I didn't know where to put this since it's a weird topic. I am in my sophomore year of high school. I am the first chair tuba player at my school. I marched sousaphone last year and I am currently doing it now. I learned bass trombone last year for jazz and I am one of the best bass bone players in my school district. I love playing tuba, but I also love playing bass trombone and want to play it more. I have been wanting to leave the tubas and join the trombone section more and more. I am talking to my directors and friends about it, but I want to get an outside opinion. There is only one person marching bass trombone right now. I want to eventually march drum corps with probably contra, but I am unsure. Last year's tuba leadership was goated and they were the best leaders I could have asked for, but they've graduated and this year's leadership sucks and they don't do their job. They don't know how to have fun and are way too strict and abusing their power. I can tolerate them, but they are driving me crazy. While the trombone section is your average trombone section, goofy, fun, and hard working. The trombones have also been asking me to join their section ever since they saw me pick up a trombone. I am certain that I want to be in leadership and I want to be a section leader one day, but I don't know which section. I am a tuba player at heart, but I can't stand the tuba section. I told myself last year that I would try to make the section the best it could be, but that was under the assumption that I would be in leadership. I would like some outside opinions, they would be very helpful.

I've marched almost all low brass, but as an adult. Take my recommendations with some reservations.

Firstly I am not enthusiastic about the ergonomics of marching with most bass trombones. Too easy to drop, source of left hand cramps, etc. At least a Sousaphone is held up by your shoulder. Second, the 3rd trombone parts are pretty "blah". You could play them without needing an F-attachment. On a lot of the classic marches the 3rd trombone part is actually a tuba part up an octave.

Your question about leadership and leadership potential is entirely different. Not having dealt with that milieu while I was in school (and that was long before the Flood) I can't talk to your problem. I hope some of the other Chatters will be able to talk to that.

Physically, marching sousaphone is much easier than marching bass trombone. It's just easier to carry around. Because of how you typically would have to hold it, a bass trombone can get VERY heavy.

That said, why not consider marching regular trombone? If you get a triggerless trombone marching will still be fairly easy and it is a good instrument to learn to double.

I'd march sousaphone given the choice for high school marching band. And I did!

Do what you think will be most fun. Since the trombone section guys have fun, join them. Easy decision, isnt it?

[quote="AndrewMeronek"]Physically, marching sousaphone is much easier than marching bass trombone. It's just easier to carry around. Because of how you typically would have to hold it, a bass trombone can get VERY heavy.

That said, why not consider marching regular trombone? If you get a triggerless trombone marching will still be fairly easy and it is a good instrument to learn to double.[/quote]

This and then some. I feel there's no need to potentially damage an important instrument in your main ensembles while marching. Sousaphone or straight trombone is the real choice.

A tangential thought, how's the baritone/euphonium section?

[quote="marccromme"]Do what you think will be most fun. Since the trombone section guys have fun, join them. Easy decision, isn't it?[/quote]

But this right here is what it's all about. And once the current tuba section leaders move on (or there's a call to oust them), then you can make that section fun. There's no need to be miserable in something that's supposed to be FUN!

The idea of marching bass bone gives me the shivers. If you do it, use a single trigger bass, but the sousy is a much better idea. But if you're not going to have fun with the other sousie players, then do something else. It's not worth not enjoying it.