Samcai8 wrote:As a high school student, I say get the sousas. Sousaphones don't have a lot of room for visuals but BBb contras need a ton of physical training to function with. Also repair guys are more familiar with them. The contras, even the lightest Yamaha ones, are still a pain to use. If you want to kill some high school students for fun, get them the contras. But they really are only intended just for DCI/DCA use.
Basically- Us high school students' arms are weak, get sousas or they WILL complain endlessly.
That's really interesting, I'm teaching 4 marching bands at the moment and they all switched over to the marching tubas from sousas and the students didn't have any issues in transitioning over. And any good repairmen can work on Contras, Sousaphones, Concert tubas, whatever is needed as long as the instrument is still worth repairing. The section leaders have their section work out before/after rehearsals with endurance/training along with the drum majors. I'm also seeing more and more bands switch over from sousaphones to contras every year.
The only obstacle holding the player back is themselves. Marching with a contra is more mental than physical.
fwiw, I marched with contras throughout high school and for a summer activity for the last 8 years.
That is awesome though..my lower back is cramping up just watching that!
