When you\u2019re a touring tuba player, a good attitude at the airport can make all the difference in getting your instrument to its destination safely (and inexpensively). For Bill Muter<\/a>, who is frequently flying out of the Palm Beach and Miami airports, he says the best thing to do when you\u2019re checking your tuba onto a flight: go there with a big smile on your face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the back of your head, you have to always know that they may charge you $0 to $400 or more for overage charges,\u201d says Muter. \u201cYou\u2019re always at the discretion of the person checking you in, and a lot of times you can just go there with a smile on your face, they\u2019ll help you out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Muter has toured the world, playing with artists such as Jon Batiste, Shania Twain, and the late Shaun Martin of Snarky Puppy. He is currently performing with Medjy<\/a> on his world tour, and has toured with many prominent Haitian artists, including Arly Larivi\u00e8re, Baky, Gabel, Alan Cav\u00e9, and Richard Cav\u00e9. He also toured Japan, South Korea, and North America for five years with the Tony and Emmy Award-winning Broadway production Blast!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Needless to say, Muter and his instrument have covered many miles together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Between tours, Muter teaches, writes, and continues his music education. Recently, he completed Berklee Online\u2019s Music Theory and Composition 1<\/em><\/a> course with Melissa Howe<\/a>, taking advantage of a Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC)<\/a>, which can help eligible students offset the cost of tuition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore the beginning of my teaching season, I can take a course, learn a little bit, help gather my knowledge, and get a little bit better,\u201d he says. \u201cEssentially, I can pay for it without taking out loans, which is a perk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like many Berklee Online students who are professional musicians, Muter came to Berklee Online to fill in some educational gaps with a non-degree course<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Growing up in South Florida, Muter’s family was active in his church\u2019s music community, his mom a singer and guitarist, and his grandfather an organist. When he got to middle school and it was time to pick an instrument for the school band, he says he didn\u2019t have much choice in the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cApparently, I picked up the tuba and played a beautiful low B-flat, and the rest is history,\u201d he says. \u201cThey pretty much were like, \u2018This is the instrument that you have to play.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His touring career began right out of high school. In addition to playing the tuba, Muter also plays the trombone and bass guitar in show settings. However, the tuba is his primary instrument, to the point where he\u2019s earned the reputation of being a \u201cTuba Visionary,\u201d a nickname that his friend encouraged him to use as his Instagram handle<\/a> in 2014, and has since evolved into his personal brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Muter\u2019s career has taken him around the world, not only as a performer but also as a cultural ambassador. Since 2018, he has traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Kosovo with the US Department of State\u2019s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The program started in the 1950s, sending jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington overseas for music diplomacy. Muter recommends the PBS documentary Jazz Ambassadors<\/em> for anyone interested in learning more about the program\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA Match Made in Middle School Band<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Music as Diplomacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n