Tuba-riffic!

Tonight was Hayden's tuba debut. We adopted this modest brass instrument into the family in September. We've tried shoving pillows down the bell to suppress its mighty resonating din, but The Tuba's very determined master has declared, "It changes the sound." (Ummmmmm. I hate to tell you this, Kiddo, but that's kind of the point. In this case change=bearable volume.) So, in order to spare the neighbors from bleeding eardrums and psychological breakdowns, Hayden has requested to stay late after school and rehearse afterward in the band room on a regular basis. Therefore, we had no idea what sort of noises would be emitted from his new friend tonight. Would it sound like a dying bull as it had just a few short months ago? Would he even be able to hoist it into place? It's almost bigger than he is!

Well, there were no dying animal noises... An occasional squawk like somebody stepping on a farm animal's tail, but not nearly as bad as I suspected. He did a great job, and it was one of the least painful Middle School band concerts I've ever attended.
Here he is in all his glory:

Can you see the one I was keeping my eye on? See him way back there in the back row? Barely able to see over the music stand?


And, yes... He was actually quite adept at carrying it, despite the obvious size discrepancy.

Congrats, Buddy!