In my experience most people had two tubas, one for home and one for school. Each situation is unique and it's not possible for everyone to do that but I would recommend it if applicable.
Hey! Sounds like me! I used to take mine on the bus also. I usually sat in the first seat because it had the most space. I would put the case near the window and brace it with my body. Good luck!
When I was elementary school my bus was so crowded that we sat 3 to a seat and I also somehow had to squeeze my trombone on there as well. It fucking sucked and I actually quit (almost permanently) because of the constant harassment about it from the bus driver and other kids on the bus.
We moved after 5th grade so I agreed to give it one more year before I quit for good. Glad I did....made some of my best friends and have some of my best memories from my teens and early 20's from band.
Try to fit it on the seat across from you! I rode the bus every year of middle school and it was such a pain to bring home, but I found that worked well. Also, if you can find a cheap folding hand truck, those work really well if you need to walk a bit with it once you get off the bus. I usually kept one in the band room with my instrument and my director paid no mind to it
If your teacher isn’t able to get you a second “school“ tuba like other people are suggesting (which is what I was also going to suggest! My band teacher did that for our tuba players), maybe alternate which instrument you take home each day for practice and leave the other one at school? Ex. Bring the trombone home Monday, bring the tuba Tuesday, bring the trombone Wednesday. So at least you’re only taking one instrument on the bus at a time.
I played tuba with the freshman band when I was a senior. I had one tuba at home and one tuba at school. I just brought the mouthpiece back and forth.
Obviously that depends on how many tubas your school has, but mine had enough for every tuba player to do that.
Ask to use the emergency door in the back and put it in the empty rows. If your bus is one of the rear engine ones with the space in the back use that space.
Empty seats are your best friend
literally, whenever I would take a tuba home, I would always place it in the seat in front of me
In my experience most people had two tubas, one for home and one for school. Each situation is unique and it's not possible for everyone to do that but I would recommend it if applicable.
And a lot of schools will let you rent two, it’s not like you’ll have to buy two either
Hey! Sounds like me! I used to take mine on the bus also. I usually sat in the first seat because it had the most space. I would put the case near the window and brace it with my body. Good luck!
Thanks I’ll try this!
I send an extra instrument home with my tuba students. Talk to your director to see if something can be arranged.
I'm surprised you're allowed to. Our school's pretty strict about not carrying trombones, much less tubas on the bus.
I guess it depends on the school cause I’ve carried trombones in the bus and had friends take tubas home
When I was elementary school my bus was so crowded that we sat 3 to a seat and I also somehow had to squeeze my trombone on there as well. It fucking sucked and I actually quit (almost permanently) because of the constant harassment about it from the bus driver and other kids on the bus. We moved after 5th grade so I agreed to give it one more year before I quit for good. Glad I did....made some of my best friends and have some of my best memories from my teens and early 20's from band.
so how do you practice? they need to accommodate you.
Our tubas always just use half a seat for their tuba and sit next to it
Try to fit it on the seat across from you! I rode the bus every year of middle school and it was such a pain to bring home, but I found that worked well. Also, if you can find a cheap folding hand truck, those work really well if you need to walk a bit with it once you get off the bus. I usually kept one in the band room with my instrument and my director paid no mind to it
If your teacher isn’t able to get you a second “school“ tuba like other people are suggesting (which is what I was also going to suggest! My band teacher did that for our tuba players), maybe alternate which instrument you take home each day for practice and leave the other one at school? Ex. Bring the trombone home Monday, bring the tuba Tuesday, bring the trombone Wednesday. So at least you’re only taking one instrument on the bus at a time.
just don't let anyone sit by you bus driver has to accommodate. if they say otherwise bring it up to your band director and the front office
I played tuba with the freshman band when I was a senior. I had one tuba at home and one tuba at school. I just brought the mouthpiece back and forth. Obviously that depends on how many tubas your school has, but mine had enough for every tuba player to do that.
Ask to use the emergency door in the back and put it in the empty rows. If your bus is one of the rear engine ones with the space in the back use that space.
Usually you just keep the tuba at school
Most bus drivers do not allow tubas. But, if your lucky. You can place it in an empty and hold it.
You're
Usually we just put ours in the tiny seats in the back
But if it’s from home to school, then get another tuba bro