Hi all. New here. Was just going to lurk but I thought that might be impolite.
Just over a month ago, the Universe delivered a euphonium to my doorstep. I played trombone in middle and high school (including bass 'bone parts on a Bach 36B, why not ) and switched to CC tuba during my junior year. I went off to a respectable conservatory of music for college, and did fine until non-academic circumstances caused me to drop out three years later. I returned home and played tuba at the local university until I hurt my low back in a way that holding a tuba was not ever going to be possible. I sold the tuba. I'd already sold the trombone. After devoting a chunk of my life to the pursuit of musical endeavors, it was just over. I walked away, because it was all gone anyway.
That was roughly 30 years ago. And in spite of my college reputation as the Swiss Army Knife low brass player, I'd never played a euphonium. I marveled at the tiny mouthpiece (same one I used with my 36B), I was shocked at all the extra tubing, I was afraid to touch its beautiful silvery-ness. But I did get brave, and started in. I have progressed from 'drunk 6th grader' to 'incompetent 7th grader,' and that seems pretty good! It's not that I don't know what to do here - it's that the chops are nonexistent and I forgot how to breathe.
But surely I should think about intonation! Right! So I got out the old Korg tuner, put batteries in it, checked calibration, and put it on the stand. Closed my eyes, took a nice breath, thought as hard as I could about Bb3, about beautiful tone, about a good strong buzz, about a well-supported column of air, about a lovely centered note... opened my eyes and the dang needle is swinging wildly all over the place, just crazy-like. Well that's unexpected. I repeated the 'closed my eyes' bit with an F. Opened my eyes and the tuner looks like it could jump itself right off the stand.
Gosh, this ol' tuner must be broke! Too bad, kind of sentimental value and probably pretty accurate; wonder how it went bad sitting on the shelf, oh well, these thing happen I guess. Seems a strange failure mode, though. I mean, I can see it not turning on or something, but what would cause it just to go crazy like that? Very odd.
I paused. I put the euphonium down. I plugged an electric bass guitar into the amp behind me, and played an open string. After the initial attack, the note held steady at about 3 cents flat.
Ahhhh. Folks, the tuner is fine. I do not need your donations to buy a new one. I do need you to throw another shovel of dirt over me, because my tiny scrap of pride is DEAD. I took the batteries out of the tuner. It's too soon.