CC and F tuba

[michael_glenn]

I have been told differing things from different people. I am going to be starting my undergrad soon. Some people say play CC for 2 years, and F for 2. Some say CC for 3, F for 1. Some say CC for all 4. And some say CC AND F for all four years. What are your thoughts?

And in case you're wondering I already have my CC tuba, B&S PT20P.

[THE TUBA]

I think you have it mixed up. You never stop playing contrabass tuba. As far as when you'll start learning bass tuba in addition to contrabass, that's up to you and your private instructor.

(This is assuming you're going to college in the states)

[lowtones425]

I think the simplest way to put it is this: In your undergrad years, your main focus should be playing the tuba. When I say that, I mean that it is crucial to become a great musician, and be able to play the instrument as well as you can, whether it be CC or F. Really, the instrument is just a resonating piece of metal, and the musicality comes from you. The CC and F tubas are just refined tools to help you polish what comes out of the bell. But Contrabass tuba playing is definitely a critical skill for most tuba type applications.

[swillafew]

That B&S you have is a great model of horn, it should be good for the duration. Good luck in school.

[Michael Bush]

One of the best tuba players alive today got serious about learning the F tuba when he was a DMA student. (So, after the undergraduate degree and after the master's degree.) Another in the same category known to me never plays F for anything he can do on CC.

On the other hand, some others in that category use F for nearly everything and go to a contrabass only when someone in power insists.

So just enjoy that B&S CC, be as good as you can be on it, until and unless a teacher or a job requires something else. It isn't going to let you down. Or sell it and get an equally good F, and do the same.

Cash is more flexible than tuba. And the real difference for you is not going to be made of brass. It's going to be made of protein that lives between your ears.

[sweaty]

What is the cost of a tuba compared to the cost of college for 4 years? Get all the tubas you'll use.

[eupher61]

let's see...in 7 years of undergrad and grad school, I played BBb 7 years...CC 6 years, F 2 years, Eb 1 year. Since getting my masters, I've played F 28 years, Eb 5, CC 6, BBb 28.

Does that give an answer? It's like math. You don't forget about one aspect of it just because something new is introduced. You play TUBA...not CC or F tuba. To be a player, you need skills on all of them, plus euphonium and ideally trombone. You need better sources of information.

[TubaZac2012]

Honestly, I feel like this is an interesting topic. I don't think it's the amount of years, but the amount of time/hours in the day.

I got my F tuba when I was a Freshman in college, Fall semester. One of the best decisions I've made since starting the instrument in the Spring semester of my 7th grade year.

Why did I get it early, compared to most tuba students, the answer is simple. I started playing CC tuba in 9th grade. So I'd been playing CC for about 5 years. Me and my teacher at the time, and tuba friends thought it wasn't a bad idea to go ahead and get my chops going in the F tuba.

Now, here's the key. Don't abuse the F tuba. For example. When I was still in school I would practice around 3 or so hours a day. When I first got my F I'd overdo the F tuba. It really messed with my chops. So my words of wisdom, experience, etc. practice CC around 60-80 percent of the time. And F tuba the other time. There are some people out there that would say otherwise, but I'd say that's a good split of time.

Then again, it all depends on what you're working on. Just use your best judgement. More CC, less F.

Hope this helped some.

[J.c. Sherman]

My first tuba was an Eb tuba purchased in 1987. It's always been "home base" and got me everywhere I needed to go.

There is no perfect tuba... I played an Alex F as my principle instrument in college. I have a delightful and rewarding career. The trick is that there is no trick. Master each piece of music on the chosen equipment. Learn from it. Proceed to the next, and select the instrument you feel allows you to express your art. Master that work, and continue.

I just played a very challenging opera on bass trumpet. The performance in general was... not up to my standards. But I learned TONS from the experience an will apply it to my next performance, regardless of the instrument.

Play what you feel each work warrants for for your expression.