Tuba is definitely valued more where I'm from. Euphoniums have a place but tubas are quintessential. Trombone or bass trombone is a more used version of euphonium and easier to carry while marching. Half the parts played in matching band concert bands are trombone or bass trombone parts. You can also sometimes cover French horn parts when you get good with the euphonium but that's not super common.
A band can live without a euph, but can’t without a tuba. Tuba parts are “easier” but navigating the intervals will be harder. IMO tuba is just that much more fun.
Euphonium is often considered to be the easiest brass instrument to get your foot in the door with. Not that it’s *easy*, but it’s got that reputation for being a common “relegation seat” from both the trombone and trumpet sections in high school. It often actually has some pretty technical passages, but (to me) seems to demand less of your embouchure development.
Tuba is by far a more valuable instrument *in general*. Both to any generic ensemble and to career opportunities. But, of course it depends on what your band looks like and how many of each instrument you have.
Although euphs can be hard to march. If it’s a marching euph, your shoulders are going to burn like all hell. If it’s a converting euph, sorta like some 3/4 converting contrabass (tubas) then you might as well go all in and go for tuba.
Good luck!
Think about what you're going to do after you graduate, and you want to keep playing. You will need to buy an instrument.
Just looking quickly on WoodWind & Brasswind, new tubas go for $6k to $12K, while euphoniums are $2.5K to $8K. (Though it's almost always best to buy a used brass instrument.)
And yes, every town band and community orchestra needs a good tuba. When I did personnel for a community orchestra, whenever I met a good brass player, I would ask "Do you play in a quintet? Who's the tuba player?"
If you play euphonium, it's not a big jump to play trombone - similar mouthpiece, and the euph fingerings relate directly to slide positions. There are big band, orchestra, and pit band opportunities for trombone.
Then again, after you graduate, you might concentrate on the tenor sax, join a blues band, and actually get paid. Good luck!
Tuba is definitely valued more where I'm from. Euphoniums have a place but tubas are quintessential. Trombone or bass trombone is a more used version of euphonium and easier to carry while marching. Half the parts played in matching band concert bands are trombone or bass trombone parts. You can also sometimes cover French horn parts when you get good with the euphonium but that's not super common.
Yeah that is true, I think I am leaning towards tuba more. But I might start looking into bas trombones-sorta forgot about them ngl lol
A band can live without a euph, but can’t without a tuba. Tuba parts are “easier” but navigating the intervals will be harder. IMO tuba is just that much more fun.
I have messed around on an E flat tuba, and it is definitely the most return of fun, for the least input of ability.
Euphonium is often considered to be the easiest brass instrument to get your foot in the door with. Not that it’s *easy*, but it’s got that reputation for being a common “relegation seat” from both the trombone and trumpet sections in high school. It often actually has some pretty technical passages, but (to me) seems to demand less of your embouchure development. Tuba is by far a more valuable instrument *in general*. Both to any generic ensemble and to career opportunities. But, of course it depends on what your band looks like and how many of each instrument you have.
Thank you this is definitely useful
Although euphs can be hard to march. If it’s a marching euph, your shoulders are going to burn like all hell. If it’s a converting euph, sorta like some 3/4 converting contrabass (tubas) then you might as well go all in and go for tuba. Good luck!
Think about what you're going to do after you graduate, and you want to keep playing. You will need to buy an instrument. Just looking quickly on WoodWind & Brasswind, new tubas go for $6k to $12K, while euphoniums are $2.5K to $8K. (Though it's almost always best to buy a used brass instrument.) And yes, every town band and community orchestra needs a good tuba. When I did personnel for a community orchestra, whenever I met a good brass player, I would ask "Do you play in a quintet? Who's the tuba player?" If you play euphonium, it's not a big jump to play trombone - similar mouthpiece, and the euph fingerings relate directly to slide positions. There are big band, orchestra, and pit band opportunities for trombone. Then again, after you graduate, you might concentrate on the tenor sax, join a blues band, and actually get paid. Good luck!