder and harder to plan / staff / program / pay for this event and the attendance numbers aren't what they used to be. Personally, I don't think it would work just from a vendor room standpoint and the programming would suffer as well, but that's better than nothing I suppose. We'll see what 2022 holds.

[humBell]

Is that this weekend, then?

Looking for the more information...

[bloke]

A few of us had dinner with a member of Pershing's Own last year during the conference and he told us they were considering folding this in with the Trombone workshop...

...so the "elephants room" would become the "elephants and *firetrucks" room...

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* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSgHeFIaovs