Tuba-Euphonium Oral History

Buddy Baker discusses his education and musical experiences with the trombone. He discusses those who influenced him, those he learned from, and those he performed with. He discusses the changes in musical education and the fundamentals of learning an instrument. Baker talks about his hobbies and compares the learning and practicing techniques to those of music.

Samuel Gnagey discusses his early musical experiences, education at Indiana University, and lifelong association with music. He cites his father, a talented tuba player, as one of his biggest influences; a music education major at Indiana University, Gnagey also took pre-medical courses for several years. His jobs over the years reflect both areas of interest; he was a nurse, an emergency medical technician, a music teacher, a tubist, and a musical instrument creator and repairman. In this interview, he also discusses studying with William J. Bell and his association with his Indiana University classmates Donald Harry, Ivan F. Hammond, Paul Kryswicki, and others.

In this interview, Ivan F. Hammond talks about his career as a tuba musician. He talks extensively about instrument design and playing styles. In addition, Hammond mentions his training at Indiana University and his teachers and mentors who helped him succeed. He said that he started playing the tuba late in life, at the age of sixteen, and so had to practice daily for hours to feel like he had achieved competency.

In this interview, Paul Krzywicki talks about his career as a tuba musician. He begins by talking about his early training and his years at Indiana University. He also played with the United States Military Band at West Point. Krzywicki has played with the Philadelphia Orchestra for twenty-eight years and had to interview with Eugene Ormandy for the position.

In this interview, Jerry Lackey talks about his experiences at Indiana University before the arrival of William J. "Bill" Bell. Lackey comes from a musical family and currently teaches sight-signing, jazz band, and orchestra at Clay Middle and High Schools. He also describes in detail his lessons with Bill Bell, playing in the operas at Indiana University, and associating with various other colleagues while in the Indiana University School of Music.

Frederick J. Marzan discusses becoming passionate about music in high school and his struggle to become a good musician. He recalls musicians from whom he learned through lessons and observation, particularly William Bell. He discusses his musical experiences. Marzan talks about various tuba models and about designing his own.

L.B. Oliver discusses his training on the tuba, mentioning with gratitude and fond memories such mentors as Robert Barr and William J. "Bill" Bell. He describes the time he spent playing in the band of the traveling Mills Brothers Circus, the lifestyle it entailed, and various stories he recalls about his time in the circus. In addition, he comments on the quality of various tuba models he has played throughout his career as a musician and teacher.

James T. Parr discusses his years pent at Indiana University where he focused on a degree in mathematics, but also participated in many musical opprotunities as atuba player, including the "Marching Hundred, orchestra, prass choir and others. He was known to a generation of tubists in the early 1960's as 'the person who imported Alexander tubas." He laso dicusses his life a a professor at Illinois State University, his fellow muscicians, and his musical endevors there.

Jack Robinson discusses his musical experiences and education with the trombone. He talks about Professor William Bell, his teaching approach, personality, and musical career. Robinson discusses those with whom he has studied and worked. He shares anecdotes about his time at Indiana University and about his musical career.

In this interview, Robert Rusk talks about his early training and subsequent career as a tuba musician. He talks briefly about his time as a student at Indiana University and the competitiveness of the programs in the School of Music. In addition, Rusk talks about his interest in pre-World War II American-made tubas and the unique American tuba sound. He also talks about tuba design and his experiences playing other instruments.

Kenneth Schubert discusses his family background, how he began playing the trumpet, how he began teaching, and his music professors and fellow musicians. He speaks of his education, shares stories about his professors and training at the Indiana University School of Music, and talks about different models of trumpet and cornet. In addition, Mr. Schubert describes his relationships and memories of William J. "Bill" Bell, William Adam, Thomas Beversdorf, and other musicians and professors.

Thomas W. Streeter discusses his musical experiences with the trombone. He talks about the bands he worked for during college. He recalls professors he studied under. Streeter discusses his time in the Airmen of Note-- the United States Air Force band-- before becoming a professor at Illinois Wesleyan University where he set up a jazz program.