Embedded Files
Why "Come Tuba Dark Side"?
This website was created by Natan Simon as an assignment in his course of study toward earning his Masters Degree in Wind Conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University.
I grew up playing the trumpet and the only tuba experience I had before I started teaching was the eight weeks in a low brass methods class when I was 21 years old. I could make a decent tone on the tuba, but it did feel very different from playing trumpet. I have spent the last couple years playing euphonium, trombone, and horn while I teach, especially at the middle school level. Creating this website has inspired me to pick up the tuba again and made me more confident in talking about tuba embouchure and technique. As for the theme for the website, I just have a lot of students who are big fans of Star Wars. I admit to having my own Darth Vader mask and red light saber hanging in my office at school. It just seemed like the natural course of action to bring a little Star Wars fun into the Tuba web site!
Biography
Natan Simon is the Band Director at Shadow Mountain High School and Shea Middle School in Phoenix, Arizona. Natan graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a variety of approaches to playing the trumpet. While at Northern Arizona, Natan played in the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, and the Symphony Orchestra. Natan also enjoyed the opportunity to perform in three different drum and bugle corps over the course of five summers, most notably with the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2002 and 2004. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Arizona Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, and the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association.
Natan began his teaching career in the Peoria Unified School District, teaching 5th through 8th grade band and strings at two K-8 schools. In his final year in Peoria, Natan had the pleasure of teaching K-6 General Music as well. During his time in Peoria, Natan was on staff for three high school marching bands, teaching marching. He also wrote drill for nine other high school bands between 2008 and 2010. In January 2011, Natan made the move to the Paradise Valley Unified School District and teaches one 7th Grade Band and one 8th Grade Band at Shea Middle School, and Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Guitar at Shadow Mountain High School. Since Natan's arrival at Shadow Mountain, the band program has grown from 39 students to a projected 60 this Fall. In 2014, Shadow Mountain High School was one of only 21 high schools in Arizona to take a Concert Band and a Jazz Band to the State Festival and receive a rating of Excellent or better for both. The Marching Matadors play a huge role in their community, performing entertaining music at every varsity football game, all four pep assemblies, the homecoming parade, one Freshman Football and one JV Football game, all while maintaining a rigorous rehearsal and contest schedule.
Natan remains an active performer, playing trumpet in a church orchestra on holidays, and euphonium in the Glendale Community College "Community Band". Natan resides in Phoenix with his wife, who teaches Spanish at a rival high school, but he does not hold that against her. They take care of two dogs, Wilson and Ellie, both black lab/mixes.
Sources
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THANK YOU
To Ben Lynch, our model Tubist!
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