Moving to England. Should I bring my CC?

[The Tuba Fish]

Hello everyone. I'll be moving to England from the US this fall to study for a PhD (non-music related). I will be in the UK for several years and would really like to bring my PT-6. I will probably be auditioning for University ensembles. Would playing a CC in the UK be feasible?

Also, I will need to get ahold of a hard case that I can trust Delta with. Any suggestions would be appreciated, especially from someone who's crossed the Atlantic with a horn.

[joshwirt]

Short answer = yes

Long answer = sending in PM

[anotherjtm2]

Amateur perspective: I'm playing a C tuba for the Eb part in a British-style brass band. Nobody has complained. The two guys on the Bb part are both playing C tubas, too. I expect pretty much nobody will notice based on the sound, even if it looks different.

[GeoffC_UK]

Orchestra = Yes
Wind band = Yes
Brass band = Need a little time to convert (treble clef not bass clef! )

Most non-university brass bands will loan you an EEb or BBb tuba if you join their group.
See here for geographic list: http://www.ibew.org.uk/link01g.html
Facebook groups let you know who is looking to fill a place in their band - tuba players are wanted.
Most brass bands are graded (standard of playing) from: Championship, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and non-competing for those that don't contest.

For university brass bands go here: https://www.unibrass.co.uk/university-bands

Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them re playing in England.

[Doug Elliott]

Never trust Delta with an instrument.

[Tubatooter]

Find a way to ship it insured via a carrier. Airlines will trash your tuba. They drop them to the ground from the luggage hold, they fall off conveyor belts, they will take it out of the case to "examine it for drugs" and put it back in upside down and sit on the lid to get it closed, and then say they are not liable because the case is not damaged. And so forth.

[jbaylies]

The two times I flew overseas with a tuba I bought a seat for it. On the second flight they offered to put it in a utility closet, so I got to relax with an empty seat next to me.