Posted by Rick Denney on October 06, 2003 at 19:52:43:
In Reply to: BBb conversion to CC posted by Biggs on October 05, 2003 at 19:48:49:
If you want to be a pro tuba players, add CC to your arsenal as soon as possible. Also add Eb and F, eventually. If doing so is too difficult or if you don't want to be bothered with it, then I would strongly suggest different objectives. Pros and those with that potential mark themselves with the talent and drive that makes playing tubas in all pitches within reach.
If you want to study tuba in college (note that this isn't at all the same as above), then ask your prospective college teacher. If he wants you to play CC, then ask your high-school band director. If he doesn't mind you playing CC, then the sooner you add CC to your arsenal the better. You'll have to learn them all eventually, anyway.
Otherwise, I think you shouldn't bother. For we non-pros, playing CC means one has the privelege of spending very much more for their instrument (at least a thousand bucks, all else equal, but in practice more than that because of the availability of excellent low-price BBb tubas), in addition to having to work harder to fit in with our section mates. Hobbyists who add a different pitch would be better served with a bass tuba that really does sound different and that really does give you capabilities that are much more difficult on a contrabass tuba.
Rick "an amateur who plays BBb and F" Denney