JáTtik Clark

Principal Tuba

At this very moment …

we would find JáTtik practicing basic tuba fundamentals and a duet called “Cousins” by Herbert L. Clarke for an upcoming performance with Portland State University trombone professor Ron Babcock. He also spends a lot of time repairing and modifying his tuba. “I’m very picky about my instruments; I’ve gotten to be extremely fussy about certain details that few people would even notice.”

On the CD player …

JáTtik’s musical tastes span a broad spectrum, from Bruckner to the hip hop group Outkast. “The first classical CD I bought in college was Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 with Sir Georg Solti conducting and it blew me away. I’d never been exposed to that level of musicianship and it was incredible to hear what that tuba player and that brass section could do.” JáTtik explains what he terms his “guilty pleasure,” (a.k.a. his interest in hip hop) this way: “I’m really attracted to the beat and what the bass does, because I’m a bass player.”

In the kitchen …

“I have a few wonderful cookbooks I hope to make use of in the near future,” says JáTtik. “I’d love to be a gourmet.” He enjoys making salads and always keeps lots of raw vegetables handy. If you’re eating hot dogs with him, though, don’t pass him the mustard. “I don’t like most of the normal condiments,” he explains.

On the music stand …

JáTtik is always working on upcoming Symphony music. “Much of the music this spring is more ‘brass-centric,’” he explains. He’s also put together his own book of musical excerpts for practice, including famous pieces by Gershwin, Bruckner and Hindemith. “I put solos in front and excerpts in the back of the book.” You’ll also find a brass routine book by the Empire Brass Quintet’s Sam Pilafian, which includes warm-ups, long tones, slurs, articulations, intervals, scales and “beautiful tone” exercises.

And on the nightstand …

You’ll find a number of different magazines, including Muscle and Fitness. “Weight training and cardio have been quite beneficial to me,” says JáTtik. He’s also re-reading the “Conversations with God” series by Neale Donald Walsh and “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. “I will read just about whatever I can pick up.”

Before you left …

JáTtik would give you a tour of his new house and would also show you some of his extensive anime collection. “I toyed with the idea of being an architect earlier in my life and I’ve always enjoyed visual arts and drawing. Anime has a combination of really great stories, subjects and beautifully rendered graphics.” Or he might ask you to spot him on some bench presses!