Just a suggestion.....but you might want to contact some of the other school districts/high schools/middle schools around you area and see if they have any older tubas they are wanting to sell. When my brother played tuba....the tubas got passed down from high school to middle school and then eventually "retired".....so the ones the eventually sold were very old and needed work....but they were good brands and music shops can handle the repair work. My brother's school district had the money to purchase new instruments yearly....so you might see if you can find a band program that is very well funded in another local district.
Good luck!! I can tell you that my brother had to take home his school tuba in grades 6 & 7 in order to practice at home (and it was required that it go home nightly)......is that an option for your daughter??
__________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain |