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Hello everyone, I'm a high school student, and my band director is encouraging me to try picking up bass trombone so that I can play in our school's jazz band(which are some of the best in the country). Anyways, I decided to try it, but I'm still concerned that this might alter my tuba playing. Any prior experiences and basically any info on the bass trombone would be helpful. Thanks

The only reason you would have any change is if you are using any improper habits on tuba. If you are playing correctly, you should be able to play any instrument you pick up. Your lips make the vibration to create the sound, the intrument only amplifies that sound you are producing!

I wish I could have learned bass-bone in high school, but my band director let me use our Schmits (or valve t-bone) in Jazz Band...wish he hadn't

Doubling on bass trombone is great skill to have. It has allowed me to get a lot more calls for work than being just a tuba player. You'd be surprised how many churches love to have 2 trombones in a quintet rather than 'some woofy tuba'. There's also loads of choral and orchestral work out there that excludes the tuba.....and these jobs pay well also.

I've never had a problem with the face. In fact, I regularly switch from CC to EEb to F to bass bone and/or euphonium without any real problems. You just have to get used to it.

Good luck to you! I say go for it! If you find that you can do it, GREAT! If not, you haven't lost anything in the process.

-Josh