Female tuba and sousaphone players, we’re a rare breed. In five years, I’ve only met two others. When people ask what I play, I proudly tell them. Their reaction is almost always either to nod, pretending to know what a sousaphone is (for the marching-band challenged, it’s that big brass instrument that wraps around the player’s body) and change the subject really fast, or they look surprised, size me up and exclaim, “You play tuba?” That gets me. I restate that I do indeed play tuba, and they say: “Well, you just don’t look like a tuba player.” What exactly does a tuba player look like? The usual answer I get is a big beefy guy with fat cheeks. I certainly don’t fit that image with my slim, 5'7" female physique. Sure, I might be a bit short for my tuba, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play it.

Why must people have these ideas about what others can and can’t do? Some think I should play something dainty, like a flute, and leave my tuba to the big boys. With the sousaphone, it’s all about mind over matter. My brother would put down a sousaphone long before I would, and he’s that big beefy kid. It’s not about how big and strong you are, endurance is the name of the game.

Besides, I like a challenge. Another misconception about tuba players is that we lack talent. Playing the tuba isn’t that easy to do. It requires a lot of training and practice. People fail to recognize the importance of the tuba to a band. Who doesn’t like a lot of bass in their music? Booming bass is practically the anthem of teenage drivers, shaking the world as they drive by. That’s what I’m there to give you, the bass, big and deep and full.

Try applying the story of my tuba, my sousaphone and me to your everyday life. Don’t jump to conclusions about people because of their appearance. Try not to stereotype or generalize and that way, you’ll won’t be surprised by that exception to the rule. Challenge yourself; if people were never willing to be different, there wouldn’t be any progress. One last thing - try to remember what a sousaphone is, so you won’t have to change the subject really fast.