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tubashaman wrote:...since im not really that good...

tubashaman wrote:...F tuba...

If you need work on CC, an F should be put on hold until you get it together.

d(learned that the hard way)temp

tubashaman wrote:Would a F tuba maybe take less energy out of me and allow me to do more musical things

Having tried the Gregson on my Eb and 4/4 CC, I certainly find it works best for me on the smaller tuba.

So I would say yes, it would certainly require less energy and make it easier for you to be musical, although the latter is largely within you.

Jonathan "who usually uses his Eb for solos"

tubashaman wrote:I have my recital this sunday

Considering your recital is in 2 days, it seems unwise to go and "learn it" on F or change your mouthpiece on such short notice. If you need to take a little bit more time between pieces to recover, talking to the audience is always a great chop break device. It makes it a lot more enjoyable for the audience when you can engage them directly. Got any funny anecdotes or stories that are pertinent? If anything, you can give some basic information about the works. Good luck, stay positive and you'll be fine.

James,

Take this in the spirit in which it is intended.

The PT50+ on a large 4/4 - small 5/4 CC is NOT a combination that will work on most recital lit outside of something very specialized. Too deep, too open, and too heavy.
If you do all three movements of the Gregson straight through on any CC tuba, it becomes an exercise in endurance. With the PT50+, it would be like taking a SWAT battering ram to the driving range to work on your golf swing.

HOWEVER,

I seem to remember that you have a Helleberg 7b. This is a much more reasonable choice. You are also already familiar with how this mouthpiece plays on that horn.
Something along the lines of a C4 / Bobo Solo / RM9 / LM9 or LM10 would probably work even better, BUT, don't even think of switching mouthpieces without at least 3-4 weeks to go.

There is no reason why you can't make the Gregson work on any CC this side of the Holton beasts with a moderately sized mouthpiece.

What does your tuba teacher say about playing a whole recital on the PT50+? I used to A/B mouthpieces on tuba and bass trombone in front of my teacher all the time for solo and audition purposes. Play a few licks on the 7b and PT50+ back to back a few times.

I recall you posting a thread recently about intonation issues with your CC. If you think you have intonation issues now, just wait until you pick up an F! Spend another year on the CC first.

Greg wrote: In my opinion, it doesn't really make it easier, it just makes it SOUND easier.

Amen! That's the best analogy I've seen.

tubashaman wrote:Would a F tuba maybe take less energy out of me and allow me to do more musical things

Perhaps I read more or less into your post than you meant, but here's my thoughts:

I didn't read that you were considering an F for Sunday, nor should you.

If the program you chose is a bit much for you, consider what you can do do make it easier on your chops NOW. Go slow. Rest up. Talk to the audience. And learn from the way you programmed this time. Another mouthpiece will be VERY hard to pull off, unless you are SO comfortable with it that there will be NO note, response, or intonation issues.

If I wasn't 100% sure this close to a performance, I'd do less, not extra, to conserve what you can put into it.

As far as how you will react to an F, it wholly depends on the mouthpiece, horn, and what you put into it.

I, for example, have a 6/4 F that I play with my regular equipment, so no, that's not any easier, just more secure up high.

A small F or Eb is with a smaller mouthpiece is entirely different. To get a feel for which direction you may want to go for solos, toot a little on a euphonium. They should be readily available anywhere, and will give you a taste for what a smaller horn will do for you. Whether or not this is a way you want to go will be entirely up to you.

wow, nice literature. thats a lot of hard-lip time to cram into one recital (IMO). but power to you, go and do your thing. and i definately agree with the other guys. bass tubas don't make you more musical, they just add another color and a much more secure high register.

.....

Jarrad-Bittner wrote:HOLD OF ON BUYING A BASS TUBA FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED. . . You win jobs based mostly on your CC playing ability. . . Something players need to focus is playing solid in there low range.

Jarrad, I agree that he should hold off on buying a bass tuba, but not for the same reasons. First, he's obviously putting in the work to play this literature on CC, which is great. But the problems he's been having (which everyone goes through) indicate to me that he needs to spend more time mastering the horn he's on. Let's face it, if you're good enough, you can play the literature on any horn.
To me, it doesn't matter: BBb, CC, Eb, F . . . if you can PLAY you can PLAY. You "win" jobs based upon your ability to PLAY. If you haven't mastered the horn you're on to the point where air, intonation, fingerings, and musicality are really good, you're not ready to learn another horn yet, IMHO. Putting this kind of time in on one horn (any key) will make any future effort to learn the other horns much, much easier.
Yes, there will be preferences for certain horns in certain ensembles, but CC is not the only one. Just my .02.

Consider changing the order:

Barat
Gregson
(brief intermission)
Gabrielli
Lebedev